by Rare General Motors EV1 Electric Car Sold for a Record Amount
The General Motors EV1 is considered the first mass-produced car specifically designed as an electric vehicle, although its production was limited. Just over 1,100 units were produced across two generations, and only a few dozen units survive today.
Historical Significance and Unexpected Price
Due to this car’s importance in electric vehicle history and its rarity, it’s no surprise that when one came to market, it attracted significant attention. However, no one expected it to sell for an impressive $104,000. For comparison, this is more expensive than a new Tesla Cybertruck.
GM never sold the EV1, only leasing it to customers. When the company controversially decided to shut down the project, it took back the cars and destroyed them. It is known that approximately 40 units remained with the company. While some are in private hands, most were transferred to universities and museums.
Vehicle Condition and Its Past
The sold unit is a 1997 version that was put up for sale through Peak Auto Auctions in Atlanta after being repossessed. Very few details were provided about the car, but it is visible that it had been sitting outdoors for a long time, and the windshield and front side window are broken.
Is This Unit Worth Restoring?
An investigation by The Autopian revealed that the car was marked as abandoned by the Clark Atlanta University security service, which may explain why it ended up at auction. It is believed to be VIN V212, which was originally delivered to Arizona. According to GM Authority, it once set an unofficial altitude record for an EV1, reaching 10,500 feet.
Since the car has likely been sitting outdoors for a long time, possibly years, it will require serious restoration to bring it back to life. Finding spare parts can be a challenging task, but obviously, the auction winner believes the car is worth that much money.
This story is a reminder of how technological innovations sometimes are ahead of their time, but their legacy can be revived decades later. The EV1 became a symbol of early attempts at a mass transition to electric vehicles, and its cultural value only grows over the years, especially among collectors and automotive industry historians.
