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corbin sparrow electric car
By Chuck, Section Classifieds Posted on Mon Jun 08, 2009 at 12:59:58 PM MST
opinions ?

I'm putting this in classifieds because I might be selling this if I get it.
I have the option to pick up a Corbin Sparrow electric car (trike) for a decent price. It would involve a thousand mile road trip and a bit of hassle, so before I do that I thought I'd see if anyone out there has ever had one and what you might think about it.
This is the same thing as the Myers Motors NMG but is the lead acid battery version. http://www.myersmotors.com/
Any real world info would be appreciated.
Chuck

corbin sparrow electric car | 17 comments (17 topical)

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by dnix71 on Mon Jun 08, 2009 at 04:55:05 PM MST

There were only 285 made. I wouldn't pass on the deal just for the collector sake.

If it has a title and is or can be street legal, I would buy it for myself if I could afford to.

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by Bruce S on Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 01:50:12 PM MST

There are still some available. These had at one time almost a cult type following, but have fallen out of favor.

They will become a collectors item , even more so when (if) the company starts building them again.
They are heavy, the electronics will need lots of TLC, & if you plan on making it road ready and most DMVs know of these little GEMs.

With the newer battery technology this could be well worth putting back in working order.
There is somewhere up on the web a story of a guy who has as of last year (I think) updated his info of his life with one of these. He was the one who figured out how to boost the battery pack using cheap(free NiCds and an inverter) I used (stole) his idea for some of my "NiCd tests" smart person..

A 1000 mile trip ain't gonna be cheap, and trying to resell may end up not so worth while.
Depending on the $$$, even I would be looking at it.

Do you have pics of this gem?

Cheers;
Bruce S

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by Chuck on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 08:41:46 AM MST

Hi Bruce,
Yes, you mirror most of my thoughts, although Myers motors has in fact been building them since 2004. They've been selling them for $30k with lithium batteries. Unfortunately, this one was one of the originals and has (dead) lead acid batteries.

I decided to pass on this, largely because of the hassle of dragging it across the country. Battery cost was another factor as it would be $2k to replace the originals, which wouldn't make the range enough for me to use, and roughly $10k to convert it to lithium.

I've come to the sad conclusion after years of planning, that electric vehicles just aren't for the country dweller. The range is just not enough and the amount of power required is an expensive problem when you live off-grid.

So I guess it's on to building that small diesel commuting trike.

[ Parent ]

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by spinningmagnets on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 09:24:27 AM MST

Chuck, this guy is using a Kubota mini-tractor 3-cyl turbo-diesel and getting over 60-MPG. Also has option of using free used restaurant waste cooking oil.

I've been interested in tadpole trikes/reverse trikes because they are pretty much the easiest way to legally put an experimental vehicle on the street. Best of luck!

http://www.kineticvehicles.com/

[ Parent ]

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by Chuck on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 12:43:24 PM MST

I had read something before of the car sponsored by Mother Earth News. Lost the link though. Thanks for that. I've been watching rqriley's XR3 hybrid and have thought about giving that a try once I got some time... http://www.rqriley.com yeah, right. The other one I've seen with the same kind of body is the Doran, same web site.

[ Parent ]

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#16)
by Bruce S on Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 04:15:59 PM MST

Chuck;
I remembered this guys website once I saw it. His lost-foam based car is on an old movie with Gov Arnold in it. 6th-day? something about being on the moon n stuff.

His site is fun to look at from time to time, was very static for a long time.

Cheers
Bruce S

[ Parent ]

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by ghurd on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 04:20:43 PM MST

Cool, BUT...
Seems like a lot of effort to get over 60MPG.

Had a factory '76(?) VW Rabbit diesel 4-door 5-spd passive-restraints chick-magnet,
that would easily break 70MPG highway, maybe 80MPG if driven more reasonably
(I was young).
Not exactly "peppy" from a dead start, but nearly almost decent enough.
Shake the fillings out of your teeth if you left your hands on the steering wheel at a stop light.

I often wondered about the same motor, in a 2 or 3 cyl.
Same idea as that V4 150-175CID (half of a V8) GM made, or people made from GMs V8s.

Ghurd.info
[ Parent ]

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by dnix71 on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 09:18:15 PM MST

I had a '75 gasoline Wabbit that I still miss. 175k miles and no major engine work and the original clutch. The diesel versions got great mileage, but if you overheated them even once, it was a major overhaul because the block and head were aluminum.

[ Parent ]

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by ghurd on Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 07:25:11 AM MST

Must have a serious problem to overheat one. Had to cover the radiator with cardboard in winter to get enough heat to defrost the windshield. Not as bad as the air cooled Beetles, but not much heat!
Planned to retro fit a Rabbit diesel to an original Beetle (Kennedy made a kit). Gave up the idea when I found out what a junk yard got for one of those motors.
Hate to think what a major overhaul would cost.
G-
Ghurd.info
[ Parent ]

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by Bruce S on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 09:36:48 AM MST

Chuck;
I agree that for now; country dwellers are at a disadvantage when it comes to distances for pure electric vehicles.

I have been doing some off/on designing of my own, mostly mental.
IMO electrics should stop trying to look like current car models or even using donor ones, unless they can be easily stripped and redone with the pure electronics in mind.
I understand that using a donor vehicle makes it easier to get them through DMV and such :)

If you don't mind me asking, where is/was this one located? and what were they asking for it?
I don't need the contact info, 1 more to-do and I'll be out sleeping with the dogs :/ just curious.

Small diesel hybird is actually the way Mother E. News is going except with 4 wheels.

From all the engineers and math I have worked with, you should plan on about 8bhp per 1000lbs. This is so you can keep up with the "normal" flow of traffic (whatever that means), but does make sense.

Cheers
Bruce S

[ Parent ]

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by Chuck on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 12:32:02 PM MST

Bruce,

I agree that a new paradyme needs to exist if really efficient transportation is going to happen. I personally think a reverse trike configuration is probably the most useful. The sparrow is this config and was really tempting.

This one was just N of San Francisco and the price was 8k. I think it was a great price, considering the cost of just the electric components. But it would have been just a toy and not really useful for me.

I got you on sleeping with the dogs. In my case it would be the coyotes.

[ Parent ]

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by Bruce S on Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 12:41:50 PM MST

Chuck;
Yep, just a little beyond my pocket change :)

Maybe we need to check in with Windstuff ED , he had a very nice E build going on.
His is using yellow tops and I don't think he had 8k into it.

Ed? how is the E-buggy coming along?

Bruce S

[ Parent ]

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by dnix71 on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 12:25:29 PM MST

The older French Citrons only had 5 HP engines. That's all you need to go 60 MPH.
Unfortunately you'll get run over from behind on the road long before you get going that fast.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fabvt/3568478388/

http://www.adclassix.com/ads/23citroencab.htm

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by Chuck on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 12:35:03 PM MST

Sigh, I love the 20s and 30s body styles. Not particularly aerodynamic, but nicely elegant. Thanks for the links.

[ Parent ]

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by electrak on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 01:49:46 PM MST

http://www.utterpower.com/10hp_chevy.htm
How about this

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#15)
by Bruce S on Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 04:02:32 PM MST

Getting a bit off topic but having fun :]
For those out there that think high milage will take a decade, have a look/read at this link :)
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2002/06/05/feature-vw-1-litre-car.htm.

In the "old" days even the 30's cars would get high 20mpg according to repair manuals, at 30mph.
Other like the boat-tailed Auburn and Daimler's got some pretty decent mpg's too.
Difference is that they didn't have 1/2ton of convinence stuff on the engine pulling it down. Safety was common sense instead of goberment mandated due to law suits.

Riding a scooter across town (gas not elec, but getting 100mpg) to/from work, I would like to see a daily intelegence test for most people on the road.
OR police that would give out tickets for being stupid out of season :-)

Sorry ranting.

Cheers!!
Bruce S

[ Parent ]

Re: corbin sparrow electric car (3.00 / 0) (#17)
by Old F on Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 08:31:47 PM MST

I am holding out for this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj1irO5UY68

55 to 60 mpg

Old F

[ Parent ]

corbin sparrow electric car | 17 comments (17 topical)

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