Sep 7

A Tesla from before WWII

Not a Tesla but the last known Detroit Electric to still exist. Detroit Electric has been around a long time by 1937 but building cars was just about done. This is the latest known survivor and is being auctioned off by RM at Hershey next month.

Crazy to me they were still using Tiller steering this late in the game.

https://app.rumbleseat.com/marketplace/7270106

Sep 7, 2026

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Replies (21)

· Sep 7

Check out the Tiller.

· Sep 7

And the fold down seats.

· Sep 7

You steer with that arm? How does that work?

· Sep 7

YouTube ↗

· Sep 7

The documentation RM has is amazing.

· Sep 7

Check out the range estimates. I'm sure the battery setup could be improved upon, but even covering 30 miles in this would be a lot to me.

· Sep 7

Buy it, resto-mod swap in Tesla Plaid components including autopilot, profit! I think that’s how it works.

· Sep 7

I was waiting for the resto-mod comment. I may have to ban you. Although I would be lying if I didn't admit hte same thought crossed my mind.

· Sep 7

Check this letter out from 1967. They were offering to Resto-mod it back then!

· Sep 7

To me its crazy that there were electric cars that early and just in the last 10 years have the really come back!!!

· Sep 7

Elon Musk is not genius because of reusable rockets or starlink or neurolink. He is a genius because he's the first guy to make an electric car that was cool looking. Case in point is this topic. Very interesting but not cool.

· Sep 7

Are there any electrical engineers in the house @DuesyGuy ? What do we think of this setup?

· Sep 7

Personally, that switch gives me pause on the workmanship,

· Sep 7

Never thought I would have a reason to join the Tesla forum. Congratulations A.J. for the hook.

I think this car is very interesting and I too am shocked by the tiller at such a late date. I would have thought they were all gone by 1910.

· Sep 7

How does that fold down seat next to the brake work? Or is that not a fold down seat? With both seats down things must get very cozy in that cockpit.

· Sep 7

Wow. Electric cars have come a long way. Is that estimate accurate? I can buy a nice low mileage Plaid for that number.

· Sep 7

Collectible EV prices have jumped considerably in the last 10 years. I think you can guess why. This car came out of the Tupelo museum and was bought along with the one below by a very prominent dealer who knows what he is doing. He flipped the cars to new homes and this one is coming back out again.

I really like the 1931 below because it has a steering wheel.

· Sep 7

I wonder if this is the same car? Lincoln Nebraska 1931.

(edited)

· Sep 7

· Sep 8

Wonder if that ever got built?

· Sep 9

This thing is so ugly it is cool?