This obscure ‘revolutionary’ EV is up for sale on Facebook Marketplace

  • A rare 1980s EV branded ‘revolutionary’ is for sale on Facebook
  • The Electrek Uncar is a retro EV that’s unlike anything else out there
  • The car is a real piece of automotive history 

Published on Dec 24, 2024 at 5:58 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid

Last updated on Dec 24, 2024 at 1:14 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Tom Wood

A rare 1980s EV branded ‘revolutionary’ has popped up for sale on Facebook Marketplace in San Diego – and it could be your chance to get your hands on a piece of automotive history. 

Ever heard of the Electrek Uncar? No? We didn’t think so. 

Created by Unique Mobility in the 1970s to early 1980s, the Electrek Uncar is a retro electric vehicle that’s almost as rare as it is unusual-looking.

If you fancy getting your hands on one – then now is your chance because this example has just come up for sale online. 

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The obscure EV has earned itself a spot in the history books

We’ve seen a huge rise in the popularity of electric vehicles in recent years – so much so, that the Tesla Model Y was the best-selling car of 2023 and some all-electric owners have even questioned why anyone would buy a gas vehicle

However, decades before this boom, Colorado-based Unique Mobility was crafting the Electrek Uncar. 

It’s very different from the sort of EV you’d see today – as it comes with a manual transmission. 

Yep – an electric vehicle with a manual transmission. 

And if you’re now reading that and thinking, ‘that sounds like a bad idea’, then you’re probably not wrong. 

According to guys from the Aging Wheels YouTube – who were lucky enough to get behind the wheel of an Electrek Uncar – the best thing to do is ignore the gearbox entirely. 

They suggested leaving the vehicle in second and treating the car like it has a single-speed gearbox.

The car is up for sale on Facebook Marketplace, if you’re interested…

It’s unclear how many Electrek Uncars were made before production was pulled, but its thought to be around 50 or so, making the car a very rare find. 

However, somewhat remarkably, a great condition example situated in San Diego is currently listed for sale on Facebook Market for the low price of just $6,000. 

“The car was revolutionary then and still is today,” the Facebook Marketplace listing reads.

The car is fitted with a 17.5KWh Lithium Ion battery paired with a 32KW GE brushed DC shunt wound motor and has a range 80km to 110km (50-70 miles), according to the seller. 

It has a maximum speed of around 110km/h (70mph) and features ‘robust and capable regenerative braking’. It also has a super-low mileage, with just 5,000 miles on the clock.

What more can you ask for?

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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Across her career she's covered a wide variety of topics, including celebrity, cryptocurrency, politics, true crime and just about everything in between.