WHAT IT IS, IS ELECTRIC Martin Perry at Hinds, the collector of Lost Causes, has bought this New Zealand made electric car from the collection of the late Ray Wynn of Nelson. It is one of seven or eight electric cars designed and built by a man called McConnachie of Timaru, possibly in the 1970s. They are based on a shortened Triumph Herald chassis and use standard Triumph front suspension while a cursory look at the rear seemed to indicate Morris 1100/1300 hydrolastic units. Lift the engine cover at the rear and you will see a central, north/south bay that holds what looks like four, good-sized twelve volt batteries that power two electric motors — one for each rear wheel via vee belts. The bodies — fibreglass of course — were made by a boat building company in Christchurch. The single row seating appears to be the rear seat from an English car, allowing three across in an intimate fashion. The dash is solid wood and the steering wheel is Morris/Austin 1100/1300. I have only the vaguest recollection of such devices. Anyone else heard of them.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 21:03:14 +0000
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