The electric car epiphany is not exactly new, as UK classic car auction specialist, Historics at Brooklands, emphasises with the sale of two astonishingly competent, electrically propelled cars dating back to manufacture in 1906.
The USA-built centegenarian duo, an elegantly named 1906 Pope Waverley Victoria Phaeton and 1907 Victor High Wheel Electric Runabout, go on sale at Historics’ major summer auction at Brooklands Museum, Surrey, UK in June 2016.
The fact that Brooklands, the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation, was opened in 1907 only adds to the resonance of these electric time-warp masterpieces as they come under the hammer.
Immensely rare and sought-after today, they were no flashes in the pan at the time they were built. Indeed, emphasising the clamour for electric cars as personal mobility became the mantra, there were over 100 manufacturers of battery-powered cars in the early 20th century. It was only advances in the internal combustion engine and the mass production of cheaper petrol vehicles that sounded the death knoll of the electric car movement.
The 1906 Pope Waverley Victoria Phaeton, with an estimated bid price of £30,000 to £40,000, sold at the time of its build in Nebraska for some US$1600, and is notable for its supreme presentation. Fully restored and elegant in the extreme, the convertible features a leather-lined hood, with the additional sumptuous comfort of complementary leg covers.
Seating two on the floral-print, button-back fabric “bench” seat, plus a rear-facing occasional seat, the car is steered by tiller and rudimentary but extremely effective controls to go and stop. With electric coach lamps, it is fully capable of night-time expeditions, but it is in its element with the roof down on a summer’s day.
Brought to the UK by the vendor some years ago, the Pope Waverley is now equipped with modern-technology batteries and a charging system, giving it a very useable range.
The very compact 1907 Victor High Wheel Runabout, built one year later in Indianapolis, spent many years on display in an American museum before being imported to the UK, where it was the subject of a complete sympathetic overhaul. This included the fitment of contemporary batteries and charging system, and a recent repaint of both the chassis and bodywork, together with black leather upholstery and far from rudimentary patent leather mudguards to protect its inhabitants. As is the case of the Pope Waverley, vision is superb from the high driving position.
In common with today’s “new age” electric vehicles, the Victor is practically silent when running, all the more so thanks to minimal solid tyre contact. Perhaps today’s EV manufacturers could take a cue from the Victor, which is equipped with a large bell on the driver’s side so pedestrians are aware of its stately approach.
In common with the 1906 Pope Waverley, much interest in this equally rare and sought-after Victor is anticipated at its estimated bid price of £30,000-£40,000. 
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