The drunk local, and the EV

["paul.compton" <paul.compton@BBSRC.AC.UK>]

	Some years ago, I was in Flamstead, playing bar billiards one lunchtime
at the Three Blackbirds pub. Not exactly my 'local', but I had friends living
in the village. During one game one of the regulars approached Mark and myself,
'You guys are car nuts aren't you?' an admission was made that this might
indeed be the case. We were informed that one of the local girls had rolled her
Triumph Herald in a nearby lane, 'Hark the Herald axles swing'  Mark and I
chorused in unison (this will make sense to Triumph enthusiasts). 'No she was
just pissed' (translation-drunk) was the reply. It turned out that the car had
already been partially stripped, mainly trim items, but was mostly mechanically
intact. We went more or less straight round and purchased the remains for 20
quid. The hulk was then put into storage. 
	A few weeks later I was visiting another Mark (at one time I knew 4
Marks and 5 Daves), one who wheels and deals in classic cars. There standing in
his front garden was what at first glance appeared to be a malformed Bond Bug,
but with four wheels. It was, of course, a Sebring Vanguard Citycar. Mark had
taken it, and a couple of other cars in exchange for a Ford Zodiac. Now he was
stuck with it. In a moment, I offered to swap it for the remains of the Herald.
Now I owned my first EV. 
	It appears that the car had been brought over for the London Motorshow,
presumably as a temporary import. As such no import duty would have been payed.
When the show was over the car was left behind, either sold (probably
illegally), or simply abandoned because of the cost of shipping compared to the
value. A string of owners followed (although the car was never registered,
possibly because it wasn't officially here), one being a scrap dealer who used
it to get about his yard. By the time I aquired the vehicle it was in poor
shape, threads stripped on several wheel studs, all the brake hydraulics
seized, cracked bodywork etc. The addition of four batteries donated by my
friendly vehicle dismantler (I've been going there so long they give me
credit!) proved it worked, albeit with a range of about 1 mile.
	An attempt to put the Citycar on the road was made, but there were too
many obstacles. Discrete inquiries, established that if I were to attempt to
register it I might be liable for import duty. On the original import value!
The Battery Vehicle Society was reluctant to give any help unless I joined. The
sources for batteries I was able to find were unwilling to try and match the
battery specification in the manual (which was amazingly still with the car),
and quoted prices between 110 and 200 pounds per battery ($180-$330) plus the
17.5% vat! Insurance companies wouldn't quote for an EV, and although I was
able to get in touch with Jim Tervort to try and order parts, he would never
return calls.
	Eventually the time came when the car was due to be evicted from its
temporary storage. At this point it was sold.......to a clown (you know, big
red nose, floppy shoes etc.)

	Unfortunately by this time I was hooked!


	paul.compton@bbsrc.ac.uk		paulceps@aol.com

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