Detroit Electric Car

In the the mid-1950s I often saw Mrs. Fisher casually driving her Detroit Electric along Lake Shore Drive in the Detroit, Michigan suburb of Grosse Pointe Farms. That's Mrs Fisher, as in Fisher Body, the early 20th Century coach builder and still an operating division of General Motors Company.

Obviously, even in the the 1950s such a vehicle was a rare antique. But to see a shiny jet black Detroit Electric with a proud old lady driving along with Lake Saint Claire in the background, it was quite a sight. Especially for this kid who was car crazy in that car crazy town.

Also, even then, somehow I took Mrs Fisher riding along in that electric vehicle to be representing something to all who saw her and that car. To me she was saying, think "Electric." If indeed she was, she was surely ahead of her time. A visionary, perhaps.

As to the Detroit Electric Car. Just to say that it was, well, electric. Also, aluminum body and "Chainless" Shaft Drive. Notice in the video the lever operation. The ad says it is a no-brainer (contemporary jargon) to operate. Looks complicated to me. But, hey, we have been with the steering wheel and floor pedals for a long time.

Nowadays, electric cars are back. Could lever controls be far behind?