Show all images
View video

Mars II Electric — 1968

One of 45 built and likely the only one in Europe. The electric car was purchased new by Vattenfall in 1968 and has now been revived in the present day under the supervision of the magazine Klassiker. Here, one can journey back to the future and feel the bold spirit of experimentation that characterized the 1960s.

Tore Thallaug
Inspector
Send message
Ida Johansen
Case manager
Send message

"If you want to stand out from the crowd and be a trendsetter, then this car is for you. As its next owner, you will be a pioneer among electric car enthusiasts at gatherings and events across the country. While other electric car drivers are still waiting for another 25 years, you will be welcome at classic car meets, whether it’s with the Renault club or Am-car. This unique car with its Swedish history and charming condition will bring joy wherever it goes. You could even start planning to establish an electric car museum around it right now."

COUNTDOWN
CURRENT BID
ENDED
50 400SEK
LOT NUMBER
LOCATION
17150
STOCKHOLM
RESERVE PRICE
Reached
LOGIN TO PLACE BIDS
You need an account and be logged in to place bids.
Tip and share
Tore Thallaug
Inspector
Send message
Ida Johansen
Case manager
Send message

"If you want to stand out from the crowd and be a trendsetter, then this car is for you. As its next owner, you will be a pioneer among electric car enthusiasts at gatherings and events across the country. While other electric car drivers are still waiting for another 25 years, you will be welcome at classic car meets, whether it’s with the Renault club or Am-car. This unique car with its Swedish history and charming condition will bring joy wherever it goes. You could even start planning to establish an electric car museum around it right now."

Description

When the Royal Board of Vattenfall received a Mars II Electric in February 1968, the news made a big impact. The leading newspapers wrote about the new and very expensive electric car, which gave Sweden the opportunity to test the new technology that could eventually help reduce our dependence on oil. At that time, Sweden had many initiatives, including nuclear power, to meet new energy needs and to become more self-sufficient.

Hopes for the new acquisition were high. The range was reported to be 11-19 miles, and the batteries were said to be able to charge up to 80% in 45 minutes. It was used as an experimental car by Vattenfall for ten years, but the limitations of the car were quickly realized. The batteries performed poorly in cold weather, and handling was not straightforward, according to former Vattenfall employees.

In the late 1970s, it was sold to a private individual who did not drive it much but kept it for over 40 years. Then it was put up for auction on eBay, and the magazine Klassiker placed the winning bid and collected the car in Falun, now without its batteries.

Taking on a fifty-year-old electric car was a challenge for the new owners. Various measures were discussed, one of which was to install a drivetrain from a modern electric car. However, the Klassiker team, being the enthusiasts they are, wanted to preserve as much as possible of the original and completely analog technology. Originally, there were 20 six-volt batteries with 250 Ah, weighing 41 kg each. To handle the increased weight, the suspension was reinforced, and the tires were given larger dimensions. The four battery groups of five each could be connected in series or parallel, providing 30, 60, or 120 volts in different stages. The primary goal was to get the car back on the road and inspected. Together with Verktygsboden, they addressed the various issues. All safety features were checked and addressed. The electric motor worked, but no suitable six-volt batteries could be found, so instead, eight 12-volt Varta leisure batteries were installed along with a set of chargers from CTEK.

Trivia: since the car did not run on gasoline, it was necessary at that time to have an odometer. Perhaps there is a politician who sees an opportunity in that setup even in our days?

The car is now inspected for eternity and ready to drive. Documentation and memorabilia accompany the car. You can find a wealth of articles and videos about the project at www.klassiker.nu/mars.

Technical data

  • Year
    1968/1968 
  • Registration date
    1968-02-28 
  • Mileage
    18,640 km 
  • Kw / hp
    11 / 15 
  • Fuel Type
    Electric 
  • Transmission
    Manual 
  • Interior finish
    Vinyl 
  • Colour
    Light Blue 

Condition

  • Mechanical condition:

    Starts up with a quick kick, fast and silent at the beginning. Since it now only has 96 volts compared to the original 120 volts, the speed capabilities are not the same as in 1968. With the batteries currently installed, the Mars almost reaches 60 km/h, and the range is estimated to be around 2-3 miles. Charging is done with built-in CTEK chargers. All old technology is preserved to allow the car to be restored to its original condition. During a short test drive, the car felt responsive, a bit jerky, but it was a pleasant ride. The jerkiness is partly explained by the clutch pressure plate sticking against the flywheel. This has no major practical significance since the gearbox does not necessarily need to be used while driving but should be addressed in the long run. It was possible to start in the highest gear, but lower gear is recommended for steep hills to save battery. The mechanical brain with contactors, relays, and cables reminiscent of an older tram behind the rear seat’s backrest sounded pleasant and familiar to a resident of Bromma. The car has been inspected underneath, and it looked good in vital parts, according to the vehicle inspection authority. There are superficial signs of rust.

  • Interior condition:

    In addition to the extra instruments and controls for the electric drive, the interior is in good original condition with some signs of wear from use. The rear seat was missing and was acquired, upholstered in the same vinyl.

  • Exterior condition:

    Most of it appears to be in original condition with signs of wear from use. The paint has scratches, chips, small dents, and minor signs of rust. Newer tires. The externally mounted spare wheel is a neat detail.

  • General condition:

    Describing this as a enthusiast and collector car is an understatement. It’s actually a unique vehicle with a history spanning automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and energy sectors, not to mention a story of engineering and future optimism - from 60 years ago. The fact that the shell is an ordinary Renault 10 from the 1960s elevates the entire experience to another level, somewhere between fiction and reality. The history and condition in symbiosis with the aura of this concept make it a collector’s item of high caliber.

MOT (tech. insp.)

Fordonsstatus: Itrafik 2023-08-30
Ursprungsbesiktning: 1968-02-28 (regbes)
Datum i trafik första gången: 1968-02-28
Senast godkända besiktning: 2022-09-22
Besiktningsbefriad: Ja
Skattebefriad: Ja
Körförbud: Nej
Antal ägare: 4

Facts about the model

The history of electric vehicles is as old as that of automobiles themselves and was present from the beginning. Initially, steam engines, internal combustion engines, and electric motors were all used, but the internal combustion engine eventually emerged victorious, it’s worth noting. Various attempts have been made with electric propulsion over the years, and one inventor and entrepreneur who ventured into this field was Robert R Aronson, of Swedish descent, who dedicated much of his life to electrifying the automotive world. In the 1960s, he developed an electric car, a concept similar to what Tesla achieved fifty years later. The car was a Mars II Electric, essentially a Renault 10 stripped of its gasoline engine, tank, and exhaust system. Instead, it was equipped with a 12 kW electric motor mounted on the gearbox. With this, he demonstrated that it was possible to build an electric car with decent range and the possibility of fast charging. Furthermore, he had a clear idea of how a charging network could be established. Through an agreement with the hotel chain Holliday Inn, he created a network of fast chargers between Detroit and Chicago, naming the route the Electric Car Expressway. It wasn’t a success at the time but could be considered an embryo of things to come. Forty-five units of the car were built in 1968, and at least one of these made its way to Europe and Sweden.

Location and viewing Information

Location: Stockholm

For viewing the vehicle, contact the inspector/case manager:

Tore Thallaug
+46 705 90 23 65
tore@bilwebauctions.se

Pick up

Collection must take place before: 2024-06-20.

NOTE! Payment (deposit to our account) must be made within 5 days and before collection.

Auction information

General information about the condition of the vehicles .
  • At this auction, many vehicles have been included in car collections and have been stored (mothballed) for a long time. For this reason, they are described from a collector's perspective and may need technical reviews and maintenance service - oil, battery replacement, new tires, brake review, etc. - before they can be used. .
  • During the auction days information about a vehicle may be updated up to the day before the auction ends. When you bid at the end of the auction period - and also if you have made an earlier bid - we therefore ask you to read the descriptions carefully, in case something has been changed due to new information.
Important to know before placing your bids!
  • Once you have called in an item and the reservation price is reached we want you to deposit the entire purchase amount into our client funds account before retrieval can take place.
  • When you need to retrieve a called in object we want you to examine it carefully. If you consider that the item does not match our description you do not need to complete the purchase. In this case the deposited purchase sum and the entry fee are refunded.
  • If you do not examine the item on the spot the call charge will be debited, but you do not have to complete the deal.
  • If you make the entire purchase exclusively at a distance you have 14 days to cancel, but must return the item at your own expense.
  • Your shipping costs and other costs are not reimbursed when the right of withdrawal is exercised. Swedish court applies.
  • For items that have not been collected within 14 days storage costs may be charged.

Thank you for following our auctions!

We will send you an email when bidding starts.


Tack för visat intresse, du kommer nu få nyheter och information om kommande auktioner.

STÄNG