Forget The New Tesla, Buy This Milburn Electric Instead
Driving a Tesla isn’t for everyone these days. Elon Musk’s recent political exploits have turned the electric vehicles into cultural hot potatoes and for some would-be green car owners, it just isn’t worth the trouble.
Fortunately for them, there are plenty of options available these days, including the value-leading Chevrolet Equinox EV, but few will stand out from the crowd the way, say, a Cybertruck does, if that’s what you’re looking for.
We did find one electric car that would turn a lot of heads and might also be a bargain, if you’re willing to put in a little work.
It’s a 1921 Milburn Electric Model 27L Brougham that is listed on the Bring A Trailer auction website that doesn’t just have classic styling, but some some very interesting features compared to the EVs of today.
The Toledo, Ohio-based Milburn built electric vehicles from 1915 through 1923, primarily for law enforcement customers, but in 1919 added the consumer-focused Model 27L Brougham to the lineup.
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The cars were powered by a 5 hp electric motor driving the rear wheels through a four-speed transmission with two reverse gears connected to a worm-gear axle and had an advertised top speed of 23 mph. The driving range was estimated at 60 miles per charge, but you didn’t have to plug it in. The company offered a battery swap program where a tray of depleted lead-acid batteries mounted under the hood were exchanged for a fresh one.
The car was steered with a tiller attached to the left of the driver and speed controlled by another above it that provided a sort of one pedal driving. Push to go forward, pull to use the resistance of the motor to slow the vehicle, then go in reverse. Pedals on the floor operated the drum brakes and emergency brake.
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The car that is up for auction is a shell of its former self and does’t have seats, upholstery or any batteries, but it does have its original General Electric motor and transmission intact, so a handy buyer could potentially bring it back to life and improve it with new electrical equipment and batteries that have the benefit of a century of development behind them.
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To the victor of the auction may go the spoils as original and restored Milburns can be worth a pretty penny. Of the approximately 4,000 that were built, including the service vehicles, only 56 are known to still exist. In fact, a refurbished 1920 car was sold on Bring A Trailer in December, 2024 for $100,001.