Nancy's guy Frank here, I also had a Citicar ... looked very much like yours. Same year also. We bought it used so we could have an inexpensive second car, my wife drove the main veh. to work and I took the Citicar to my job. I worked only about a mile and a half from my home, after work I went to the Y for exercise/swim another half mile and back home. So it worked perfect for me. Drove it for two years, even in the snow I worked in EMS so I had to be there no mater what (the car went surprisingly well in snow too, but I was VERY careful in ice and snow ). The side curtains had a gap that let the cold air into it in the winter, so I got a bungee cord and hooked it from one side curtain to the other over my head, that sealed the car very nicely. Being so close to work, I ended up charging it only once a week... got lazy about plugging it in. I even removed the factory charger that was on the shelf under the dash... to save weight. I did run it out of charge... twice. I was heading home and the car started to slow way down... I knew what was happening, so I just pulled over waited about 5 or 10 min. and started out again. The batteries had sort of "rested" and built up a little charge... got another foot ball field or so down the road and "rested" the batteries again. Did that about 4 or 5 times but I got it home under it's own power. During my ownership I replaced the 6 volt batteries, and later replaced the brushes in the electric motor. Getting that motor out (without any special equipment) was the worst part. One problem I had was that the body started to crack in various places, one place was the section beside the windshield, both sides of the car, a gap opened over the tubular frame. It was about 1/4 inch wide. Worried me a little and I ended up calling the factory (they were still in business then though I think the second or third group of owners). I was advised to get a person who knew how to "plastic weld" to weld it together. I had never heard of "welding" plastic of any type. So I gave up fixing those gaps. I did cover them with red electrical tape to keep the water out. Another problem, the rear rubber bumper started to disintegrate so I removed it and replaced it with a large wooden board with a very nice glossy finish. I think that actually added to the looks. My area is sort of hilly... (Northern NC near VA line) a very rolling landscape. The little car had a tough time going up those hills, never got to use it's top speed on the straight away due to the hills. But I did get it to go 47 MPH... ONE TIME... down hill. That was when I realized that the short wheel base and tight steering was NOT good for a car like that. I found that if I adjusted the steering wheel just a little bit... it was VERY possible to change lanes suddenly! I had crossed the double yellow center lines with out trying... scared me to death... got back in my lane just in time. 😳 You are right about that type of car not needing to go 55 MPH. A small "correction" could cause a bad accident. The roll bar frame gave me a "safe" feeling, normally, but I sure did not want to test it.😕 It was a fun car for me, I wish you all the best with your Citicar.
Cool car, I like it. Good you treat it seriously, instead of all the silly jokes that some other reviewers enjoy making. We get a good impression of what it's like.
It’s funny/crazy how this car looks compared to a normal sized vehicle. A normal sized vehicle makes it look like a road legal golf cart. It is cool nor the less. But if I own one I would have probably put a V-twin engine in it.
Greetings from Sweden! Cool little car, I just found your channel and saw that you have a lot of interesting videos, I subscribed right away. I was looking for inspiration when building a small snow plow for a lawn tractor, found one of your videos and that lead to watching another. Good stuff, thanks! Have a good day!
That high pitched buzzing sound is your contactors arcing... this will eat them up and cause resistance/heat and loss of current to the motor. You can fix it with some fine grit sandpaper between the contract
Nancy's Frank back at ya... In case you did not know... one of the newer versions, (maybe it was in '77 or '78 models) the manufacture put a "cowling" around the electric motor. It was designed to take outside air into the motor and then the heated air that the motor developed was funneled into the car... to give the occupants a little heat (small as it was) in the winter. I also just noticed that your car does not have the hub caps that came with the car when new... hope you got them when you bought the car. Very difficult to find now days... but they dress it up nicely. They were little baby moon caps with the name of the car on them.
I had forgot about the heat shroud, I did see that someplace. I broke the brushes in on the bench and the motor sure warmed up. I did get the hub caps, not in the best shape. I really want to put alum wheels on it as I think one of my wheels is bent.. I do have a Playlist for the citicar with early videos when I drug it home if your interested. It sat 32 years. Glenn
I mean, this car would suit me just fine. I don't drive much and when I do, it's not all that far. Of course, nothing like this exists new and probably never will.
Nancy's guy Frank here, I also had a Citicar ... looked very much like yours. Same year also. We bought it used so we could have an inexpensive second car, my wife drove the main veh. to work and I took the Citicar to my job. I worked only about a mile and a half from my home, after work I went to the Y for exercise/swim another half mile and back home. So it worked perfect for me.
Drove it for two years, even in the snow I worked in EMS so I had to be there no mater what (the car went surprisingly well in snow too, but I was VERY careful in ice and snow ). The side curtains had a gap that let the cold air into it in the winter, so I got a bungee cord and hooked it from one side curtain to the other over my head, that sealed the car very nicely. Being so close to work, I ended up charging it only once a week... got lazy about plugging it in. I even removed the factory charger that was on the shelf under the dash... to save weight.
I did run it out of charge... twice. I was heading home and the car started to slow way down... I knew what was happening, so I just pulled over waited about 5 or 10 min. and started out again. The batteries had sort of "rested" and built up a little charge... got another foot ball field or so down the road and "rested" the batteries again. Did that about 4 or 5 times but I got it home under it's own power.
During my ownership I replaced the 6 volt batteries, and later replaced the brushes in the electric motor. Getting that motor out (without any special equipment) was the worst part.
One problem I had was that the body started to crack in various places, one place was the section beside the windshield, both sides of the car, a gap opened over the tubular frame. It was about 1/4 inch wide. Worried me a little and I ended up calling the factory (they were still in business then though I think the second or third group of owners). I was advised to get a person who knew how to "plastic weld" to weld it together. I had never heard of "welding" plastic of any type. So I gave up fixing those gaps. I did cover them with red electrical tape to keep the water out. Another problem, the rear rubber bumper started to disintegrate so I removed it and replaced it with a large wooden board with a very nice glossy finish. I think that actually added to the looks.
My area is sort of hilly... (Northern NC near VA line) a very rolling landscape. The little car had a tough time going up those hills, never got to use it's top speed on the straight away due to the hills. But I did get it to go 47 MPH... ONE TIME... down hill. That was when I realized that the short wheel base and tight steering was NOT good for a car like that. I found that if I adjusted the steering wheel just a little bit... it was VERY possible to change lanes suddenly! I had crossed the double yellow center lines with out trying... scared me to death... got back in my lane just in time. 😳 You are right about that type of car not needing to go 55 MPH. A small "correction" could cause a bad accident. The roll bar frame gave me a "safe" feeling, normally, but I sure did not want to test it.😕
It was a fun car for me, I wish you all the best with your Citicar.
Loved your comment. I never even thought about ice and snow driving!
Thanks for sharing.
Glenn
Cool car, I like it. Good you treat it seriously, instead of all the silly jokes that some other reviewers enjoy making. We get a good impression of what it's like.
It’s funny/crazy how this car looks compared to a normal sized vehicle. A normal sized vehicle makes it look like a road legal golf cart. It is cool nor the less. But if I own one I would have probably put a V-twin engine in it.
Most underrated video on UA-cam
Wow... Thanks
Glenn
Greetings from Sweden! Cool little car, I just found your channel and saw that you have a lot of interesting videos, I subscribed right away. I was looking for inspiration when building a small snow plow for a lawn tractor, found one of your videos and that lead to watching another. Good stuff, thanks! Have a good day!
Thanks for the sub!
That high pitched buzzing sound is your contactors arcing... this will eat them up and cause resistance/heat and loss of current to the motor. You can fix it with some fine grit sandpaper between the contract
I took the time yesterday to file the points and they are quiet now. Thanks for the comment.
Glenn
This car have a fun face!
Interesting car ,it's a trip, I would use it for running around also.
Nancy's Frank back at ya... In case you did not know... one of the newer versions, (maybe it was in '77 or '78 models) the manufacture put a "cowling" around the electric motor. It was designed to take outside air into the motor and then the heated air that the motor developed was funneled into the car... to give the occupants a little heat (small as it was) in the winter. I also just noticed that your car does not have the hub caps that came with the car when new... hope you got them when you bought the car. Very difficult to find now days... but they dress it up nicely. They were little baby moon caps with the name of the car on them.
I had forgot about the heat shroud, I did see that someplace. I broke the brushes in on the bench and the motor sure warmed up. I did get the hub caps, not in the best shape. I really want to put alum wheels on it as I think one of my wheels is bent.. I do have a Playlist for the citicar with early videos when I drug it home if your interested. It sat 32 years.
Glenn
@@GlennsSpeedShop WOW! 32 years... a long time. I would enjoy seeing it being "drug home" 😀
Cool ride👍
"PromoSM" 👀
I mean, this car would suit me just fine. I don't drive much and when I do, it's not all that far. Of course, nothing like this exists new and probably never will.
Copy that. I am thinking of selling this one ..