Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
After Colonel Albert Pope became the nation's largest bicycle manufacturer, he set his sights on similar goals with the automobile. In 1896, Pope built an experimental electric car. The following year, he hired Hiram Percy Maxim to lead the motor carriage department of the Pope Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut. By the close of the 1800s, the company had built several hundred ore electrics under the Columbia name, which he also used for his bicycles.
Meanwhile, the Electric Vehicle Company was started by Isaac L. Rice in New York City with the intention of building electric taxicabs. A few had been put into service, just in time to be tested during the NY City's blizzard of 1899. They performed well, and Financier William Collins Whitney took notice and bought the company. Whitney needed a manufacturing base, so he approached Colonel Pope for assistance. The result was the Columbia Automobile Company of Hartford, organized in 1899.
Within a few short years, the company had nine models of the Columbia electric, carrying such names as Mark XXI, Mark XXXV, and Mark III. Body styles included runabouts, Victoria's, phaetons, Surrey, and cabriolets.
This 1903 Columbia Electric Surrey was purchased from the James Cousens Cedar Crossing Collection in 2008 by the John O'Quinn collection. It is a Mark XIX with a dual direct-drive Edison DC motor with two-wheel mechanical brakes.
In 2011, the car was offered for sale at the Hershey Auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $70,000 - $90,000. As bidding came to a close, the car was sold for the sum of $68,750, inclusive of the buyer's premium.By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2011
Meanwhile, the Electric Vehicle Company was started by Isaac L. Rice in New York City with the intention of building electric taxicabs. A few had been put into service, just in time to be tested during the NY City's blizzard of 1899. They performed well, and Financier William Collins Whitney took notice and bought the company. Whitney needed a manufacturing base, so he approached Colonel Pope for assistance. The result was the Columbia Automobile Company of Hartford, organized in 1899.
Within a few short years, the company had nine models of the Columbia electric, carrying such names as Mark XXI, Mark XXXV, and Mark III. Body styles included runabouts, Victoria's, phaetons, Surrey, and cabriolets.
This 1903 Columbia Electric Surrey was purchased from the James Cousens Cedar Crossing Collection in 2008 by the John O'Quinn collection. It is a Mark XIX with a dual direct-drive Edison DC motor with two-wheel mechanical brakes.
In 2011, the car was offered for sale at the Hershey Auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $70,000 - $90,000. As bidding came to a close, the car was sold for the sum of $68,750, inclusive of the buyer's premium.By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2011
2011 RM Auctions - Hershey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $70,000-USD $90,000
Sale Price :
USD $68,750
Recent Sales of the Columbia Electric
(Data based on Model Year 1903 sales)
1903 Columbia Electric Surrey Sold for USD$68,750 2011 RM Auctions - Hershey |
Columbia Electrics That Failed To Sell At Auction
1903 Columbia Electric's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $68,750 range.
1971 Chevrolet Camaro RS Z28 Chassis#:124871n521893 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1957 Buick Special Chassis#:4d4036723 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
2014 Audi R8 Spyder Chassis#:wuavnafgxen000294 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1972 Chevrolet Blazer Chassis#:cce182f163287 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible Chassis#:124679n651848 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1991 Ferrari 348 TS Chassis#:zffrg36axm0089202 Sold for $68,750 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Chassis#:194675s115788 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
2013 Bentley Continental GTC Convertible Chassis#:scbgu3za6dc084896 Sold for $69,300 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1974 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty Chassis#:2v87x4n132334 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A Chassis#:jh23j0b299284 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1934 Ford Victoria Street Rod Chassis#:181566246 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1968 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS Chassis#:124378n325427 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1955 Chevrolet 210 Chassis#:b550058502 Sold for $68,200 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1985 Ferrari 400i Chassis#:ZFFEB06B000055521 Sold for $68,138 2024 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1956 Austin-Healey 100/4 BN2 Chassis#:BN2-L/230406 Sold for $69,424 2024 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1900 Darracq Perfecta 2 Quadricycle Chassis#:B 362 Sold for $68,722 2024 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde a Paris | |
2010 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupé Chassis#:SCFEFBAC4AGC14169 Sold for $68,722 2024 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde a Paris | |
1970 PONTIAC GTO JUDGE RAM AIR III Chassis#:242370P160448 Sold for $68,200 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1974 VOLKSWAGEN 23-WINDOW CUSTOM MICROBUS RE-CREATION Chassis#:BH330071 Sold for $68,200 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1967 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL CONVERTIBLE Chassis#:7Y86G805695 Sold for $68,200 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ |
1903 Columbia Electric
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery