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1905 Woods electric car sells for $95,000 (pictures)

A rare car from the early days of pioneering electric autos sells at auction for more than what it would cost you to buy a new Tesla.

Amanda Kooser
Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET. When not wallowing in weird gear and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto.
Amanda Kooser
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An electric car from 1905

A fascinating 1905 Woods Motor Vehicle Company electric car sold for almost $95,000 (about £62,500, AU$135,500) at a Bonhams auction on September 26.

The Woods Queen Victoria Brougham cost more than most modern electric cars, but its extreme rarity and fascinating place in automotive history made it a relative bargain.

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Lantern-like headlights

This electric car from 1905 would look like an alien next to a modern electric car like a Tesla. The drivable collector car has been retrofitted with lightweight batteries and a fast-charging system. This rarity just sold at auction.

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Woods Motor Company hubcap

This closeup of a hubcap on a 1905 Woods Queen Victoria electric car shows one of the vehicle's pleasing period details. The car has wood spokes for the wheels.

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Electric car with a wood body

There is plenty of tree material on display in the 1905 Woods Queen Victoria electric car. It has leather seats and can fit two people, though they will be squished in a bit close. It's nothing like the spacious modern electric cars now available on the market.

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1905 electric car hits 30 mph

The car isn't just a museum piece: It can reach speeds of up to 30 mph.

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Step up to a 1905 electric car

Teslas don't have exterior steps, but the 1905 Woods electric cars needed them so passengers could clamber into the tall vehicles. This step is imprinted with the Woods logo.

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Inside an ancient electric car

The Woods electric cars of the early 1900s were pricey vehicles. The interiors were fairly luxurious for the time, with button-and-tuck upholstery. Instead of a steering wheel, the car has a tiller. This was your great-great-grandma's electric car.

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Under an old electric car

Notice the drive chains on this 1905 Woods electric car. It's fairly primitive compared with a modern-day Tesla, but this particular vehicle is still perfectly operational. It sold at a Bonhams auction over the weekend for almost $95,000 (about £62,500, AU$135,500).

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