THE SPARROW STORY
The 1996 Alpha Sparrow Proof of Concept
The Alpha Sparrow was Corbin's proof-of-concept prototype, hand built in 1996 at the company's facility in Castroville, California. It was finished just in time for a world debut at the San Francisco Auto Show near the end of that year.
From the Sparrow archive. Product plans, events and availability described here belong to the original historical period.
A small car among the big names
The Alpha followed two earlier test mules from 1995, the second of which carried a roll cage and safety gear so it could be licensed for road testing. The little yellow Alpha turned that groundwork into a finished body and chassis.
At the show, the Sparrow shared halls with major manufacturers and was likely one of the few electric vehicles present. The team remembered visitors repeatedly asking whether and when the car would be sold. Afterward the Alpha toured motorcycle rallies, including an appearance at Daytona Beach during Bike Week, gathering feedback that led directly to the beta cars of 1997.