THE SPARROW STORY
Sparrow #100: The Re-Boot Car That Tested the New AC Drive
The newest version of the Sparrow did not begin as a clean-sheet vehicle. It began with car #100 from the original Corbin Motors production run, Mike Corbin's own Sparrow, which the team converted to a new powerplant and drive train before any new chassis was built.
From the Sparrow archive. Product plans, events and availability described here belong to the original historical period.
Why an original car came first
The original Sparrows were driven by DC motors. To evaluate a three-phase AC drive, the team fitted it to car #100, using the revamped machine shop to fabricate a new motor mount and swingarm assembly. A fresh paint job accompanied the mechanical work.
Mike then spent a long stretch driving the converted car to confirm the AC system delivered the performance gains the team wanted. The same car later climbed Mount Washington in New Hampshire during a revived Electric Vehicle Regatta, reaching the summit without drama and recovering some charge on the descent through regenerative braking. The team recorded the experiment as a success, and the lessons fed directly into the later prototype.