The Untold Story of the Amectran EXAR-1, a 70s Electric Pioneer

Vision Wasted - In the late 1970s, the world was beginning to feel the urgency for new energy solutions. With oil prices fluctuating and growing concerns about environmental sustainability, conversations around electric vehicles were starting to gain traction—albeit quietly and far from the mainstream. It was during this period that a little-known but wildly ambitious automotive project emerged, blending European elegance with American forward-thinking. Its name? The Amectran EXAR-1.

The Amectran EXAR-1 was one-of-a-kind electric sports car was the brainchild of Edmond X. Ramirez, Sr., who teamed up with legendary Italian designer Pietro Frua. (Picture from: EsperituRacer)

Built in 1979, the Amectran EXAR-1 was more than just a concept—it was a bold statement about the future of driving. This one-of-a-kind electric sports car was the brainchild of Edmond X. Ramirez, Sr., an American entrepreneur based in Dallas, Texas, who teamed up with legendary Italian designer Pietro Frua. The result was a sleek, futuristic coupe that stood apart not just in form, but in purpose. While the auto industry largely clung to combustion engines, the EXAR-1 dared to envision a world powered by electricity.

The Amectran EXAR-1 was a sleek, futuristic coupe that defied the combustion-dominated era with its bold vision of an electric-powered future. (Picture from: AldenJewell in Flickr)

The foundation of the EXAR-1 was itself a work of art. Originally conceived by Frua for BMW as the 3.0Si concept, the car debuted at the 1975 Turin Auto Show. Frua’s signature styling—refined, balanced, and undeniably Italian—gave the vehicle a look that wouldn't have been out of place beside the era’s top-tier grand tourers. But BMW never took the concept further, and Frua eventually reacquired the car, designating it internally as project number 374. 

 

With the original chassis back in his hands, Frua modified the platform just enough to make room for electric components—most notably, a battery pack and the electronics necessary to control it. Once the modifications were complete, the car was shipped across the Atlantic to Texas, where Ramirez and his team at Amectran (short for American Ecological Transportation) transformed it into a fully electric vehicle.

The Amectran EXAR-1 was built on Pietro Frua's BMW 3.0Si concept platform and powered by a General Electric electric motor driving the front wheels. (Picture from: CarsThatNeverMadeItEtc)

The finished EXAR-1 wasn’t just a showpiece; it was a legitimate contender for production. Its low-slung body and aerodynamic curves hinted at performance, while under the hood—or rather, under the sleek front end—sat a General Electric electric motor driving the front wheels. The projected specs were promising for the time: a top speed of around 80 mph, a curb weight of about 3,000 pounds, and dimensions that gave it the presence of a true grand touring car. Even though many technical details were kept under wraps, early reports praised the vehicle’s projected efficiency and hinted at real-world viability. 

The Amectran EXAR-1 was claimed by Amectran as “The World’s First Real Production-Ready Electronic Powered Automobile.” (Picture from: CarsThatNeverMadeItEtc)

Amectran boldly promoted the EXAR-1 as “The World’s First Real Production-Ready Electronic Powered Automobile.” This wasn’t just a catchy tagline—it reflected a genuine attempt to bring electric mobility into everyday life. Government officials took note, and the car was even lauded by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation before the prototype was completed. For a moment, it looked like the EXAR-1 could become a turning point in automotive history. 

The Amectran EXAR-1 had to make do with just 27 hp, targeting a range of 120 to 160 km thanks to the recuperation capability of its 700–800 kg lead batteries. (Picture from: Cheloveg in Flickr)

But as with many ambitious projects ahead of their time, momentum faded. Despite the buzz and enthusiasm, the car never reached mass production. Only one unit was ever built. Its journey took an unfortunate turn in the years that followed: seized by authorities in 1993, sold at auction in 1997, and later subjected to a bizarre series of modifications—including a failed attempt to attach a Porsche 944 body kit.

 

Yet not all is lost. The original Frua design remains mostly intact beneath the aftermarket damage. Better still, the car’s build tag is still in place, and its structural integrity has been preserved. The original blueprints are safe in the Frua archives in Germany, and there’s renewed interest from BMW’s heritage division, sparking hopes that this unique vehicle might one day be restored to its former glory. | 5YGLiVe1tCY |

The Amectran EXAR-1 is more than a fascinating footnote in automotive history—it’s a symbol of bold ideas and cross-cultural collaboration. At a time when electric vehicles were seen as fringe experiments, this elegant machine proved that performance, style, and sustainability didn’t have to be mutually exclusive. Today, as EVs line our streets and automakers race to go green, the EXAR-1 serves as a reminder that even decades ago, the road to the future had already begun. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AMECTRANELECTRICCARS | CARROZZIERI-ITALIANI | ALLCARINDEX | WIKIPEDIA | HEMMINGS | CHELOVEG IN FLICKR | ALDENJEWELL IN FLICKR | CARSTHATNEVERMADEITETC | ESPERITURACER | ZWISCHENGAS ]

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