Zagato is responsible for some of the most famous and beautiful sport cars in history, but few may know that the coachbuilder created a tiny electric car back in early 1970s. It was a time when the market shifted to more affordable and practical vehicles that did not necessarily require Italian craftsmanship.

Debuting at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show, the electric microcar, Zagato Zele was built with a steel framed chassis derived from the Fiat 500 and Fiat 124 with a fiberglass body. Powered by four 12-volt batteries, they are charged by plugging the car to a main power supply through a transformer and offer a range of approximately 80 km, with a limited too speed of 40 km/h. It has been throughly restored and there are even photos of the restoration process in case you need any proof.

About 500 examples were built, and this bright yellow example with its Marelli electric motor is being auctioned by RM Sotheby’s in London with an estimate of just £5,000 – £10,000.