The 2002 Ford Think Neighbor: A Quirky, Doorless Electric Microcar

The Ford Think Neighbor: A Unique Electric Microcar

• 💡 The 2002 Ford Think Neighbor is a peculiar, doorless electric vehicle built in Norway, representing an unusual chapter in Ford's history.
• 🎯 Originally conceived by the Norwegian company Think in the early 1990s, it was designed as a small, urban micromobility car, similar to the concept of the Smart car.
• 🚗 Ford acquired Think in the late '90s and released the Ford Think City Car, a more conventional electric vehicle, before this Neighbor model.

Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) Classification

• ⚡ The Think Neighbor is classified as a low-speed vehicle (LSV) or neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) in the United States, intended for urban areas with lower speed limits.
• 🏫 Its target demographic included college campuses, hospital campuses, and corporate parks, where short-distance travel is common.
• 🛣️ Officially limited to 25 mph, this particular model was clocked at 29 mph, and it offered a range of about 30 miles on a full charge, taking 4-8 hours to recharge.

Quirky Shelby and Ford Modifications

• 🏁 This specific Think Neighbor features extensive cosmetic upgrades, including racing stripes, Shelby badges, a Shelby GT500 badge, and a Cobra logo, leaning into a muscle car aesthetic.
• 🪵 Interior modifications include a wood steering wheel reminiscent of 1960s Shelby Mustangs and a purported signature of Carroll Shelby on the dashboard.
• 💨 Quad exhaust pipes are a notable, albeit non-functional, addition, enhancing the Shelby theme.
• 🛞 The most striking modification is the use of actual Ford Mustang wheels from an S197 model, fitting the vehicle's Ford connection.

Interior Features and Omissions

• 💺 The interior offers four basic seats, with three-point seat belts in both the front and rear, and car-like controls such as turn signal and windshield wiper stalks.
• 💨 Notably, the vehicle has no doors, though optional vinyl siding with plastic windows was available for inclement weather.
• 🔑 Instead of a gear lever, the ignition key controls the gear selection (Drive, Reverse, Turf Mode, Off), with 'Turf Mode' limiting speed to 15 mph for use on grass.
• 📦 Storage is available in a sizable glove box and a rear trunk, but the front compartment is open to the ground and not suitable for storage.

Technology and Driving Experience

• 📊 The technology is limited, featuring a central circular screen displaying speed, odometer, parking brake status, and battery level, with a secondary battery indicator between the seats.
• 🔊 A prominent, likely aftermarket, stereo system is mounted on the rear ceiling, often blinking with colored lights.
• 🛣️ Driving the Think Neighbor is akin to a more substantial golf cart, offering a basic, exposed experience with significant tire and wind noise.
• ⚠️ The vehicle lacks significant structural safety features, and the brakes require considerable force. Visibility is excellent due to its open design.
• 💯 Despite its quirks and limitations, the Think Neighbor is considered a unique and surprisingly affordable vehicle for specific use cases like campus navigation, earning a DougScore of 27/100.