Troubled Faraday Future Auctions off Pikes Peak Prototype

 

This Faraday Future FF 91 is—to our knowledge—the first car the company’s ever offered for sale. That's probably not a good sign.

Electric car manufacturer Faraday Future seemed to have a future. That vision has been crumbling for years, and it's been one troubling sign after another. The latest indication that things are going badly has a silver lining, however. Instead of creditors getting stiffed or executives jumping ship, this bit of news includes an actual car you can buy. In fact, this FF 91 prototype is—as far as we can tell—the first, and so far only, Faraday Future vehicle to go up for sale. Buying it won't save the company, but at least you'll be able to hold a tangible product produced by a company that otherwise just seems to be burning cash.

And this is no ordinary FF 91 prototype. It's the car that ran up Pikes Peak in 2017 in a claimed record time, although it wasn't a production car—and, frankly, still isn't, and probably never will be. Set aside the symbolism of the company getting rid of what should be one of its most prized assets, and you'll find a bespoke, one-off car that's seen some hard use but likely still offers a lot of enjoyment.

This FF 91 produces a claimed 1,050 hp, which helps it launch to 60 mph in a claimed 2.3 seconds. That's nothing to shake a stick at. Its claimed driving range of 378 miles is also impressive. What, if any, of the FF 91's impressive drivetrain components could be replaced or fixed if they fail isn't clear, but anyone thinking of bidding should plan for such an inevitability. The interior is also very minimalist. It's simple, purposeful, and not particularly clean. It's a prototype, after all, and one that's seen some intense use.

Available at Worldwide Auctioneers, this FF 91 will be sold at the Auburn Auction on September 5th. We don't have an auction estimate or even a good understanding of the car's working condition, though. The biggest unknown, however, is what a buyer could do with this machine, since it's almost certainly not street legal and probably impossible to register. Maybe it'll give a competitor some critical intel in taking its own electric model over the line? Whatever happens with this FF 91, it's a fascinating bit of EV history.