When you walk through the glass doors of the new building that houses Electric Car Distributors, you will also be walking through the past, present and into the future of the golf car industry.

Located on Highway III in Rancho Mirage, California, Electric Car Distributors prides themselves on their Coachella Valley ties since their opening in 1961.

Founder Bob Thomas is the man who saw a need and capitalized on that need. Comfortably seated at his desk located on the showroom floor, Thomas enjoys being part of the action in his new eighty-five hundred square-foot building.

Behind closed doors does not apply to Thomas who exudes a one of the good ol' boys personality. A man who knows everyone and eagerly greets anyone with a handshake and a smile makes one forget this successful businessman has annual sales topping $17m. With telephones ringing, messages on post-it notes scattered about his desk, Thomas is content discussing fishing, weather, the never ending road construction on Highway III or the breakfast specials at Keedy's Fountain Grill in Palm Desert, the local diner Thomas frequents regularly, and oh yes, should you choose to buy a golf car, that's ok too.

The walls surrounding Thomas are covered with awards and photographs of presidents, athletes, music and entertainment personalities, professional golfers, computer titans, CEO's and friends who have made their way into Thomas's life, via golf car purchases, a round-of-golf or through community affairs.

"We sell golf cars, not carts" is the first thing Thomas emphasizes, with his easygoing smile. "Carts are something you pull, an electric car has it's own power, a cart doesn't."

Born in 1933, Thomas grew up in nearby Indio, California with his parents and two brothers. His career in the golf car industry came after working at local Thunderbird Country Club. A caddie during the season and a gardener and handyman during the hot summers months, Thomas's pursuit of a stable income prompted him to continually look for new opportunities.

It was during this era that golf cars were not allowed on golf courses anywhere. Golfers walked while caddies carried their bags. Thomas recalls the events that changed golf forever, "a local member with a doctor's note obtained a permit to use a golf car. More and more golfers applied for permits and soon golfers used any method available to use electric cars."

Thunderbird quickly realized the need for private electric cars and built cart paths to prevent course damage. Thomas switched from his gardening and handyman duties to work on the club's golf cars. In the process of learning all there was to know about golf cars, he started selling "electro-caddies" he'd haul from a manufacturer in Redlands,
California forty-five minutes away.

Earning a couple of hundred dollars profit on each sale, within two years, Thomas was forced to move forward. "It got to be too much so I looked for a little two man shop." The "little" shop of choice was eight hundred square feet and formerly occupied by a topless nightclub.

Firmly entrenched in his leased location (which he later purchased) Thomas's line of new and used cars consisted of Turf Riders, Cushman and the Taylor Dunn Thunderbird golf cars. Within a year, the demands of the business forced Thomas to leave Thunderbird Country Club and ardently pursue his new career in the electric car business.

Catering to the only four courses in the Coachella Valley, Thomas's two-man operation grew rapidly as the desire for electric cars created first year sales of over thirty vehicles.

Confident of success (and needing more help) Thomas encouraged his younger brother Eddie to join the company. Already working in the hastily constructed car barn of Bermuda Dunes, Eddie also saw the future of electric cars, left Bermuda Dunes and proceeded to help build this family owned and operated company.

Midway through this forty-year ride, Thomas was faced with the dilemma of a successful business, yet customers who wanted and needed more from their cars begin to grow. "The customers wanted something different. A golf car with personality and flair, something nicer than a golf course car," he explained.

Already building custom cars but needing more chaises and ideas, Thomas found both by way of Scott Stevens, a young entrepreneur who also started in a country club car barn.

Twenty some years later and due to his unique talents in creating a golf car with sleekness and style, comfort, custom colors and any gadget a customer requests, Scott Stevens is president of his own manufacturing company, Western Golf Car.

Stevens, an original desert dweller also employs more than eighty people, selling exclusively through Electric Car. He is also active in numerous valley events with his family.

The relationship between Thomas and Stevens has benefited the consumer with such luxury options as air conditioning, televisions, CD players and more. Electric Cars current models are street smart and street ready, with head, tail and brake lights, turn signals, and seat belts. With hidden coolers to pack refreshments in and storage for any item imaginable, these golf cars are slowly replacing the need for a second car.

Customers may choose to create their own custom model or join the ranks of the unusual by purchasing a mini version of popular SUV's and other performance vehicles. Not different enough? Try the Lee lacocca designed Lido (Lido is Lee in Italian), or the Western Golf Car.

Electric Car stocks more than 150 golf cars at any given time for sale, tournaments and/or lease programs along with a full-service repair and maintenance department and over seventy employees.

In return for Thomas's good fortune (and hard work) he enjoys giving back to the valley he loves greatly, Electric Car has donated all the cars used in the Bob Hope Tournament from "day one." Electric Car also proudly sponsors community events such as the annual "Golf Cart Parade" organized by the City of Palm Desert.

The second trend to unveil in Thomas's life is the true meaning of family owned and operated. Beginning with Thomas's brother Eddie joining him back in the 60's, there are now seven family members working at Electric Car.

To date the business flourishes on more than a hundred valley golf courses and sales throughout the United States and an ever growing global market.

A thriving business and family members in place, is retirement looming for Thomas.? "No, I don't like to have too much free time on my hands. I come in six days a week unless I'm fishing, golfing or gaming (casino style). I like being here."

Francoise Rhodes is a staff writer with
Desert Golf Magazine