The Milburn electric car was made by the New Jersey based Milburn Wagon Company in 1923. It was considered a luxury product and was one of several electric vehicles of the early 20th century. Rather than using a wheel, a driver used a lever within to operate power and steering, while the button on the end of the lever sounded the horn. The batteries had to be charged every night and had to be replaced every three years. The Milburn could drive up to 60 miles with each charge, and could go up to 20mph, which although may not seem fast, was fast for the time. Because it operated with batteries, there was no pollution and little noise. Despite its early success, however, it eventually lost out to gasoline-powered vehicles. Mass production and the discovery of oil made gasoline-powered cars more affordable and able to travel longer distances. Though these early electric vehicles eventually disappeared from the market, they laid the groundwork for the resurgence of electric cars in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

This Milburn electric car was gifted to University of Chicago head football coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg (1862-1965), who had developed rheumatism at a younger age. This made it far easier for him to coach the football team in colder weather rather than using a motorcycle to get around the field. The car was painted maroon (the University of Chicago color) after it was gifted to him, but when it was acquired by the museum, it was painted back to the original blue and black livery colors.