fork truck update: going to see it on monday. it's a Baker FTD and is very heavy - 5000-8000 lbs. they want $500 whether we take the whole thing or just the parts. it must have lead ballast to be that heavy, because it's not physically very large (maybe 4x8 footprint, not counting the fork).
it DOES have a controller. it's a GE EV1 (not to be confused with GM's EV-1 electric car). apparently it's not the most efficient controller available, but if it works, i won't complain. it does have what's called a contactor bypass, which means when you're at "full throttle", a large relay directs current around the controller, straight to the motor. in that mode, the controller is 100% efficient (well, only because in that configuration it's 100% out of the loop).
it will not come with batteries.
for reference, here's an ebay listing for a 7000 lb baker ftd:
open ebay listing
in host vehicle news: a guy in another forum offered me his dead '91 swift for free, but he lives about 450 km away. ARg. he says the suspension mounts are fine... still keeping an eye out. something will come up.