Troubled three-wheel car startup Elio Motors is getting a $2.5 million lifeline from online retailer Overstock.com to help it pay off debts and accounts payable and fund capital expenditures.

Elio started in 2008 with its fanciful, efficient dream. The reality is that it takes a lot to build a car and founder Paul Elio realizes that when he's in the still fairly empty plant. "It's ...