Electrifying Classic Cars

[leglessAlex]

singlecoil said:

M.F.D said:

singlecoil said:

I think he was possibly being a little bit humorous, why anybody would want to reproduce the noise of the hopelessly out of date IC motor is beyond me. Maybe when they have been consigned to history in the way in which steam engines have been then the nostalgia thing might kick in.

I think you, like so many on here, are in the wrong forum.

If you don't like the noise of Ferrari V8's with some spooly bad boys, then get yourself over to mumsnet and talk about appliances.

No thanks, I'm quite at home here. As you can see I've been here quite a long time and I'm planning to stay

In fact, given the subject of this thread, it's you that's in the wrong place.

I agree with singlecoil. I like this thread, and so far I haven’t seen anyone convert a 1 of 1, or anything truly special. F40s are cool, but didn’t they make quite a few of them really? An electric one doesn’t bother me much, there are still many IC ones out there if one wanted to buy one.

I think variety is the spice of life, and it’s weird how anyone that likes electric cars gets written off as not a petrolhead.

I have a Honda e, I love it, and I’d love something like a 190 SL that had been converted to electric.

I’m also on my way out the house this morning to go and look at a 1971 C10 pickup with a big block V8, so it’s not like I don’t like engines anymore

[DonkeyApple]

Andy665 said:

I watch Vintage Voltage and find some of the conversions make perfect sense whilst others I would not entertain.

Where the ICE is a weak spot in a vehicle (BMW Isetta, Land Rover, Beetle, 2CV6) then going electric really does improve them

When the engine has character and / or power (308, BMW CS, Fulvia) then going electric detracts from the overall package

I think that's probably the logical conclusion. No shortage of classics where the engine is an irrelevant part of the experience or even detrimental. Right at the other end there are plenty where the petrol engine is an integral part.

Likewise, there are some classics which are ubiquitous and if one or two get converted it's of no relevance whereas some are very rare and you'd feel more obliged to maintain the heritage.

In a way you have the E type sitting somewhere in the middle of those two factors. The engine plays a strong part but it's a ubiquitous classic.

Extreme examples of where the engine plays a massive role would be things like F40s whereas a great example of a car that can be vastly improved by simply removing the original engine and doing nothing else would be the diesel Range Rover Classic.

[ajprice]

DonkeyApple said:

Andy665 said:

I watch Vintage Voltage and find some of the conversions make perfect sense whilst others I would not entertain.

Where the ICE is a weak spot in a vehicle (BMW Isetta, Land Rover, Beetle, 2CV6) then going electric really does improve them

When the engine has character and / or power (308, BMW CS, Fulvia) then going electric detracts from the overall package

I think that's probably the logical conclusion. No shortage of classics where the engine is an irrelevant part of the experience or even detrimental. Right at the other end there are plenty where the petrol engine is an integral part.

Likewise, there are some classics which are ubiquitous and if one or two get converted it's of no relevance whereas some are very rare and you'd feel more obliged to maintain the heritage.

In a way you have the E type sitting somewhere in the middle of those two factors. The engine plays a strong part but it's a ubiquitous classic.

Extreme examples of where the engine plays a massive role would be things like F40s whereas a great example of a car that can be vastly improved by simply removing the original engine and doing nothing else would be the diesel Range Rover Classic.

to all of this.

[a8hex]

DonkeyApple said:

I think that's probably the logical conclusion. No shortage of classics where the engine is an irrelevant part of the experience or even detrimental. Right at the other end there are plenty where the petrol engine is an integral part.

Likewise, there are some classics which are ubiquitous and if one or two get converted it's of no relevance whereas some are very rare and you'd feel more obliged to maintain the heritage.

In a way you have the E type sitting somewhere in the middle of those two factors. The engine plays a strong part but it's a ubiquitous classic.

Extreme examples of where the engine plays a massive role would be things like F40s whereas a great example of a car that can be vastly improved by simply removing the original engine and doing nothing else would be the diesel Range Rover Classic.

ICE based classic cars also had their engines swapped about with other ICE. The obvious example is the Triumph Stag, loads had their V8s replaced with the Rover unit back in the days when they were just older cars. A few Spitfires had the Sprint engine fitted as it was lighter and lots more powerful, more powerful in a Spit than in a Doli as there was more room.
Even the original XKSS (XKSS701) spent part of its life with an American V8 under the bonnet in place of the iconic straight 6 and you can't really get a car which is more about its engine than that. E2A has spent most of its life with a normal(ish) XK engine in place of its special short block one.

[DonkeyApple]

Indeed. Ultimately it's just another engine swap.

[a8hex]

pingu393 said:

How would you know? Speakers and ECU-connected soundtrack will be the next big addition. Without getting up close, you won't be able to tell.

I think the whole idea of playing an artificial sound track to make it appear you've got a fruity car is about as mature as when we were 5 and used a clothes peg to hold a playing card in the spokes of a bicycle wheel to make it sound like a motorbike
And in grown ups should be treated in the same way that deliberately making any other sort of noise in a public place should be.

[soxboy]

Has anyone actually converted an F40 or is it just given as an extreme potential example?

I’ve seen that a few 308s have been done. I am a bit on the fence about these, on the one hand it is a character V8, on the other hand it is not that powerful (especially in GTBi or Federal spec) and from watching various YouTube videos it seems to be a pain to work on.

I would never replace one that was running perfectly fine but can understand why someone may look at alternatives to an engine rebuild.

[pingu393]

M.F.D said:

pingu393 said:

How would you know? Speakers and ECU-connected soundtrack will be the next big addition. Without getting up close, you won't be able to tell.

I think I'll be able to tell the difference somehow. You can literally see through the mesh at the rear of the F40, and through the transparent engine lid.

EV lovers, go and enjoy your Tesla's, leave our hero's alone!

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not an EV lover. I'm an EV appreciator. I'm as interested in the engineering inside a Casio as a Rolex, or a nuclear powered aircraft carrier or the diesel engine that powers a supertanker.

It's as much the future as the IC engine was in the 1880s.

[pingu393]

singlecoil said:

M.F.D said:

I think I'll be able to tell the difference somehow. You can literally see through the mesh at the rear of the F40, and through the transparent engine lid.

EV lovers, go and enjoy your Teslas, leave our heroes alone!

I think he was possibly being a little bit humorous, why anybody would want to reproduce the noise of the hopelessly out of date IC motor is beyond me. Maybe when they have been consigned to history in the way in which steam engines have been then the nostalgia thing might kick in.

Actually, I wasn't. If people want to hear the noise, there will be a market for it. One person's tribute is another person's fake. There is a market for tribute rock bands. They are as fake as an electric Beetle, but at the moment the Beetle is only half-way there. It still needs that typical Beetle noise.

[a8hex]

pingu393 said:

Actually, I wasn't. If people want to hear the noise, there will be a market for it.

Fine if they want to hear an artificial engine noise that's up them, they can play inside their car.
It is not fine for them to deliberately play an artificial noise to the rest of the world just so they can be seen to be making a noise.

[leglessAlex]

a8hex said:

pingu393 said:

Actually, I wasn't. If people want to hear the noise, there will be a market for it.

Fine if they want to hear an artificial engine noise that's up them, they can play inside their car.
It is not fine for them to deliberately play an artificial noise to the rest of the world just so they can be seen to be making a noise.

Is there really much difference in ultimate result between a speaker and a loud exhaust? If you're talking about the impact on others or people that might not want to hear either noise.

[DonkeyApple]

Impact on aero?

[a8hex]

leglessAlex said:

Is there really much difference in ultimate result between a speaker and a loud exhaust? If you're talking about the impact on others or people that might not want to hear either noise.

At least the exhaust is at least a little connected to the way the car works, it isn't wholly fake.
A speaker making a loud noise is just being anti social for no reason other than you want to make a loud noise.
One has an excuse whether you think it is a good excuse or not, I think the child in the Jaguar's marketting dept who thought it was a good idea to have my XKR make loud noises on start up (a feature they described as enhanced noise) should be sent to sit on the naughty step for the rest of eternity.
The case of the speaker making a noise for the hell of it has no excuse at all. If everyone drove around with their cars making the noise of a MB 63 engine on full chat how long do you think it would be before it got banned?

[DonkeyApple]

I did assume that people were suggesting the noise was in the cabin for their illusion and fun rather than being broadcast outside to lure small boys to them?

[leglessAlex]

a8hex said:

A speaker making a loud noise is just being anti social for no reason other than you want to make a loud noise.

So is a loud exhaust, even ones that come loud as standard.

Don't get me wrong, I do understand where you're coming from. I just think that anyone who is bothered by a fake noise would be just as bothered by exhaust noise.

[a8hex]

DonkeyApple said:

I did assume that people were suggesting the noise was in the cabin for their illusion and fun rather than being broadcast outside to lure small boys to them?

Seemingly not

[757]

My 1966 VW Beetle, I have in storage most of the time, runs perfectly great...I did watch an episode of Vintage Voltage a while back, and I am liking this idea to convert this "when I/we get forced to drive an EV" at somepoint in the future...as I have no intention of selling this Beetle.

Anyone else thought seriously about this as a viable option for future transport?

Hell of alot more interesting than a Tesla etc (not as safe mind nor practical) but probably cheaper... interesting thought I think.

[soxboy]

757 said:

My 1966 VW Beetle, I have in storage most of the time, runs perfectly great...I did watch an episode of Vintage Voltage a while back, and I am liking this idea to convert this "when I/we get forced to drive an EV" at somepoint in the future...as I have no intention of selling this Beetle.

Anyone else thought seriously about this as a viable option for future transport?

Hell of alot more interesting than a Tesla etc (not as safe mind nor practical) but probably cheaper... interesting thought I think.

Certainly an option I wouldn’t be against for a car like a Beetle, however I would query how viable it would be at present given the potential progression in technology and hopeful reduction in conversion costs.

[Escort3500]

leglessAlex said:

singlecoil said:

M.F.D said:

singlecoil said:

I think he was possibly being a little bit humorous, why anybody would want to reproduce the noise of the hopelessly out of date IC motor is beyond me. Maybe when they have been consigned to history in the way in which steam engines have been then the nostalgia thing might kick in.

I think you, like so many on here, are in the wrong forum.

If you don't like the noise of Ferrari V8's with some spooly bad boys, then get yourself over to mumsnet and talk about appliances.

No thanks, I'm quite at home here. As you can see I've been here quite a long time and I'm planning to stay

In fact, given the subject of this thread, it's you that's in the wrong place.

I agree with singlecoil. I like this thread, and so far I haven’t seen anyone convert a 1 of 1, or anything truly special. F40s are cool, but didn’t they make quite a few of them really? An electric one doesn’t bother me much, there are still many IC ones out there if one wanted to buy one.

I think variety is the spice of life, and it’s weird how anyone that likes electric cars gets written off as not a petrolhead.

I have a Honda e, I love it, and I’d love something like a 190 SL that had been converted to electric.

I’m also on my way out the house this morning to go and look at a 1971 C10 pickup with a big block V8, so it’s not like I don’t like engines anymore

bks to EVs, did you buy the truck?

[Zener]

ajprice said:

DonkeyApple said:

Andy665 said:

I watch Vintage Voltage and find some of the conversions make perfect sense whilst others I would not entertain.

Where the ICE is a weak spot in a vehicle (BMW Isetta, Land Rover, Beetle, 2CV6) then going electric really does improve them

When the engine has character and / or power (308, BMW CS, Fulvia) then going electric detracts from the overall package

I think that's probably the logical conclusion. No shortage of classics where the engine is an irrelevant part of the experience or even detrimental. Right at the other end there are plenty where the petrol engine is an integral part.

Likewise, there are some classics which are ubiquitous and if one or two get converted it's of no relevance whereas some are very rare and you'd feel more obliged to maintain the heritage.

In a way you have the E type sitting somewhere in the middle of those two factors. The engine plays a strong part but it's a ubiquitous classic.

Extreme examples of where the engine plays a massive role would be things like F40s whereas a great example of a car that can be vastly improved by simply removing the original engine and doing nothing else would be the diesel Range Rover Classic.

to all of this.

Gets a vote from me too