What's the ideal classic EV conversion candidate car?

[gmaz]

Watching Vintage Voltage got me thinking what classic car would be the ideal candidate for a conversion to EV?

- DeLorean - Already done by EEC, an iconic body with a crap engine. No body rust issues, EV powertrain to match the looks and give it the performance that the wheezing Renault V6 never did. Plenty of spare parts too.

- Citroen SM - Another space-age looking car with a complex and unreliable, difficult to maintain engine, and when the engine fails so does all the hydraulics that the car depends on. Stick some batteries and motors in it and it can be a reliable daily.

- Jensen Interceptor - If you can find a good bodyshell, remove the 5mpg V8 lump and bung some Tesla motors in. The body is big enough to accommodate batteries without compromising the space.

Triumph Stag - Another classic shape with a problem engine, all the worst aspects of BL in the 70's. Rust and battery location may be issues.


Something more modern?

MG TF - An un-cared-for K-series will be a liability, so give the little sportscar a new lease of life with a cheap conversion (I say "cheap" but you're probably looking at £15-20K at least)

[gmaz]

SWoll said:

Classic mini.

Motor and battery from an early i3, 170bhp, RWD and a likely 100 miles of range due to the light weight. Great fun.

Yes, great city car too. ECC and Swind already build kits for classic minis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ9td0EnRpk

[gmaz]

WestyCarl said:

All mentioned are great cars in their own right.

For me it would be a previously boring overlooked car brough back to life. Austin Maxi with a Tesla drivetrain anyone

I think the torque would twist the body like an empty beer can.

[gmaz]

V1nce Fox said:

Lotus esprit s1/s2

Hmm I don't know about that. One of Colin Chapman's design principles was to "add lightness" so a conversion would be much heavier than the original car, unlike something like a testarossa where it can be done with the same weight (according to ECC)

[gmaz]

If it were my Testarossa, I'd sell the engine to someone who had a knackered engine. That way, I get a reliable car I can use everyday and someone else gets to put their Testarossa back on the road.

[gmaz]

Here's one... Volvo P1800. Great body design but an unremarkable engine so replace it with a nice little Tesla drive unit on the back axle, and some batteries under the bonnet and in the boot.

Edited by gmaz on Friday 18th March 16:11

[gmaz]

This guy is converting an Austin Allegro, with a Nissan Leaf motor.

https://www.youtube.com/@KiwiEVadventures