By: Jordan Marmara
EVs are all the rage nowadays, much to the disappointment of auto enthusiasts everywhere. Where the everyday driver typically cares solely about safe and reliable transportation from A to B, enthusiasts clamor for performance, engagement and excitement. While today’s newest EVs like the Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire certainly offer seemingly impossible levels of performance, there still appears to be a bit of personality missing from the equation. This is where resto-mods come into play. By updating classic and much-loved vehicles with modern, and theoretically reliable powertrains, we are getting what amounts to the best of both words – dependability and character, but typically at a price that is quite substantial.
To understand how these resto-mods differ from today’s EV offerings from larger manufacturers, it would be important to cover what is rapidly becoming the go-to formula for new EV construction. It all starts with the battery, typically a Lithium-Ion variant - most being liquid cooled to enhance reliability and performance in extreme weather conditions. Most EV manufacturers have partnered up with a supplier to design and produce batteries – the largest being CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited) from China, who has partnered with BMW, Great Wall, Honda, Hyundai and VW. CATL also works with Tesla for their Shanghai production in China, Tesla’s other partner is Panasonic for domestic and some other international markets. LG Chem from South Korea is also right at the top along with CATL, that is because it has partnered with the likes of Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Renault and Volvo. While the technologies between battery suppliers differ, the layout is almost always identical. Large battery packs, typically housed in the floorboard of a vehicle between the wheels, allow for the most efficient packaging and lowest center of gravity. It’s a mathematical calculation that is impossible to overcome in regard to packaging, and will leave us with what has become a de facto layout for EVs for the future. While low center of gravity is something enthusiasts and those purveyors of safety both enjoy, it does leave us with similar personalities for many of the EVs on the market.
Converting this stored power into get up and go are powertrains that typically feature anywhere between one (Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt) to four (Rivian R1S/R1T) electric drive motors – with the likes of Porsche and BMW M also eyeing the use of a four motor design in their upcoming performance vehicles. Some EV manufacturers are using this flexibility to even create three distinct drivetrains – Front, Rear and All Wheel Drive – in one vehicle, such as the Motor Trend SUV of the Year, Chevrolet Blazer EV. Electric motors offer blistering performance with neck-snapping torque right at zero RPM – something drag racers love, shattering quarter-mile records that have taken internal combustion vehicles a century to reach. The fastest ¼ mile time on record at 8.55 seconds is currently held by the Pininfarina Battista which shares it’s 1900HP all-electric drivetrain with the Rimac Nevera – which has the second fastest ¼ mile time on record at 8.58 seconds. The fastest internal combustion engine car is the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 with a ¼ mile time of 8.91 seconds and 1,025 gas-burning horses. BEVs like the Model S Plaid (9.5 seconds) and Lucid Air Sapphire (9.2 seconds) also break into the top 10 that is dominated by traditional supercar makers like Bugatti, McLaren, Porsche and Ferrari – the latter using hybrid assist technology, the former three all being forced induction, like the Demon. The only vehicle to crack the top 10 ¼ mile times, while being naturally aspirated, is the Lamborghini Huracan EVO – with it’s 5.2L V10 and 640 HP, but unable to crack the 10 second mark at 10.2 seconds. Technology is rapidly changing the world of performance vehicles.
We at The Driver’s Line do not shy away from change, it is an inevitable force that drives progress in our world. However, it is hard to fall in love with the sounds and feel of an electric motor. Other than the comical way they accelerate, EVs typically lack the personality of a flat-plane or small-block V8, or a flat-six scream. Sound, feel are all important parts of the enthusiast experience, as is uniqueness. This is where resto-mods may play an important role in the future. For those unfamiliar with the term, resto-mods are an increasingly popular option of taking a classic vehicle, stripping it of it’s vintage mechanicals and electronics, and updating them using modern technologies. Quite often this is done using a modern version of a vehicle’s classic powertrain – but increasingly we are seeing electric variants of famous vehicles being fielded for those with deep enough pockets. The beauty behind this choice is it allows owners to have a unique driving experience, where engineers have been challenged with shoe-horning EV powertrains into vehicles never meant to store that many electrons before. It’s the area of the market where personality and performance meet reliability and dash of earth hugging to boot.
One of our favorite newcomers to the EV resto-mod trend is the Volkswagen e-Bulli by eClassics. Gone is the air-cooled 43bhp boxer 4, and in its place we have an 82 bhp electric motor. Driving the rear wheels as god intended, the e-Builli delivers 125 miles of range and hits a top speed of an electronically limited 81 mph, an improvement over the naturally limited 65mph on the classic VW bus. We are aware of the new ID Buzz coming the US market soon, but there is nothing that replaces an old Type 2 design while not being worried about margining onto a highway.
VW Media
In a slightly different approach, we have the Jaguar E type. Much beloved due to its own iconic design, it featured available V12 power, but reliability from old Jag engines is hardly something to hold your breath for. In comes the ECD XK-E. ECD does offer swaps that include LT1 V8 installs, but there is something that really works about cruising in your stunning Jag under a whisper quiet powertrain. It is relatively lightweight compared to most EVs at 2,940 pounds but features 305 HP, and that makes it the only EV convertible available on the market.
Going to off-road performance, ECD also offers electric conversions for classic Range Rover and Land Rover models as well. Tesla drivetrains have been fitted into numerous Defenders and Range Rovers thanks to ECD. This provides with incredible and unique dynamics, while providing an efficient driving range and plenty of torque for those tricky off-road trails. The all-electric drivetrain will clearly be a suitably reliable replacement for some of the more dubious Land Rover/Range Rover/Defender classic powertrain offerings thanks to notorious engine management systems.
If you prefer to keep things state-side Chevrolet will be offering “crate” style engine options in the form of electric motors and batteries sourced from it’s Bolt EV powertrain. Showcasing this opportunity is a 1970 Chevrolet Blazer K5, known creatively as the “Blazer-E”. Replacing the typical carbureted V8 power typically found under the hoods of a K5, the Bolt’s powertrain provides 200 HP and 266 lb/ft of torque. This may not sound like much, but it is up over 30 HP compared to the options from the fuel-stricken ‘70s V8s of the day. Improved performance, reliability and efficiency in a fantastic looking vehicle – what’s not to love?
Well, namely for nearly all of these it’s price. In addition to the donor vehicle, and its restoration, the buyer will need to buy the replacement drivetrain as well. Performance and advancement comes at a price and resto-modding vehicles to become EVs is certainly no exception. ECD Rovers cost between $120,000 and up to $300,000 or more to build and customize, it’s Jaguar E-type variant starts at $289,995. The e-Bulli is a more reasonable $65,000 package, but that doesn’t include the donor vehicle. Of this pack, we suspect you could find a donor EV Bolt powertrain for a fair bit less than the aforementioned options, but good luck finding a reasonably priced K5 that is in good shape! As with all things that involve technology, price will come down as the years fly by, but it is nice to see that some automakers are here to give us some more unique options to help us embrace our future EV dominion.
Comments