Classic cars going to Electric conversion

[countryman]

Got into a lively debate about this, I own an old series 11A Landrover with original Petrol Engine in, converting this to Electric would be sacrilege to me, are we not just the keepers of these old cars, keeping them as they were built or as close to as possible , or do you think it’s perfectly acceptable to convert them to Electric, if you had a listed house and wanted to rip out the original windows for efficient plastic ones you would not be allowed to. Thoughts.

[Weihrauch17]

Do you have to ask?

[Vince Green]

In general terms it would not be possible.  The battery in an electric car is effectively the floor pan. Difficult to find someway of concealing the battery 

Also, most classic cars are not actually worth that much and most are declining in value. Generally speaking, most classic cars appeal to a certain generation and the evidence is that generation (mine effectively) is getting older, less able to do the work on them.

 

[JohnfromUK]

It is possible to convert to electric - and there are firms doing that to (in some cases exotic) classics.  E types, most post war RR's, and I have seen a LandRover (think a series 1). 

It is eye-wateringly expensive and it beats me why people do it.  See here: https://lunaz.design/cars/rolls-royce/

Video here

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by JohnfromUK

[bluesj]

18 minutes ago, Vince Green said:

In general terms it would not be possible.  The battery in an electric car is effectively the floor pan. Difficult to find someway of concealing the battery 

Also, most classic cars are not actually worth that much and most are declining in value. Generally speaking, most classic cars appeal to a certain generation and the evidence is that generation (mine effectively) is getting older, less able to do the work on them.

 

Apart from the fact it has been done, the bloke in one of our units brother has hes series 3 converted. I think it cost about 20k and the bloke it no fan of elon musk but still has tesla battery and motor in his land rover 😕

[Mightymariner]

I saw an advertorial in a Land Rover magazine about a company who convert series Land Rovers to electric... it was over £65,000!

I don't see the point apart from people/businesses proving it can be done, at a price.

Edited December 19, 2023 by Mightymariner

[oowee]

An old mate of mine was converting citroen c1's to EV. He was allowed to do upto 2000 a year and avoid having to get type approval. He started with a new c1 and removed half the parts which went abroad as spares. It was marginal profit at best. 

[Lloyd90]

On 13/12/2023 at 19:42, Vince Green said:

In general terms it would not be possible.  The battery in an electric car is effectively the floor pan. Difficult to find someway of concealing the battery 

Also, most classic cars are not actually worth that much and most are declining in value. Generally speaking, most classic cars appeal to a certain generation and the evidence is that generation (mine effectively) is getting older, less able to do the work on them.

 

Interesting that. With the old classic cars I bet people could do the vast majority of work, tuning, etc, themselves and enjoyed the tinkering, especially if you’re a Motörhead. 
 

Newer cars are all about electronics, systems and other nonsense. The equipment etc needed is probably a bother. 
 

Likely a dying breed as you say. 

[udderlyoffroad]

On 13/12/2023 at 18:53, countryman said:

are we not just the keepers of these old cars, keeping them as they were built or as close to as possible ,

You're only considering one subset of 'classic' owners.  If you wish to be a 'rivet counter' - by all means, but that isn't only type of person who owns a classic.

Restomods are definitely 'a thing' - that is making subtle improvements to make the car more drivable on a daily basis.  In the case of Land Rovers, this generally consists of insulation and improving heater performance.  Are they not 'proper' classic owners?

Obviously, an EV conversion is taking that to, some would say, its illogical conclusion.  But if a car ends up being driven more, and the drive train that is removed is used to keep other classics going, how is that not a win-win all round?

On 13/12/2023 at 19:42, Vince Green said:

In general terms it would not be possible. 

In general terms, you're wrong.  Plenty have been done.  The battery pack enclosure is often a structural member in modern cars, true.  But there are ways round that.  Take a look at Superfast Matt's channel on Youtube, he's currently re-powering an ancient Jag with the innards of a Tesla.  

[udderlyoffroad]

 

[amateur]

15 minutes ago, udderlyoffroad said:

 

Excellent.

Sums up my thoughts on classic bikes too.