Just try and have a conversation with a typical millennial these days, and perhaps you’ll appreciate the problem. Here is a group of people who are born into a reality of global warming, efficient public transportation, and keener on life-changing experiences instead of making large capital purchases!
So, what’s going to happen to all those fantastic, one-of-a-kind pieces of automotive art from yesteryear, like the gorgeous Porsche 356 coupé and Citroën DS, or even something like the ‘pagoda’ roofed Mercedes-Benz 230Sl from the 1960s, if the current and next generations completely lose interest in commuting with a conventional car?
Well, if you’re a bit of a car geek, then you’ll probably know that petrol or gasoline to electric powerplant conversion for cars is not a new thing. Electrifying a classic car provides the best of both worlds. You get most of the character of the original design (minus the engine noise and gearchanges), but with the reliability and everyday usage possibility of an EV.
A growing number of specialists based in the U.K. and the U.S. are offering a plethora of conversion kits for the business of modding dad’s old Beemer into an EV, but right here in Malaysia, our own JPJ has yet to set rules on doing that just yet! But word around the campfire is, this will soon change as more and more EVs enter the Malaysian market.
Until then, maybe some inspiration is all that we can offer with a bit of a glimpse into some outstanding classic car EV conversions that have already taken place!
GT Electric Fiat 124 Spider
California-based GT Electric’s conversion of this gorgeous Fiat 124 Spider gives the car more power as well as a posher interior. It’s equipped with an HPEVS AC-34 electric motor that pumps out 96 kW and 271 nm of torque – compared to the original vehicle’s 64 kW and 134 nm of torque. This brings the 0-100 km/h time down from 12.2 to just 6.5 seconds! The retro Fiat EV packs a 36 kWh Tesla battery that offers a range of up to 194 km. But best of all, you’ll also find mahogany wood inside that goes well with the black leather covering the seats, dash, console, and doors.
