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View Full Version : What classic cars do you think are "right" for an EV conversion?



stab6902
06-24-2021, 06:54 AM
Hey guys,

We're seeing more and more classic cars (VWs, Porsches, pony cars, etc) being converted to electric. Inevitably, some people think converting a given car to electric "ruined" it.

I'm a bit of a traditionalist, and I would be hesitant to convert the typical 60's - early 70's muscle car (I'm thinking Camaros, Mustangs, Chevelles, Cudas, Challengers, etc) to electric since to me the V8 is a big part of those cars' identity and experience.

That said, I think other classic cars, such as VWs, Corvairs, early Toronados, 1961-1963 Tempests, Fieros, and DeLoreans would be good fits for EV conversions, since they were generally forward thinking cars with non-iconic drivetrains. A lot of mini/micro cars would fit the bill too - I'm thinking original Mini Coopers, MGs, Triumphs, Subaru 360s, etc.

What do you think? What classic cars do you think are "right" for an EV conversion?

Larry Callahan
06-24-2021, 08:45 AM
I used to have a '65 VW bus. I would be all over updating that.

I also would not hesitate to got the EV route with my 4 door '55 Bel Air if I wasn't so far into it.

ryeguy2006a
06-24-2021, 09:23 AM
I have thought it would be pretty cool to do the EV swaps, but with a manual transmission. Would be a really interesting combo.

thedugan
06-24-2021, 09:43 AM
Well the cobra that was done would be my choice todo..

Jonathonar89
06-24-2021, 10:05 AM
If it wasn’t too much money and the EV motor made good power, I’d consider swapping in my ‘79 Trans Am. The GM website is eluding to a 700hp EV motor package but we’ll see what actually gets released. 700hp EV bolted to the original 4spd T10 would be cool for me.

Hey GM, I’ll take it. Sponsor me! haha

Vimes
06-24-2021, 10:10 AM
I wouldn't think twice about converting the plain 6cyls or small V8s, but not one of the low number count high value models that should really be in museums. The sound is nice, but not necessary when you have 0-60 times in the 3-4 second range. Plus, if gasoline ever goes the way of the dodo, I'd still want to be able to drive my car.

130fe
06-24-2021, 12:51 PM
Well the cobra that was done would be my choice todo..


Saw this one at Amelia Island last month. Interesting….

raustinss
06-24-2021, 01:29 PM
I think really any older truck and or 50s-60s era cars. they seem to have floors which are more flat ,allowing batteries to be tossed under . lower C.O.G, crazy torque, j guess we could toss any full-size wagon , cadillac and Lincoln's in there too ????

Tsaints1115
06-24-2021, 01:41 PM
If the choice is to convert to EV or have a lawn ornament then I'm going EV. What type of car is incidental. The ICE will be legislated out of existence long before the oil dries up.

Jonathonar89
06-24-2021, 04:11 PM
If the choice is to convert to EV or have a lawn ornament then I'm going EV. What type of car is incidental. The ICE will be legislated out of existence long before the oil dries up.

X2. I love my gas engine the sound it makes but I will swap rather than have a lawn ornament….not that my car hasn’t been on Jack stands the better half of the past 10 years lol

Tsaints1115
06-24-2021, 04:26 PM
X2. I love my gas engine the sound it makes but I will swap rather than have a lawn ornament….not that my car hasn’t been on Jack stands the better half of the past 10 years lol

Yep. And for all those that say that there car has to make noise there'll be a market for downloads of designer exhaust tones. Flat plane, Hemi, nitro blown, etc. Make any noise you want.

67gtonut
06-24-2021, 06:02 PM
I hope I am dead and buried before this becomes a thing.....

Bad Bowtie
06-25-2021, 03:46 AM
I hope I am dead and buried before this becomes a thing.....

Me too 1000%... generations behind us are going to miss a lot of what made our car culture great.

BB

dhutton
06-25-2021, 05:17 AM
I am dreading the day but at the same time as an electronics engineer I am sort of looking forward to the challenge. The cost of the conversion is too high at this point.

I would do a conversion on my 57 Buick Estate hardtop wagon. I think it would be a great platform.

Before and after pics….

Don

stab6902
06-25-2021, 05:51 AM
I am dreading the day but at the same time as an electronics engineer I am sort of looking forward to the challenge. The cost of the conversion is too high at this point.

I would do a conversion on my 57 Buick Estate hardtop wagon. I think it would be a great platform.

Before and after pics….

Don

Wow Don, that's a beautiful car. Nice work.

I agree that someday 50's cars will be good candidates, especially for the less common platforms where original drivetrain parts are getting harder and harder to find.

Tsaints1115
06-25-2021, 06:28 AM
Me too 1000%... generations behind us are going to miss a lot of what made our car culture great.

BB

Generations evolve. When was the last time you drag raced your horse?

dhutton
06-25-2021, 08:40 AM
Wow Don, that's a beautiful car. Nice work.

I agree that someday 50's cars will be good candidates, especially for the less common platforms where original drivetrain parts are getting harder and harder to find.
No the black one is not mine. Sorry for the confusion! The black one is what I hope mine will look like. That black one is a pretty famous car. I can only wish I built it.

Don

Vimes
06-26-2021, 05:40 PM
Generations evolve. When was the last time you drag raced your horse?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2021/06/saratogaturfracingeclipseJPGVHHOE9nNTCu9-1.jpg


No the black one is not mine. Sorry for the confusion! The black one is what I hope mine will look like. That black one is a pretty famous car. I can only wish I built it.

Don

Due to the order the pictures appeared in, I was gonna go with "If that's before and after you must REALLY have wanted a rat rod!" While I'm not into tail fins, that looks like it'll be an interesting project.

JustJohn
06-28-2021, 03:49 AM
1970 Buick Electra 225 convertible, just because "Electra."

Any Corvair that can be saved...

Waiting patiently on my Tesla Model 3 performance in a couple of weeks (I hope).

BMR Sales
07-01-2021, 05:45 AM
I have ridden in a Porsche 914 EV - couldn't wait to get out of it. The theory was OK but the execution was Not.

as someone whose parents always had Station Wagons, I would go that route

https://j.hmjimg.com/2021/07/01/e7f619fc5bd84a67041fce76cf9fff5cb14ce7278af2e2ad.j pg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/2iiQT)

https://j.hmjimg.com/2021/07/01/mercury-montego-mx-wagon-1970-01941c82210c86a71f.md.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/2iy4E)

https://j.hmjimg.com/2021/07/01/caprice-25a1ece6af27f9512.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/2yXbZ)

- - - Updated - - -

BMR Sales
07-01-2021, 05:49 AM
or EV Camino

https://i.hmjimg.com/images/2018/11/14/elky.md.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/Sp9t5)

slimjim
07-06-2021, 09:23 AM
Pretty cool build to keep an eye on.


https://youtu.be/azmrq38aHw0

Larry Callahan
07-06-2021, 11:26 AM
Pretty cool build to keep an eye on.


https://youtu.be/azmrq38aHw0

I started watching this over the weekend. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Aussie
07-06-2021, 03:46 PM
Delorean would be my first choice for an EV swap

Just 1 More
07-06-2021, 05:56 PM
My 68 Camaro.. i'd love to be able to EV it. I do work for electric transmission lines so it just fits.

dhutton
07-07-2021, 05:58 AM
Pretty cool build to keep an eye on.


https://youtu.be/azmrq38aHw0
That is cool. Thanks for posting that.

Don

67-LS1
07-07-2021, 06:20 AM
I’ve been watching for a good deal on a wrecked Tesla for a while. If I can find one I can afford I’ll do another 66 Chevelle project, this one all electric.
My current 66 doesn’t have a V8 so the next step would be electric.

7T400Formula
08-21-2021, 06:44 AM
Each to their own I guess but I'd send my 70 firebird to the crusher before seeing an electric motor in it:drive: EDIT - I'm not really going to crush it by the way, I just live in England and it feels like we're really being had here with the whole electric car move. The cost of running a petrol V8 is already way expensive here, but a lot of us are still keeping the faith!

Zachalanche
09-10-2021, 06:21 AM
My old 67 Fairlane seems like it would be a good candidate. no power steering, no power brakes, the car is very light but has lots of trunk space for batteries, and it also has deep rocker panels and plenty of head room, so, batteries under the floor also seems like a possibility. I think it would be a fun challenge, but I I am completely underwhelmed with battery technology, and have little interest in purchasing enough batteries to make the car go fast, and have enough range. At the rate I finish projects, if I were to start an EV conversion today, the Govt would be trying to outlaw EV's by the time i got it on the road.
191977

slammed68
10-03-2021, 07:25 AM
1970 Buick Electra 225 convertible, just because "Electra."

Any Corvair that can be saved...

Waiting patiently on my Tesla Model 3 performance in a couple of weeks (I hope).

My wife's Model 3 Performance was delivered back in August. It might not have the charm and engagement of a classic but the refined performance is pretty incredible.

It's also nice to beat on it without drawing any unwanted attention lol.

Vimes
10-06-2021, 06:58 PM
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2021/10/06fc98f4b65a1996bd2c59f92e2ff23f-1.png

The link below shows a HUGE picture of the upcoming Rivian truck/SUV drivetrain. You can't see the rear motors due to a plate, but the wiring makes it look like the rear is set up the same as the front, and it's supposed to be a 4-motor rig. The motors themselves look to be around 14x14x12 inches each. The wheels are 21 inches standard, tires look to be around 30 inches in diameter, for comparison. When the time comes this looks like it will bolt into any IRS rig, and a modified Corvette front suspension would allow the front motors to work. I'd not use the front motors myself, as AWD feels too much like FWD to me and I haaaate driving FWD vehicles, but for those who like/want this really doesn't look like it'll be hard to put into an old car or truck.

Rivian drivetrain (https://images.rivian.com/2md5qhoeajym/6YMJj1ISJwQHbbU5xI7ujb/458b53bf7c0d033e1a8930d7c4e02643/r1s_capability_platform_top_desktop.jpg?fm=webP)

1bad55chevy
10-07-2021, 11:26 AM
Hello all,

This is my first post on this post so I hope I dont get flamed for putting this nonsense out there!

The conversions for this are much easier and cheaper then most people think. Companies like EV West already sell bolt in conversions for VW, Porsche, and Factory Five cars. They also sell all the motors/battery supplies to go as fast as your heart or wallet desires.

For a classic car street conversion the build is very simple Warp DC9 motor bolted to a modified powerglide (they use an inline to pump to maintain pressure in the tranny when the vehicle is parked) then you use the rest of your factory drivetrain. There are a few crazy guys out there that that bolt 2 of these motors together and have fully streetable 9 second street cars. I saw an article a few years back I believe in Dragzine of a guy that had a tube chassis car running low 8s and I remember him saying the motor, controller, and battery packs cost him a total of $30k which was equivalent to buying a drag motor from any reputable engine builder and the maintenance cost was much less. This is the future of motorsports and even companies like JEGS have EV conversions (which are WAY overpriced) for junior dragsters. A few of my friends have their kids driving electric junior dragsters and everyone says how much better it has been. The kids can tune their own cars on the laptop and when they are on the starting line staging the car they can actually hear you when you are talking to them (listening to you might be a different story!!). In a few more years my son will be driving an electric junior dragster!

mikedc
10-11-2021, 06:00 AM
When it comes to EV conversions on classics, it seems like a case of "go big or go home." Just my opinion.


I don't see the point of it for a mildly-modified cruiser. It's a lotta money & work to build a car with less range and fewer places to refuel it than normal. And the typical location for the batteries is the trunk, which renders that unusable for luggage.

The resulting car would be "interesting" but so is an Oscar-Meyer Weinermobile.



The EV conversion earns its money in sports-car performance. But to do that, you gotta reconfigure the whole drivetrain for electric like the OEMs are doing. Mount the battery pack low in the center/cabin floor area. Motor(s) located at the axle(s).

This means building a whole custom frame/floor around the swap. Not easy. But the end result would be REALLY fast/sporty.

MAGONSTERZ68
11-18-2021, 02:51 PM
im ready for a legit GM turn key DIY kit for the SMURF TRUCK! Is there anything affordable out there like this with at least a 250 mile range?
My Dad got this when i was around 7 from my uncle.
I drove it in high school before I bought my 68 Camaro from my older brother.
I eventually upgraded dad when he retired in 2000 with all the era correct stuff, Gen 1 small block, .030 over flat tops, RV cam, dual exhaust, mustang front clip, pwr front disc brakes from a town and country wagon, tilt column and posi rear end out of an OLDS 442.
Dad passed in late 2007 and left to me, I plan on making it my "OLD MAN" retirement putter arounder and thing it would be perfect for an ECRUZ machine. Whole bed for battery cells, controller, electronics etc.....tubbed with some steam rollers for traction is the dream, keeping the patina but open door will show luxury interior with bells and whistles.
194070194073194072194071

77thor
11-18-2021, 04:06 PM
Really... any car or truck is "right" for an EV conversion.

Alwhite00
11-19-2021, 07:40 AM
A EV Fiero would be cool. They have almost Zero value and they handle good. I owned a couple in the early 90's. Like a little slot car.

Zachalanche
12-10-2021, 08:58 AM
I just found out that the tesla model 3 wheel base is the same as my Fairlane. the track width is a bit narrow, but nothing that some offset wheels wouldn't solve. A salvage model 3 might be the ticket for a decent EV conversion for this car. more or less making it a body swap. It almost has me wondering if it would be less fabrication than I put into my mustang. The Model S is only 3 in longer than my fairlane, and closer to the track width i would need. there's plenty of those (salvaged) in the 20k range. thats relatively cheap compared to upgrading the suspension, brakes, engine, transmission etc, to make my car perform equal to a model S. the finished product might even have a decent battery range.....maybe....my fairlane is probably less aerodynamic than a cube.
does this mean i am diving head first into an EV conversion?? probably not, but the bang for the buck seems to be good.

194501

MAGONSTERZ68
12-10-2021, 12:52 PM
I just found out that the tesla model 3 wheel base is the same as my Fairlane. the track width is a bit narrow, but nothing that some offset wheels wouldn't solve. A salvage model 3 might be the ticket for a decent EV conversion for this car. more or less making it a body swap. It almost has me wondering if it would be less fabrication than I put into my mustang. The Model S is only 3 in longer than my fairlane, and closer to the track width i would need. there's plenty of those (salvaged) in the 20k range. thats relatively cheap compared to upgrading the suspension, brakes, engine, transmission etc, to make my car perform equal to a model S. the finished product might even have a decent battery range.....maybe....my fairlane is probably less aerodynamic than a cube.
does this mean i am diving head first into an EV conversion?? probably not, but the bang for the buck seems to be good.

194501

well it would be the right wheelbase but the tack width is about 6" too wide, maybe custom set of wide body fenders?
we shall see.

Zachalanche
12-10-2021, 09:11 PM
62.2" for the tesla, my fairlane currently measures at 69".