A British car company has transformed a classic Porsche into an electric vehicle, showing that it is very possible to combine vintage beauty with modern technology.
While the world celebrates the arrival of the Tesla Model 3, some electric car enthusiasts will definitely appreciate an electric version of the 1979 Porsche 911.
The Electric 1979 Porsche 911
Several vintage models of classic car companies such as Porsche and Volkswagen have been converted into electric vehicles. This is because of the simplicity of their interiors, which makes it easy to incorporate a new powertrain.
Electric Classic Cars, based in the United Kingdom is one of the companies that are in the business of transforming classic cars into electric vehicles. Its latest project is a 1979 Porsche 911 SC Targa, one of the most popular air-cooled Porsche cars with an engine located in the rear.
Looking at its exteriors, there is nothing unique about the classic Porsche 911, though it notably looks very well-maintained. This particular vehicle actually underwent a full restoration, which included re-chroming and bare-metal painting. Some parts have also been swapped out for modern components, such as LED headlights.
The real story, however, is under its front hood. Popping it open reveals that the flat-six engine of the 1979 Porsche 911 has been replaced by a pair of electric motors fitted into the vehicle's original five-speed manual transmission.
The vehicle's power, meanwhile, is stored in a 54 kWh battery pack from a Tesla Roadster. However, because space is hard to find in the vintage vehicle, the battery pack was split up and placed between the trunk and the engine compartment. With the batteries in the front, the cargo compartment was moved back, giving the vehicle a weight distribution of 48/52.
The electric Porsche 911 is not just a gimmick, as it is actually an extremely efficient electric vehicle. The Tesla Roadster battery pack gives the car enough power to run for 200 miles on a single charge, which is much more than what the Kia Soul EV, Nissan Leaf, and BMW i3 offer at 93 miles, 107 miles, and 114 miles, respectively. The transformed Porsche is also capable of going from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.6 seconds, which is a second faster compared to the gasoline-powered 1979 Porsche 911.
Rise Of Electric Vehicles
While Porsche purists might be shaking their heads with the work of Electric Classic Cars, nobody could dispute the fact that electric vehicles are taking over the automotive industry like lightning.
As Tesla rolls out the mass-market Model 3, competitors such as Lucid Air and traditional car companies such as Volvo have been chasing Elon Musk and the advancements that his company has made in electric vehicle technology.
Vintage cars will always have a place on the road, though, and companies such as Electric Classic Cars will make sure that classic vehicles are prepared for the future.
