These are 10 of the raddest EV restomods around today
From electric E-Types to battery-powered Bavarian icons, we run down some of the coolest and most controversial electric classic cars
Like ’em or not, EV restomods are here to stay. In fact, Lunaz – a UK firm specialising in electrified restomods – recently recorded a 150% increase in demand for its all-electric versions of British classic cars.
On the back of that piece of news, we’ve put together a list of 10 of the coolest EV restomods around today, including the 444bhp Skoda Octavia Project X, an all-electric Range Rover Classic complete with a drinks cabinet, and – cue the pearl clutching – electrified versions of the Jaguar E-Type and the Porsche 911.
Which of these 10 EV restomods would you plug in at home tonight, or is the concept of an all-electric classic car automotive sacrilege to you?
Let us know.
Skoda Octavia Project X
Despite its Octavia moniker, the Skoda Octavia Project X is nothing like the much-loved family car of today. The Project X is based on the original Octavia, which was produced by the Czech manufacturer from 1959 to 1971, and… that’s as far as the similarities go. Beneath the anabolic, vRS-only ‘Mamba Green’ body, sits an electric motor reportedly capable of churning out 444bhp and 738lb of torque. Inside, a stripped out cabin is equally as performance focused thanks to Sparco racing seats, a three-spoke steering wheel, a blanked out dashboard with a digital driver’s display, and a hydraulic handbrake… because skids. The Project X isn’t the only Skoda Octavia restomod as it has a sister car, the Voltavia, which takes a much more subtle approach to things. Unfortunately, both cars – for now at least – are one-off models. If, however, you want to find out more about them, click here, because we covered them earlier this year.
Kalmar 7-97 E-Volt (Porsche 911)
The idea of a Porsche 911 restomod EV already has a certain part of the internet gnashing its teeth… so, what if we were to tell you that the Kalmar 7-97 E-Volt is also one of the greenest all-electric 911s ever made? The Kalmar 7-97 E-Volt’s exterior is fashioned from aluminium and glass taken from its donor cars. Meanwhile, the Danish firm has created new ‘plant fibre’ panels for the interior. All of these lightweight materials combined give the Kalmar 7-97 E-Volt a kerbweight of around 1.3 tonnes, similar to a Porsche 964 Turbo. A rear-mounted, Tesla Model S motor gives the Kalmar 450bhp, 487lb ft of torque, and a sub-four seconds 0-62mph time. The electrified interpretation of the 964 doesn’t just stop with the construction and drivetrain – Kalmar has developed a new air intake to keep the electric components cool, and a new bodyshell makes the 7-97 E-Volt more aerodynamically efficient than the original car. The price of all of this planet-friendly 911? That’ll be £380,000, please.
Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron
Okay, so the Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron isn’t strictly a restomod. It is, however, Audi Sport’s interpretation of how the iconic quattro (small ‘q’) S1 Pikes Peak would be if it were reimagined as an all-electric, single-seater. The Hoonitron was co-developed with the late Ken Block as an homage to Ingolstadt’s most iconic nameplate. Its sole purpose? To entertain. More precisely, it was created to entertain while going sideways amid plumes of tyre smoke. Beneath that instantly-recognisable silhouette lies a screaming quad-battery, twin-Formula E motor setup capable of producing over 1,400bhp and a moon-spinning 44,000lb ft of torque. Unfortunately, Block got just two Elektrikhana outings in the Hoonitron before his passing in early 2023. His creation has since been driven by a number of Audi Sport icons including Tom Kristensen and Mattias Ekström at events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron is said to be the most expensive Audi Sport car ever made thanks to an estimated development cost in excess of $12m; alone, the tail lights cost around £300,000.
Lunaz Range Rover Classic
Like all Lunaz restomods, the OG Range Rover undergoes a 5,500-hour bare-metal restoration process, and is powered by in-house-developed battery cells and motors. The Lunaz Range Rover Classic is available in three bodystyles, ‘Town’, ‘Country’ and Octopussy-style Safari. The former two can be configured with either a long or short wheelbase, while the latter is SWB-only. Town versions are rear-wheel drive and focused on comfort and urban driving, while the Country has a four-wheel drive system, updated suspension, plus uprated brakes and anti-roll bars and aimed at off-roading… that is, of course, you’d want to take a £470k restomodded Range Rover mudplugging. If booze-based shooting parties are your thing, the Country is offered with optional “boot space for the transportation of equipment and refreshments for field sports,” while the Town can be specced with a bar area for equally-thirsty rear occupants.
Jaguar E-Type Zero
The E-Type Zero is an in-house developed vehicle by Jaguar Classic. Nicknamed ‘Project Marmite’ as enthusiasts will either “love it or hate it”, the Zero adopts a reversible concept. This means that Jaguar removes the original car’s old engine and gearbox, and fills those vacant spots with electrical gubbins borrowed from the JLR EV parts bin – the battery models are taken from the Range Rover PHEV, and the inverters are sourced from the Jaguar I-Pace. With a kerb weight of just under 1,400kg, the electrical components, air conditioning, and power steering have made the E-Type Zero heavier than the ICE E-Type. It does, however, retain the sub-7 seconds 0-60mph time of the original and make around 255bhp. Off the shelf, the all-electric E-Type will cost £300,000. If you somehow have a spare E-Type laying around and you want to convert it to a zero emissions vehicle, then Jaguar will do the honours within two weeks for £60k. If an all-electric E-Type isn’t doing it for you, then Jaguar will convert your car back to ICE.
Bavarian Econs 2002
The 2002te is an EV restomod take on the BMW 2002 from the 1970s, and it’s the brainchild of German firm Bavarian Econs. The thinking behind the car is simple: instead of wheeling out your classic ICE-powered 2002 on Christmas and birthdays, the addition of a detuned Tesla motor and the batteries from a BMW i3S or a Mini Electric will let you just plug-in and play. Like an old-school BMW, the batteries are placed in the boot to ensure 50/50 weight distribution. While Bavarian Econs retains the brakes from the standard 2002, it adds adjustable KW suspension to improve stiffness. Inside, the all-electric 2002 can be kept stock as-per the donor car, or decked out with a racy Momo Prototipo steering wheel and sports seats. Bavarian offers three versions of its electrified 2002; the entry level 2002te with 180bhp and a 33kW battery, plus mid-level 2002tee packing 250bhp and a 45kW battery unit. The flagship 2002 turbo e retains the same underpinnings as the 2002tee, but comes with the brakes from the original 2002 Turbo, along with a racy bodykit and BBS wheels. Prices start at €140,000 for a 2002te or €180,000 euros for a 2002tee; albeit without a donor or VAT. Meanwhile, the 2002 turbo e will set you back €270,000.
Totem GT Electric
Akin to the Porsche 911, the mere thought of restomodding an Alfa Romeo Giulia makes you a heretic in some people’s eyes. Going ahead and electrifying one puts you in league with the devil himself. Yet that’s exactly what Italy’s Totem has gone and done with its GT Electric. Totem’s all-electric interpretation of one of Italy’s most-loved classic cars is finished entirely in carbon fibre, and powered by a 50.4kWh battery married to a mid-mounted motor. While it weighs in at 1,470kg – significantly more than the Alfa Romeo Junior on which it’s based – the Totem GT Electric is quicker than its donor car. Much quicker. In fact, it makes 518bhp, has a top speed of 152mph, and will do the 0-62 run in just 3.4 seconds. Just 10% of the original car’s chassis remains, and Totem has stiffened the chassis to deal with the extra electric horses. Naturally, none of this comes cheap and prices start from £385,000. If the pricing didn’t relegate the GT Electric to an exclusive club, the fact that just 20 of them will be made should do.
Aznom Automotive FIAT 500 Spiaggina E-Classic
The original Fiat 500 Spiaggina of the 1950s was geared towards mindful motoring and experiencing la dolce vita to the fullest. Fast-forward to the mid-2020s, and this charming, contemporary take on thing is created with exactly the same premise… albeit with an electric motor. Toys for Boys – a sub-brand of Aznom Automotive – has recreated the Spiaggina with the same awning in place of a roof, and ropes instead of doors as per-the original. Given Aznom specialises in one-off super and luxury cars, the Spiaggina E-Classic replaces the original’s wicker seats with leather ones, places high-end materials across the cabin, and offers a broad range of colours to match the little Fiat’s cheerful character. The Spiaggina of the 1950s and ’60s was all about taking it easy, and this restomodded version is no different – at its heart beats a single 27bhp motor and an 11kWh battery offering 56 miles of range. Thanks to a starting price of around €45,000 the all-electric Spiaggina is far from being a bank-breaker like so many other cars on this list. Lando Norris also has one, which earns it at least a couple more cool points.
Inverted EV Toyota Land Cruiser
Not dissimilar to Lunaz Range Rover Classic, Inverted EV has taken the short-wheelbase Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, the mid-wheelbase FJ43, and the LWB FJ45, and given them the all-electric restomod treatment. In entry-level spec, the Inverted gets a 53kWh battery and a 215bhp electric motor creating 250lb ft worth of torque. You can, however, spec a Tesla-sourced motor producing 320bhp and 310lb ft of torque. All versions get CCS fast-charging up to 75kW, meaning a 20%-80% charge takes just 25 minutes. The all-electric Land Cruiser comes with changeable 4WD and 2WD modes, a new suspension sourced from ‘Old Man Emu’, and improved brakes from Toyota or Wilwood. What’s more, it can be configured as a hard top, soft top, or even a pickup truck. Like the Range Rover, Inverted’s hand-built ‘Cruiser has been overhauled inside and comes with swathes of Scottish Muirhead leather and modern flourishes such as Apple CarPlay, a reversing camera, and USB charging points. With a starting price from £195,000 the Inverted Land Cruiser is also significantly cheaper than the Lunaz.
Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD
The GSe ElektroMOD showed just what Opel’s EV engineers could do if they were allowed to re-imagine the Manta without any constraints. Reflecting the design of the original, this rear-wheel drive, two-door restomod coupe packs a 31kWh battery making a classic-correct 147bhp and 188lb ft of torque. The all-electric Manta was also fitted with a simulatory four-speed ‘manual’ gearbox to reflect the original car – given the Manta made its public debut in 2021, this predates the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and its pretend transmission by three years. Inside, a three-spoke steering wheel, sports seats, and a pair of 10 and 12-inch screens make up the cabin, which again, is inspired by the OG car. Unfortunately, the ElektroMOD was a one-off, and neither Opel nor parent company Stellantis appear to have any plans to put it into production soon. That means you’re stuck with the electric Corsa, Astra-e, and Mokka with which it shares its electric underpinnings.
