Electric dreams: 13 eco-friendly classic cars

Put a bolt under your bonnet with these retro electrics

The trusty combustion engine is at the heart of the classic car experience – but these days, that needn’t be the case.

That's because a new breed of vintage machines is springing up: eco-friendly classics that run on batteries instead of fuel tanks and electric motors rather than engines.

Some are factory conversions while others are third-party creations, but either way they offer many of the joys of classic driving without falling foul of stringent emissions regulations.

Now, we're not saying they rival a truly original classic – and some people will feel they’re an abomination! – but they do provide an eco-friendly alternative if that’s what you’re after. And choice is always a good thing, right? 

Here are 13 machines leading the renewable classic charge.

Jaguar E-type Zero

In the market for the quintessential British sports car? Can’t decide between its 3.2-litre and 4.8-litre variants? You no longer need to choose either.

That’s because Jaguar has launched a customer version of its electric E-type Zero – as seen leaving Windsor Castle with Prince Harry at the helm last year.

Set to ship in 2020, each example of the reimagined icon will be restored and converted at the British firm’s Classic Works in Coventry, where it’ll gain a 40kWh battery and electric motor – good for around 170 miles and acceleration faster than the original Series 1.

Jaguar E-type Zero (cont.)

Naturally, its stunning ’60s style will remain as standard, as will the stock brakes and suspension – though the dash will get a touchscreen upgrade fit for a plug-in poster boy.

Already got a Jag stashed in the garage? The workshop can also retro-fit the electric powertrain, leaving you free to mount the petrol engine on a plinth in honour of the old ways.

Swind E Classic Mini

Like your ’60s legends a little smaller? From one icon to another, the humble Mini is also feeling the buzz.

BMW’s already built a one-off iteration of Alec Issigonis’ design classic – complete with 38bhp electric motor, 65-mile range and all the featherweight appeal of the evocative original, and the new model will get a full rollout later in 2019.

But what if you prefer the original, classic Mini design? Then look no further than Swindon Powertrain’s retrofitted version.

Swind E Classic Mini (cont.)

For the hefty sum of £79k – or more, if you want extras such as power steering – the company will restore and convert a classic Mini into a magnificent zero-emissions machine. 

At the core of the Swind E Classic Mini is an 80kw motor – equivalent to 110bhp – that, paired with a 24kWh battery, can run for 125 miles and reach 80mph. The revised pocket rocket’s 0-60 time of 9.2secs? Rather zippier than the original.

Aston Martin Heritage EV

Sticking with the Brits, another legendary name has acknowledged the advent of electric in a big way: Aston Martin has announced its Heritage EV platform – a reversible solution that can convert classic Astons to electric power. Just like the 1970 DB6 MkII Volante pictured.

Channelling know-how from its Rapide E project, the conversion – spearheaded by the firm’s Works department – sees a ‘cassette’ powertrain plonked on the original engine and gearbox mountings, pairing DB style with future-proof propulsion.

Aston Martin Heritage EV (cont.)

Why is that important? Because it means you can enjoy your arresting GT with electric impunity today and, should scientists magically find an inexhaustible source of non-polluting petrol in the future, you can always put the original engine back under the bonnet – a move of which Q would surely be proud. 

Electric GT Ferrari 308GTS

But it’s not just the Brits going big on electric: California firm Electric GT has made waves with its conversion of Ferrari’s beefy ’70s two-seater – the 308GTS.

Where once was a growling V8 that fired 250bhp through the rear wheels of the vent-heavy Italian stallion, there’s now a silent electric motor. One good for the equivalent of 330bhp. And 0-60 in five seconds flat. Which is a long way from a Nissan Leaf.

Electric GT Ferrari 308GTS (cont.)

Electric GT’s revamp of the Pininfarina-designed drop-top can also hit speeds in excess of 180mph and run for more than 130 miles – though presumably not at the same time. And nor is it just a splash-and-dash creation: sensitive upgrades include regenerative braking for even better efficiency.

Fancy a Prancing Horse that bolts with volts? The firm welcomes enquiries about conversions – and from anyone interested in buying the original creation, Electric GTE #001. 

Zelectric VW Beetle

Zelectric is a California firm that cut its teeth converting all things German – from early Porsches and Karmann Ghias to Microbuses and Beetles – and it’s now offering those same machines bespoke and built-to-order for buyers with $75k (or more) to spare.

Our favourite is the original people’s car, the Bug. Source your own or let Zelectric do it, before the workshop sensitively fits a battery pack good for 100 miles and a motor that kicks out twice the original horsepower – all while keeping the whole thing as stock as possible.

Electric Classic Cars Porsche 911

Nor is Zelectric the only one doing German car workovers: the crew at the aptly named Electric Classic Cars has converted all manner of wagons, from Porsche 914s to, yes, Beetles.

Our pick of the bunch? A stunningly restored 1979 Porsche 911 SC Targa, retro-fitted with a 54kWh Tesla battery and a pair of electric motors. 

The result? Besides a beautiful slice of ’70s sports car style, the reimagined 911 shipped with a power output of 130bhp and a 200-mile range, not to mention some pretty startling acceleration – and a much more forgiving maintenance regime.

Electric Classic Cars Range Rover

Prefer something for your country pile? Among its many past projects, ECC has also done over a classic Range Rover – equipping the understated off-roader with an 80kWh battery pack and similar twin-motor setup as part of a sensitive restoration.

In fact, the British firm can convert just about any retro motor for electric running. Know your way around a spanner? It also sells ready-made kits for certain cars – including the Beetle, VW Camper and Fiat 500 – as well as DIY components to suit many more. Ideal for zapping the Austin Allegro stashed in your shed.

Retro-EV Triumph E-GT6

An attractive fastback that went down well in the UK, the GT6 Mk3 was something of a triumph for Triumph – even if sales were low. Want to re-live the glory of the ’70s two-seater without increasing your carbon footprint? Retro-EV’s got just the thing: a 1972 example with electric underpinnings.

A beautiful burgundy number that’s enjoyed plenty of attention since its conversion in 2015, ‘EDRIVE1’ is now up for grabs – with a handsome price tag of €80k. 

What does all that money buy you? A fully restored GT6 with all the trimmings and, of course, an electric drivetrain – which means 145bhp, a range of up to 77 miles and guaranteed guilt-free smugness. The battery system is modular, too, so if cells get better, so can your classic.

Retro-EV MGA E-Roadster

Another classic crafted by Retro-EV is this magnificent MGA – a late-’50s stunner that’s been beautifully restored around the firm’s EV platform.

In fact, Retro-EV ships several variants of the mid-century two-seater: beside coupé and roadster body styles, you can spec the reimagined sports car in a range of trim levels – from period-correct and largely authentic to a heavily upgraded finish including custom seats.

Whichever you pick, the electric powertrain will deliver the equivalent of 134bhp – some 50 more than the original and enough to make a trip along B-roads thoroughly enjoyable, albeit without the straight-six soundtrack.

Retro-EV Rolls-Royce E-Corniche

If you’re after something altogether more regal, Retro-EV’s Rolls-Royce is the wagon you want.

Finished with all the refinement for which the British marque is famed, the elegant Roller still offers a luxury ride under EV power, devouring miles but without the rumble of a V8 engine.

For drop-top grace there’s the E-Corniche (from €300k), while Retro-EV also offers the Silver Shadow in coupé and standard sedan form, from €250k – because class without the gas doesn’t come cheap.

London Electric Cars Morris Minor

From the extraordinary to the everyday, the mass-built Morris Minor was once a common sight on British streets – and, in revamped electric guise, it might well be once again.

Worked over by British firm London Electric Cars, the 1953 machine cuts a dash in restored Series 2 guise, complete with early split-screen and cheesegrater grille.

What really sets it apart, though, is the electric motor beneath the bonnet. It’s not available off-the-shelf, sadly, but you can contact the company for a custom conversion – and, besides the Morris, they’ve given the electric treatment to everything from Lancia Betas to lovely old Landies.

RBW MGB Roadster

We saw the MGA earlier, now meet the B: equipped with tech from a Formula E supplier, RBW’s revitalised MGB Roadster is a truly remarkable thing.

Whereas some electric conversions seek to maintain originality as much as possible, RBW aims instead to combine ’60s appeal with contemporary comfort, safety and performance – and to create a modern, zero-emissions machine that’s something of a classic in its own right.

As a result, the hand-built Roadster ships with a new bodyshell from British Motor Heritage, together with LED headlamps, digital instrument displays and air-conditioning for good measure. 

All that, in a package that looks stunning and that has, at its heart, an environmentally friendly electric motor – one that can run for 160 miles, hit 60mph in 8.5secs and top out at 105mph.

Classic Chrome Fiat 500

Fiat’s answer to inner-city transport, the plucky 500 has always been a bonny slice of classic Italian motoring – but now, thanks to Classic Chrome, it’s also a little EV fit for the future.

Still as stylish as it ever was and packing a standard cabin straight out of the ’60s – bar the battery meter – it’s under the boot where everything has changed: gone is the 500cc engine of old, replaced by a trio of Tesla batteries and a brushless motor good for 47bhp – which is plenty for a two-door weighing less than 500kg.

Better yet, where most electric cars offer a single-speed transmission, Classic Chrome has pulled a blinder by retaining the original four-speed gearbox, mated to an uprated clutch.

To top it all off? With no petrol tank, there’s extra space for your weekend bags. And, at £25k, the whole package is a relative bargain.