01: Watt’s Old is New: The Electric Porsche 944 S2 Project

Join me, Josh, on an electrifying journey as I dive headfirst into the world of electric vehicle (EV) conversion with a twist of nostalgia. In this series, I'm taking a classic from the golden era of sports cars, a 1989 Porsche 944 S2, and transforming it into a modern electric marvel. This project is all about blending the iconic design and soul of an 80s legend with the cutting-edge technology of today's EVs.
Starting with a barn find that's seen better days, I'm setting out to breathe new life into this once-forgotten Porsche. From the initial discovery and purchase to the intricacies of EV conversion, you'll get an up-close look at every step of this ambitious project. Whether you're a seasoned car enthusiast or new to the world of EVs, there's something here for everyone.
Expect to see:
- The hunt for the perfect Porsche 944 S2
- An in-depth look at the car's condition and what makes it special
- The process of planning and starting the EV conversion
- Challenges and successes along the way
I'm on a mission to make this Porsche not just a garage queen, but a fully functional, exciting electric vehicle that pays homage to its roots while embracing the future. It's a journey of discovery, learning, and plenty of trial and error.
Join the adventure by subscribing and following along as I navigate the ups and downs of this DIY EV conversion. Your tips, questions, and encouragement are all welcome here. Together, let's see how this piece of automotive history can get a second life as a sustainable, electrifying ride.
🔌 #ElectricPorsche #EVConversion #Porsche944 #DIYProject #SustainableDriving #ClassicCars #ElectricVehicle #TechTransformation #RetroRevival #CarRestoration

[@grkfrk04]

General comment of support. Carry on

[@iamjoshuadavies]

Many thanks :)

[@bjrnrs]

Nice project. Can’t wait to see more. Great that you keep it alive 🙌

[@iamjoshuadavies]

Thanks. I’m going to try and get the next episode up a little early. 😊

[@simonblythe4921]

Cool project! I looking forward to seeing it through to completion.

[@iamjoshuadavies]

Thank you for committing the next 20 years of your life to the channel, I’ll honestly try to get it done faster if I can.

[@michaelquinn94]

Well done! Looking forward to see the project progress.

[@iamjoshuadavies]

Thanks... I'll do my best

[@Carlos230023]

Superb! I'm in the midst of EV swapping my 924s at the moment. Lemmi give you a couple of top tips. First off, join the 924 Owners club, not that expensive, wealth of knowledge (and spare/replacement parts) on their forum! Second, do yourself a big favour, watch the last episode of season 2 of a show called "Vintage Voltage", a show following a garage in Wales called "Electric Classic Cars" as they convert classics to EV's. That last episode is on a 944! I'm copying a fair bit of their homework. They also have a KZbin channel which is a font of EV knowledge, pretty sure they have a vid on the 944. Other channels of note: Restoration Apprentice, he's doing a series where he's doing a windows out restoration of a 924 to a sublime standard. SuperFastMatt also has some really good videos on EV swapping and general car modification. Keen to follow you along the way!

[@iamjoshuadavies]

Thank you so much! I’ll check those all out. How is your project going?

[@Carlos230023]

@@iamjoshuadavies it’s been a slow start, mainly due to work being so busy, managed to snag a 2 post car lift for the garage on FB marketplace for a good price. But much planning has gone on. Done lots of research into equipment to use, as well as getting the thing tested at the end. Another top tip, don’t cut the body about too much, and don’t change the suspension/brakes from stock till after the DVLA have inspected it and changed it to an EV, what you want to avoid is having to put it through an IVA test, that gets expensive very quickly, especially on EV builds. Get it to a good standard as an EV, get it MOT’d an inspected, when the new V5 comes through, then put fancy shocks on it 😅

[@iamjoshuadavies]

@@Carlos230023 Amazing advice, I didn't know this at all! :S

[@TomCowles]

Can't wait to see how this goes!!

[@DibsPhotography]

That's really cool. Can't wait to watch the rest of the journey 😍

[@iamjoshuadavies]

Thanks Dibs, hopefully the car will be fixed before I break myself!

[@frigityfaceJR]

The best thing you can do for now is big clean. Just that alone makes it far more easy to work on when your face isnt full of muck and dust. Its a good nic of a car. Wonderful project.

[@iamjoshuadavies]

I think I’m going to try and do the outside this weekend, I need more time to pluck up the courage to face the inside!

[@nigeltrigger4499]

Literally the project I have had in mind for years! I am now living vicariously through your project, so please will you include torque vectoring and very decent range based on the best battery location? EDIT: I forgot to add that 944 front end and 968 rear is the aesthetic I planned for!

[@iamjoshuadavies]

I love the way you think! I’ll do my best, provided the process doesn’t kill me.

[@marklawrence2417]

Don't take this the wrong way Joshua, but you are a spitting image of Alex Horn! Prehaps you could trick some of the contestants from Task Master to give you a hand :-) Look forward to following your progress.

[@iamjoshuadavies]

😂 haha I’ll take that, and to be frank, I need all the help I can get!

[@undergroundgarage]

Love the idea ! Im restoring a 924 on my channel, hit me up if you need some advice or parts 😊

[@iamjoshuadavies]

Oh wow, thanks, how much time do you have! Hehe, I’m super clueless, but I’ll take a look at your videos for sure and no doubt be messaging you stupid questions before too long.

[@undergroundgarage]

@iamjoshuadavies No worries mate. I'm happy to help.

[@simonblythe4921]

But did you think of going boxter or Cayman?

[@iamjoshuadavies]

I did, and Electric SuperCar is doing amazing things with a Cayman base. I think, for me, the 944 allows me to scratch my retro/80s itch which adds to the appeal.

[@Brian-ir5ii]

"promosm"