My Ferrari Quoted for Electric Conversion! The Cost Will Surprise You

I drove an electric Classic Ferrari 308 a few months ago and wanted to find out more about what would be involved in a potential conversion of the InfluEnzo as well as how much it would cost. What electric motor would it use and how much would the parts alone, engine and motor, cost?
Thanks to Electric Classic Cars for their time and for showing me around!
www.electricclassiccars.co.uk

[@delukxy]

In a nutshell, this only makes financial sense to someone who has more money than sense.

[@chilman6461]

That's a good way of putting it

[@stevemawer848]

Or more dollars than cents! :-)

[@angela1984a]

In todays economy - doing the right thing is often going to come with a higher price than the alternative... But sure... I absolutely understand if someone can't do it for financial reasons. I'm in a similar situation myself. I want to use my money to be able to change career. That means that I can't buy a Tesla Model 3. So unfortunately I'll have to make do with a ~2015 Manual VW Golf Station wagon that I almost completely run on methane from recycled organic waste (which is widely available in the European country that I live in)... But hey, all things considered it's still a completely ok car...

[@Youtuber-o]

totally agree

[@jimjam5570]

For 50k conversion with used parts... you could buy both cars new, that they're getting the used parts from. Very odd. Must be 1k$/h labor cost or something...

[@iandavidson99]

I've always felt an electric conversion of a DeLorean makes so much sense... The DeLorean is such an iconic car, yet it's known the engine was total rubbish and without merit. I'd love a well sorted electric DeLorean. It would even resemble the Tesla truck in car guise too :)

[@AB-jz9ns]

Totally agree. The DeLorean’s motor contributed nothing to its fame. I would convert one to an EV and install a Flux Capacitor … for extra HP!!!

[@alxgu198]

Makes perfect sense 👍

[@petescarport]

I agree

[@SpawnyWhippet]

It's been done already kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2fchYGsoZKmY7s

[@markbennett6658]

That would take it ‘Back To The Future’!

[@koniseatskimchi5541]

to be honest, i personally think that EV conversions are a great way to keep our classic cars surviving way past ourselves.

[@augustmannertorn6107]

That's what im thinking too. I have a lot of friends that are into cars or mechanics but i've never gotten into them. Then i started reading about old classic cars and all the love, quality and human effort that has gone into these cars. But also just the vibe and look of old mercedes and volvos that my friends have. Only issue with those always has to do with the fuel ineffiency and the decline of combustion engines. My dream is to have one of those old cool looking cruisers but without all the (to me) unimportant fluff of the engine...

[@Ardonn]

@@kimvette1 no it cant cause they become heavy and handle like shit. theres nothing positive in ev at all in al old car like this

[@bestofalllife]

Of course 😊 the only way that is possible anytime 🍻

[@danmcadie2515]

@@Ardonn Clueless

[@foshizle121]

I Agree but it has to become a lot cheaper. It shouldn’t be long until some Chinese company starts selling these kits for cheap

[@oohmeconkers1968]

As Enzo said… ‘the car is just somewhere for the engine to go’ I’m paraphrasing a bit but you get what i mean… the one thing I dislike about electric vehicles is the lack of any noise.. yes they are fast.. but they sound like a bloody milk float.. very disconcerting. Even if it was £20k to change the drivetrain I wouldn’t. It’s a Ferrari!!! Let’s save the cars with character for when the rest of the world is humming around pretending they are saving the earth!! I have spoken !!😀😀😀

[@gazzafloss]

Yes, electric vehicles are "just transport", easier than walking. The 308 is a mobile piece of art built to stimulate the senses.

[@stu4181]

Do you think in a parallel universe somewhere, they made battery powered vehicles first, and then some oil burners 30 years later. Someone is saying, “these petrol engines are fast but they sound like a milk float” as f1 cars in their world were electric and milk floats little oil burners…. Ie are we conditioned to think electric cars sound like milk floats and petrol cars like race cars as that’s what fast cars have sounded like, maybe if petrol was the new thing and formula E had been around 70 years people would be saying these new petrol engines are fast but they are very uncooth in their sound 🤣🤷‍♂️🤣

[@oohmeconkers1968]

@@stu4181 That would be a terrible world!!😂😂

[@stu4181]

@@oohmeconkers1968 they’d probably Think mullets were fashionable as well🤣

[@gazzafloss]

@@stu4181 probably you're right, that'll be the planet called "Musk", he's from another universe.

[@09gearchange]

Cost aside. I think it would be classed as sacrilege for most. Converting an old saloon or mass produced classic seems to be acceptable ,where the driving experience never really mattered may be considered ok ,but a Ferrari ? where the driving connection ,engine sound, handling quirks ,gear shift and overall feeling of the beast is what makes it dynamic to drive would be a mistake big time. Very happy to hear you have declined from such a path.

[@gilsonzinetti6122]

I agree, it is a sacrilege! If it get done I will unsubscripe from the channel!!!!

[@Petrospect]

How about a W124 widebody alike the 500E electric. Much better than a 308

[@CaiPrice]

I agree but if you had enough cash to just do it to see what it would be like, you probably would, right? I was a little shocked seeing the classics they had in there. Maybe their engines are buggered so they decided why not.

[@jeb419]

I don't think it's sacrilege. He drove the electric version of this car and he seemed to really like it. Doing it on a concourse level classic Ferrari would be sacrilege or on most any v12 Ferrari.

[@geoffmarsh7986]

Had to switch off in view of the offensive nature of the conversion. Thought this crude behaviour was limited to the US.

[@petercampbell3828]

The sound of the engine would be most missed.

[@andygtv]

He can put it on a cassette 😂

[@sharonbraselton4302]

ñope

[@sharonbraselton4302]

@@andygtv your rugght

[@39PSIOnTheDaily]

@5:53 I saw the shock in your eyes Jack! You can’t hide it well enough! Hahaha

[@parrotraiser6541]

I'll grudgingly accept some of the conversions of old limousines to electric propulsion, (they're about quiet), but the march of the milk-floats into "driving pleasure" territory is rather depressing.

[@kipsome45]

I have zero interest in EV’s.

[@Brunosdad]

Them dam Huel adverts are doing my head in.

[@chrisgreenwood271]

Starling Bank drives me up the wall.

[@lebojay]

Are you f*ckin’ kidding? After all that effort getting that lump to work!? That is my gut reaction. I will watch the video now.

[@ruudmobile6726]

Although I am more of a purist, I do love your honest and personal perspective and the way you put your arguments forward. Frankly "you" would win me over...Cheers, Ruud (Holland)

[@Roguescienceguy]

As long as there is no chopping up the frame at all AND the original parts are oiled up and put aside, I could live with it.

[@timothymills733]

So more than the cost of a properly developed electric car, to have an inferior "solution" that you would constantly have to explain to people and make excuses for?

[@PeteCourtier]

Great point. Apart from eco peeps everyone would ask “why?”

[@ryanmccormick2150]

What a cool company! I love stuff like this, I’m going to start up my own business converting Tesla’s to massive V8 petroleum power ………. I think I’m onto a winner!😂😂 Great video Jack 👍

[@saxon-mt5by]

I think you could well be right! In five or ten years time today's Tesla will be outdated and worthless, an ideal candidate for an upgrade!

[@PeteCourtier]

Come on! Don’t be silly. A V12 Tesla please😂😂😂

[@rsole65]

Check out Rich Rebuilds v8 Tesla

[@ryanmccormick2150]

@@rsole65 will do, cheers!

[@ryanmccormick2150]

@@PeteCourtier I was saving the V12 for my Prius line up! 👍😂

[@susannero6401]

Thanks for another great video, Jack. Curious, though, about your remark that the 308 motor is not one of Ferrari's best. Sure, it's not the Colombo V12 or the screaming 5-valve V8 of the 355, but 3 liter V8 sustained Ferrari from the mid-70's up to 1989 (in its 3.2 form). From that I'd say it's one of their more successful powerplants. I'm biased, though, as I think the motor on my Mondial 3.2 is glorious :)

[@dwn2634]

Interesting how fast things are moving with the tech. I wonder how much you’d get for the Ferrari ICE internals as a downpayment towards conversion? Personally I’d be waiting a year or two for the tech to start to plateau, the experience to be more technologically analogue and costs to improve.

[@mikebader3863]

Wow, am I the only one who was massively underestimating the costs involved? I can’t believe anyone does these conversions, keep the V8 and buy a Tesla! Crazy money

[@blackterminal]

It's because they rip you off. And using Tesla parts is the most expensive option. Nice show off value. Nice empty bank account. There are cheaper parts you can use

[@devonbikefilms]

Only those who've never run a proper engineering business. This is for a bespoke one off build, not a kit that they make hundreds of. There is significant design effort, bespoke skilled operator fabrication time, all of which has to be fit for purpose and safe to use on the road. Not cheap but nothing good is, and this companies work is of a very high standard.

[@pepip1000]

Yeah I thought the same thing. Cheaper buying a Tesla. These guys are rip offs. I know a acquaintance that converted a Audi a5 for under $15,000

[@blackterminal]

@@pepip1000 they are definitely rip offs

[@OYABUNG_WA]

@@pepip1000 did they do the conversion themselves and do you know what motor / battery config was used?

[@mftwohill51]

I feel as time goes on that battery technology will just improve out of site, also the layout and constructed will change to make an electric car better and cheaper, than it is today and that also applies to conversions. So, to convert now maybe a bit of a premature decision as I am sure better alternatives are just around the corner. The all electric car world is still 14years away, a lot can happen between now and then. So, lets enjoy the beautiful old classics for what they are today. Cheers from Sydney Australia.

[@timgosling6189]

An interesting insight into the electric mod process. I am glad it makes no financial sense for your car since, properly set up, the carb 308 engine is a thing of joy. It may only have 230-ish BHP but its response and multi-faceted sound is wonderful, and so suited to that very physical but rewarding gearbox and pedals. Now I'll have to go away and play some of the old track day videos! I also noticed the replica Countach shell up on the racking. Given how much the charisma of a Countach comes from its engine that must be an even worse idea than gutting a carb 308!

[@mftwohill51]

Nothing like the sound of the intake on a 308 carburettor model, the noise from eight separate butter flies and eight cylinders.

[@kylereese4822]

There is a CRX with duel Nissan Leaf motors in it... they can produce 300bhp when tuned...

[@locknut5382]

Sorry guys, but the racket of dinosaurs screaming in a Ferrari leaves me flat. I'd never want to own one. But if one was converted to EV and it came my way, then I'd jump at the chance to drive it. The looks are great, and that counts for a lot to me. Incidentally, Ferrari is the Italian equivalent name to Smith. 😉 The sound of metal being forged comes to mind.

[@BritishBoy1971]

Just imagine spending £70,000+ on an electric conversion, then finding out it cuts out every time you turn right! 😂

[@Number27]

😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@alxgu198]

Rottie. Brilliant mate! 😁👍

[@marcryvon]

🤣🤣🤣

[@skittle01]

😂

[@vspencer9764]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@markwalton8644]

A classic car conversion makes no sense whatsoever. First a classic car is an occasional car. More than likely at the weekend which will maybe do 2-4k miles a year. Second a classic car has character of its own. The throaty carbs, the throttle response and the engine responding behind to your inputs, the feeling as you drive through the gears, the sound of the exhaust reverberating behind you, the smell of the oil etc. The costs involved are astronomical as you'll a never going to get your money back from cheap electricity vs 90k invested. You'll never drive it enough!! Buy a Tesla for your daily if you want but a classic absolutely pointless!!

[@AndyRRR0791]

A classic car makes no sense at all either. You'd do this because you really want to enjoy the results, just like you pay over the odds for "transport" in a Ferrari when a Toyota Yaris will do a similar job.

[@markwalton8644]

@@AndyRRR0791 Then I'm guessing you're not a car fan!

[@AndyRRR0791]

@@markwalton8644 you guess wrong and you completely miss the point i'm making. it's a personal choice as to how much you want to spend on a car in whatever form. You could lose 70k in depreciation on some cars so how does spending 70k on a conversion "make no sense whatsoever"?

[@markwalton8644]

@@AndyRRR0791 Sorry I misconstrued what you are saying. Yes a Classic car will gaining value, then to spend 70+k , on the conversion only to completely devalue your classic. The only time this would make sense is if you could no longer buy petrol or a fuel to power it!!

[@AndyRRR0791]

@@markwalton8644 You're being an idiot. A classic car has nothing to do with economics. It's spending money for the pleasure it brings and, for some, that includes EV conversions.

[@stephenbarker426]

Interesting idea although not something I would do at that cost, also to my mind the second most important question after cost is what is the actual range given by the build?

[@theadventuresofred19]

£70k to convert? And destroy the value of the car? It's a no-brainer don't do it!

[@alunrees3056]

Woah!! That was more than expected!

[@199724]

Where did you mention the battery capacity? I only heard about the charging time, but that is also very related to the battery size.

[@Toysnus.]

That is an outrageous price ( £95,000 ) for the conversion. The heartbeat of that car is the engine and gear change.

[@Good-Enuff-Garage]

yup, especially since you can DIY your own EV Conversion for $5K kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXmkdqiFmtB0sJo

[@Good-Enuff-Garage]

@Colin Gregson you have got to be kidding us, you do realize the nonsense of the squarish shaped Volvos of the 80s being the safest car on the road were completely and utterly debunked, THEY LIED !!! and they are lying now about EVs, but I don't care what people think I luv electric cars, they were around before gasoline powered cars and at one point there were more electrics 100 years ago than gas powered ones, and we are heading for that again, YES !!!

[@Good-Enuff-Garage]

@Colin Gregson what does that have to do with the price of tea in China, my point was that Volvo lied.

[@grahamnutt8958]

Although the figures quoted are "ball park"..... I can get a massive amount of mileage out of a P5B with my current and/or projected annual use. If the costs were IRO £10K..... different matter. Great insight and knowledge has been taken on board here. Thank you for sharing this 👍.

[@derin111]

Nice to see the BMW E9 shell lurking in the background. Chin and roof hoop spoiler suggest something very nice! 🙂

[@salamander5703]

Be interesting to know what the batteries do to weight distribution, C of G height and polar inertia - ie could the car retain good handling and still have reasonable range? I guess with the Tesla motor it would be a lot quicker than on petrol which might compensate for the quiet progress. When is someone going to start selling noise synthesisers to make a nice V8 burble or V12 howl for electric cars??

[@Islamisthecultofsin]

They can give the car a better weight distribution.

[@sharonbraselton4302]

chef has that cover à ektrç sound ucé exçy perfect jiyßt but t çimbg futreè

[@matthewowen7969]

Was that a countach body on the top rack?

[@keithlivingstone2525]

Was that a Countach body on the rack behind John? Do they get to keep the Ferrari engine/gearbox/exhaust or would they post it back to you? 😁

[@timtroke]

The price though eyewatering seems about right, for all of that unique engineering. My only concern is how much room the whole business takes. It renders the car to a simple day tripper. Forget an overnight or weekend bag. Where would you put it?

[@Gentleman...Driver]

@Joshua Langley I would use that for a Diesel Generator, so I dont need to charge the EV. lol

[@gazzafloss]

I like how "non-committal" he was on costing, I think it's more like " how deep is this chap's pockets. They'd have a real good idea on price, but play the game of "how much can the market bear"...

[@truxton1000]

Price is "about right" yes, but it makes no sense. Would be a bit like paying 100 million pounds to power your house with a very small nuclear plant, again the price would be "about right" but what would be the point of it?

[@kylereese4822]

Batteries are getting more energy dense thus getting smaller so luggage is more more possible...

[@truxton1000]

@@kylereese4822 Not really, batteries will still be very heavy, and nowhere near the energy density of diesel or petrol.

[@James.P.D]

How would it effect the insurance?

[@davidashley4386]

One important point, what range would it have ? Or did I miss that ?

[@clevelandaeromotive]

I was gonna say, “You’ve come such a long way on this engine. Why convert to electric now?” Great job on this old 308, as always.

[@insAneTunA]

But for that money you basically get a brand new car that doesn't only look good, but that also performs much better with modern driving capabilities.

[@pmiller7886]

Could not be more violently opposed to a conversion than this. Like the Python pet shop sketch turning a cat into a fish, pure madness with no humour at all.

[@bejay69]

Does the price include fire extinguishers?

[@pereldh5741]

I think: For cars where the engine is a big part of the cars ’soul’ - like almost any italian car (bar maybe a classic Fiat 500/600) it’s better to keep the engine & wait for the CO2-neutral fuels. For cars where the engine isn’t really The Thing, like a 2CV or an old Porsche 356, it’d be a different matter. As usual you’ve done the right choice! Another reason not to jump the gun is of course the speed the electric drivetrains develop now, in 5years it’d be old already. (Goes for any new electric car too of course)

[@davidorama6690]

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE - ARE YOU DISSING THE CLASSIC FIAT 500?

[@pereldh5741]

@@davidorama6690 Haha not really, only the 2-potter! :)

[@dungareesareforfools]

I think the engine is a thing on any car. Just wait till 99% of what’s on the roads is silent - that 2-pot engine will then have a character that you’ll crave.

[@pereldh5741]

@@dungareesareforfools No its just a matter of taste. I'm in the Lampredi twincam-camp myself...

[@safffff1000]

Gee get over co2 bull, that gas feeds plants and makes a better 02 atmosphere

[@smhorse]

The good thing is that you can still obtain tetraethyl lead to add to petrol, so I'm using as much of it as I can. 🤷‍♂️

[@derin111]

When I was a teenager in the late 70s/early 80s one of my friends Dad had two 308s at the same time…a GTB and GTS. Both were company cars which after 3 years became his own property….but that’s another story. This biggest thing I remember about being in the cars was the sound of opening those engines up! Surely, the loss of that noise would totally spoil the experience of the car.

[@Number27]

It would.. having said that this isn't Ferrari's best engine! thanks for watching Derin!

[@stuartbrown1677]

Good video , well done! I think I’m going to ha et to get a push bike Stuart in ireland

[@seancain7305]

Another good film Jack & thanks for re-visiting ECC. I also have some interest in converting a car to electric (not a Ferrari) but currently the costs are eye watering once you want a reasonably modern EV install - Unless you are welded to the idea & thats your only consideration. I think over time, the costs will even out, so will look at the idea in the future. BTW, I don't know why ECC use a Tesla large motor in such a small / light car, which in turn you'll need more battery to power... this just seems to spiral the installation the wrong way

[@Number27]

Interesting point Sean!!

[@TomYearley]

Interesting. I ran some numbers when I swapped out my Marcos' engine and it was coming to £30k for a shed built leaf conversion. I opted for the 'race spec' rover v8 as a last hurrah. Give me 5 or ten years of that and it'll definitely be going elec!

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

Love the Marcos .my uncle had a very early wood. Chassis one still remember the drop off the sill into the seat.. and the view forward only equaled by an early E type. My favourite was a concourse Mantula 😎🇬🇧 i saw at a kit car show back in the heyday. Its a great pity the E tech is so expensive still its counterproductive to what needs to be happening. William Towns saw it back with his Micro Dot self charging E runabout. One of the Midas Gold's or the Quantum saloons would be a superb conversion platforms. Having both the strength aerodynamics and light wt. to turn modest power systems into something quite 🔥😎

[@domtdoodar99]

How on earth did you get £30k for a shed built using leaf components, my e46 is costing £6k to convert diy using leaf components

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

@@domtdoodar99 Im guessing but a lot comes down to where you live and whats available at the time... Even three or four years ago there just wasnt the availability of donor vehicles and supporting conversion parts. 🤷🏻‍♂️ .... Im a life long kit car fan it would be perfect sense to convert a old RWD Ford based utility vehicle like the Dutton Sierra or Rickman ranger to E power using a direct drive motor axel conversion...but it's not going to economical to do still.

[@nsjguitarsakascotsman6989]

The way I'd look at it is you could have your car plus repairs etc and it might cost say £50,000 all in, that leaves maybe £40,000 for fuel and tyres. That's a lot of fun with a nice exhaust note!! Lol

[@ridgmont61]

Interested to know what the performance would be.

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

Interesting concept, gulp!

[@jd3552]

How about installing a reasonable cost V-8 engine?

[@Laz_Arus]

If you went ahead and converted the InfluEnzo, one question would still remain ... where would Iain Tyrell stick his rubber tune-up hose? 😁😲

[@marcryvon]

🤣🤣🤣

[@billholmes3462]

I’ve recently had a Jaguar XJC restored and seriously considered going electric but the costs just do not add up. Like you I was quoted north of £70k against the cost of just over £7k to recondition the engine. There is no road tax for a classic, so same advantage as a modern electric car and frankly the mileage most people cover in their classics cars does not warrant the extra investment. I had a 90% restoration done on my car for way less than than an electric conversion. If you do not like the Ferrari engine I would suggest you change it for a more reliable modern engine which would be way cheaper than going electric.

[@steverichards3708]

Is that a Countach body shell on the racks 6:53?!

[@eze8970]

Thanks Jack! Interesting to look at EV option, but too price prohibitive for most now. Still, there will be a lot of parts you can sell for spares to a collector, when the time comes!

[@fredmercury1314]

How much will it cost for them to convert my Insignia?

[@dungareesareforfools]

It’s really interesting from an engineering perspective, but for me that’s where the interest ends. I don’t see what people would get out of driving a converted classic over a new electric car - why not just transform the latter with a body kit and leave the original to be worth something to someone else in a few years? Also, what happens when major components like the battery need to be replaced? Already in the time that this company has been at this they have had to redesign around new components. Is it a major conversion each time?

[@whyIsItSoLoud]

Yeh, the layout of an ICE car doesn't allow for decent battery placement so you get poor range, power and handling compared to a new car on a BEV specific platform

[@MrAdopado]

@@whyIsItSoLoud If you follow Electric Classic Cars on YT you will see that they usually end up improving weight distribution despite some inevitable compromises. Power is invariably increased over the original car... and they do the conversion in such a way that you can put the original engine and drive train back in the car and go back to original if you wanted to in the future. If you're rich enough (mad enough?) and want a Ferrari as a daily driver rather than a once a month toy it does have some things in its favour!

[@cgee3999]

Gearbox! I agree, my Morgan +4 with a Mazda MX5 gearbox is so beautiful

[@jimmykucera8627]

Would be interesting to find out what you would get $ wise for the Ferrari engine, gear box and everything that gets removed from the car and take that off the cost of the conversion…

[@brendanmccabe8769]

It's good to see a figure quoted (well nearly quoted) for this type of conversion, and as expected it's not exactly pocket money! I guess some people are just very fortunate to be able to throw circa £100K at a car which will already have lightened their wallets quite a bit and the great thing about it is it means I don't even have to waste time considering it. A good thing to remember is that the value of the car being converted will have little bearing on the cost, just the amount of batteries and, presumably, the size of the motor/power output so even a much smaller car will cost a good chunk of this amount. I believe I've heard Moggy mention £20K as the starting point for conversion which would be a small car (Beetle/Fiat 500) with enough battery to give you less then 100 mile range. I couldn't make the math's work on that either. Had to chuckle at the way it started by the way, "At the moment you've got the V8 in there, that has all got to come out" you see I never realised that!

[@Dendelibu]

Going electric on a car like that is like going to see an opera but whit out sound it will never have the same feeling and emotion

[@kickapoo1390]

will be an interesting option in the future, when costs come down, for cars with dead or no engines.

[@phatlaz1974]

Great video

[@flyinghedgehog3833]

Boyo forgot to mention it also comes with a sheep fitted in the boot ...this is handy if Sir gets over excited by the sound of the electric motor...one can simply pull over anywhere in Wales and give it a damned good seeing to. ..so yes 95K starts to make sense.

[@philthewriter]

Any idea on range?

[@Number27]

180 miles driven slowly..

[@pcyt9822]

for me the 308 targa was all about styling and open air driving. most people don't know the cost to maintain this older ferrari if you intend to drive it a lot. the engine was never special. the handling was never special. it was the style and Magnum PI that made it iconic. i would convert it in a heartbeat and drive it everywhere and not worry about maintenance!

[@ts9971]

It’s a great idea to convert considering some parts are difficult to find. One old car’s engine bay interior was burnt down. It’s time for a change. EV maybe one of those changes.

[@michelswerissen6544]

Thanks for that.

[@weallfollowmanutd]

The whole point of this car, especially being a classic isn't the speed. It's the sound and the manual box

[@sharonbraselton4302]

ño it's bot

[@KiwiStag74]

Hiya Jack. Quick thought - nobody mentioned the range the wee beasty would have after the conversion. My main issue with electric cars has always been the sustainability - not just with the replacement of the batteries every X years, but also the raw materials available to make the batteries as well as the generation of the power to charge them. Here in New Zealand, we have one of the highest rates of car ownership in the world. There are 5m of us and there are something like 4.4m cars registered every year in the NZ fleet. Considering that at least a fifth of our population is under the eligible driving age of sixteen, that's an average of 1.1 vehicles for every person aged 16 and older, regardless of whether they own one or not. If every vehicle was converted to electricity......somehow I do not believe I would be able to write this wee post on your vid from the comfort of my armchair! If it were just a case of restricting new car sales to electric and waiting until the modern fossil-fuelled vehicles grow old and retire, that would be similar to the people enforcing this mandate believing that the current classic, vintage and veteran vehicles can retire with them - let alone any of the current fleet that make it to classic status. I note that it appears that many governments seem to have lost the ability to see classic and older vehicles as something to be cherished.....but let's sit politics over in the corner where it belongs. Other than the cost of retrofitting, most classic vehicle owners I know are more concerned about the lack of range in the electric vehicles. I have never understood why someone has not fitted a simple generator or alternator to supplement the draw on the battery pack's ergs. When a car with an alternator is running, the alternator can provide all necessary power - even with a battery that is doing the impression of a doorstop and not taking a charge. Using an electric motor to get you off the line and the armature turning fast enough to engage the charge circuit - wherein it flicks over and stops charging the battery and just runs the car off the alternator - sounds so simplistic to me that I cannot understand why it has not been done. Charging the full whack on the battery would only have to be done once a week (instead of daily in most cases) and the range would only be diminished by stop-start traffic and the number of lights and stop signs between home and destination. Also, if there were a way to enable the alternator to charge the battery pack with the alternator without decreasing the battery pack's lifespan, then why not use it for that too? Then the cost. You paid something like 32k pounds for the Influenzo.....but the conversion will cost more than twice as much as that to fit a motor that will not give you the sound nor gearing that makes the car such a delight to drive. I'm sorry mate, but I don't see the attraction at all. What is the cost of a fully rebuilt Ferrari 308 engine? I know it will be expensive, but I don't see it in the 75-90k range somehow..... Until conversions become about a tenth of the current cost (says the owner of two Triumphs and a Mini) and give me the range of 250 miles minimum, I'm really not interested in them. The dubious benefit gained by converting a petroleum-driven classic vehicle is far outweighed by the lack of practicality, cost, sustainability and the reason I bought my classics to begin with. A MPEG soundtrack playing in the background will never replace the rumble, burble, growl, snarl and roar of a Stag V8, a 2500cc straight six or a 1275cc A-series engine.....nor the fun of chucking any of them through the gears and setting myself up for the next corner with a wrist-flick at the gear stick, pump of the clutch and gauging when to turn by the note she is singing..................ever!

[@vipertwenty249]

The difference in practice is you would be going from a car that you use rarely and requires a LOT of maintainance to a car that you could easily be driving every day, handles better, goes faster, is MUCH cheaper to run, needs very little maintainance and still turns heads just as much if not more than it does in original trim. If you can afford it it's a no brainer.

[@grahamkay6142]

⬅️⬅️ this is my ford escort 1982 mk3 1.3 2 door ghia , I could convert it myself to electric for 7k what would give me air conditioning and maybe some other luxurys and a range of about 120 miles the only thing putting me off i feel I spoiling the car (maybe last one left) and am I devaluing my car ?? Please reply anyone 🙏 🙂

[@PrincessTS01]

Have you seen the 1950 Mark V Jaguar that superfastmatt did a EV conversion on? He was a former tesla engineer... if not do a search for it now.

[@marquisbois990]

Here in France the government is giving help between 2500-5000euro for retro-fit. The average price according to them is apparently 18’000euro to do it. I took my Defender in for a quote. 77k!!! Friend quoted over 100k on a classic 911. A modern Mini cost 52k. And that’s with them keeping the parts they take out!

[@oguretsagressive]

Crazy money. Oil engines are heavier (adds material cost + transportation), much more complex (contain more parts, require more space and equipment to build), but cost a tiny fraction of what EV motors cost today. I think when this industry really spins up, electric motors would be a lot cheaper.

[@bigdarbs19]

You are correct, the cost did surprise me, I can't imagine anybody would get that done. £50k just for parts!!!!!!!

[@katywalker8322]

Electric motor is producing max torque at 0, then just falling away with revs. No point in having a transmission where you can change gear as lower gearing might might multiply the torque at the wheels, but means more revs so less engine torque - so pretty much wiping out the gain from gearing. Might be fun for a traffic light GP, and make towing easy, but takes away all of the fun playing with gears, throttle, etc.

[@tonymoreton7166]

Hell would freeze over before I converted my 360 or E92 M3. Same should certainly apply to your 308.

[@creightonfreeman8059]

There is a way to do the conversion and keep the manual transmission. You would sacrifice some power because a motor with torque equal to Tesla's Model S motor would destroy the Ferrari OEM trans unless the amps and ramp-up was dialed down. The price seems a bit high, although perhaps it is because you are in Europe. You can buy the Tesla drive train from EV West (in California) for about $12,000 and the batteries are somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000. You have cables, DC-DC converter, gauges, and a few other minor minor components but you are still in the neighborhood of $35,000. With labor I think about $50,000 is reasonable. Not cheap, but considerably cheaper than $75,000. You could ship the car back and forth from California and still come in under that. The guys at EV West did a fire salvaged F-308 conversion. Check it out on their KZbin channel. Last I heard there was a two year waiting list for their services though.

[@grayfool]

The principle is great but I would want to keep the main character of the car concerned. I would love an electric DS but the suspension/brakes/steering system would have to be kept. That's what makes that car so unique. I think any conversion needs to take that idea into account. Then there is, of course the matter of cost. It's a lot of money.

[@tool79]

At 1:59 the CSL off to the left!!!

[@terryfleming7084]

That is what I would miss the most too! I love my manual gearboxes.

[@sharonbraselton4302]

chef git éverry thbg cube stiçk and sounds like 1980 he grew up sticks sound soeeddènñ just buy it cuñvert

[@turdferguson4124]

The sound of your 308, with that flat plane crank V8, would be sorely missed in my opinion. It just sounds great. The acceleration performance of an electric vehicle is amazing though.

[@sharonbraselton4302]

nope

[@denseljosephs9500]

What happened to LPG ?

[@mell3109]

I can’t get my head around the time it takes, doesn’t make sense when there is only one moving part, cables and batteries

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

It’s a win win. The market for these high maintenance cars with have a lot of spares, and the 308 owner will have a faster car with no maintenance. Yes, you will miss the roar of the engine. EVWest of Carlsbad California is likely the older EV conversion company. They provide the computer for the motor.

[@Kellsboro]

Jack, I appreciate the insight into what is involved today. Personal opinion here, but short of the donor 308 being damaged - engine fire for example - it pains me to see a classic converted. Further where we are now is akin to an Apple iPhone 3G back in 2008. By 2021 that's phone is dated, heavy, etc. It seems like the owner will always be chasing the "next" update. The V8 ICE it has now is a rewarding vehicle with a 3-peddle set-up to involve the driver. Never going to have that experience with an EV.

[@alexlang5649]

Just as long as they don't use Italian electrics for the conversion 😂

[@icsunonova]

that why italians use german electrics in their cars :P

[@duncanmartin2626]

Interesting video - I think the idea of being able to use CCS on conversions is a massive game changer in terms of how useable they can become. I'd love to hear what they are planning on doing with that Countach replica body on the shelf in the background. :)

[@RoadsOfOz]

I saw a new Porsche Taycan (electric vehicle). Looked amazing. I would rather one of those to retrofitting an older sports car.

[@RWBHere]

You wouldn't have to shout over that infernal racket if it was upgraded to an all electric system.

[@spellacy29]

That's an astronomical cost for a technology that isn't nearly developed enough and hasn't yet got the infrastructure to support it. I struggle to see how we're going to develop cost effective, practical electric vehicles by 2030 with acceptable environmental footprints, which certainly they don't have at the moment. Of course we need to move away from fossil fuels, but why electric? What about hydrogen? Interesting video, as always 🙂

[@simong6855]

You do understand that hydrogen cars are electric right? The hydrogen fuel cell takes the place of the rechargable lithium cells to produce the electricity.

[@douglasprovost768]

@@simong6855 wrong

[@spellacy29]

@@simong6855 I was referring to hydrogen gas, which works in a similar was to lpg in combustion engines. It's not a problem free (extraction from H2O for example) but it's far less of a dramatic change than converting to electricity. Plus, the only bi-product is water!

[@peterknight4692]

Gearbox and clutch and the skill of matching the engine to the driving situation in order to get the best performance out of the combination. That's the whole point of the likes of a Ferrari. If it were an automatic (shudder) and you liked driving an auto, then it might be a different story,

[@keyboarddancers7751]

My eyes nearly fell out of their sockets when the price was eventually squeezed out of the company owner.

[@maxgreece1]

Better idea. Buy a model 3, any of them, and keep the Ferrari as is. It’s a cheaper option and you get an extra car!!! I just got a model 3 SR+. Even that one is astonishingly quick and it’s probably around 40 grand.

[@felawes]

Having had Bentleys, Astons, and Bristols, I wouldn't convert any of those, but I'd do a 308 or Mondial at the drop of a hat. Hugely improved and drivable.

[@davidalexander-watts6630]

I had a 411 and I’d rather it was electric than the thirsty noisy and polluting 6556cc engine it had - which only had about a 200 mile range before it needed refilling at great expense. Electric makes a lot of sense for classics like these where its about effortless smooth power than sporty performance imho

[@pm1104]

Insane!

[@lotusmark2]

Those figures are an absolute joke

[@gsxrmh]

Agree, a Tela Plaid is just over a £100 000. I suppose when money doesn't matter...

[@kylereese4822]

@@gsxrmh A Tesla small motor subframe suspension you can get that for about £2500 and sell what you don't need... Battery packs, there are already people in Europe making 18650 cell type replacement modules for the Nissan Leaf... so it`s not impossible to build you own pack...

[@Nord_Mann]

Been thinking in the same for my 964. Agree to the gearbox. That’s what I would miss the most. Why can’t they make use of the gearbox and clutch? Imagine a 5 spd electric 964😍

[@roscopeco2000]

So much torque, make gearboxes redundant

[@Nord_Mann]

@@roscopeco2000 I’ve got a 2spd box in my EV. Makes it a lot more fun. Wouldn’t mind having a 7 spd PKD either

[@kipsome45]

I’d rather not! ☹️

[@JosephHowes2003]

How are the components that expensive? You could buy a wrecked Tesla and Chevy Volt for a lot less than that. Part out the rest when you're done.

[@alexwild4350]

Cool. My take away from this is that electric cars are going the same way as our phones. That is, battery pack you had, no longer available. Requires a complete redesign and re-installation to get the current batteries to fit. New charge controller required. New batteries, new power controller required. All to refresh your cars capacity. Basically at a cost that it will be cheaper to bin the whole car and buy something else, much like we do with our phones. I wouldn't be surprised that upgrading your phone will inadvertently not be compatible with the cars onboard software at some point meaning you'll need to keep an old phone to bluetooth to it to facilitate connecting to the onboard system monitoring computer. Far from being 'green' and saving the raw materials the planet has, the electric car is going to demand more and more as more becomes incompatible and is simply landfilled with the 'constantly evolving technology' much like our wonderful 'green' phones that now adays has no replaceable battery within. And if you can, much as this guy said, "We have to change the Tesla controller because we can't talk to it." the onboard computer will like Apple phones, check to see if its a genuine manufacturer battery before it'll let you use it, thus shutting out third party manufacturing, or put another way, competition that forces a lower price point to the consumer. Number 27 already has this Ferrari so the cost of conversion is an additional £70k. For that he could buy another 2 308's meaning he's got three. Three times the trouble but would now be able to bring us three times the KZbin content

[@daleyoung87]

If I had the money I would do it in a heartbeat. You could always build a sound generator to emulate the motor sound

[@sultanoftippoo3857]

Now a conversion to synthetic fuel (or Hydrogen if that’s even possible) would be interesting.

[@ManinaGarage]

Great subject. Awesome video! Many of us will benefit from your insight, thank you Jack. 🙌