Nick Johnson can remember the moment when the classic car truly entered the electric age. It was on 19 May 2018, when Prince Harry rounded the bonnet in a silver-blue, 1968 Jaguar E-Type, and drove his new wife Meghan away from St George’s Chapel in Windsor. The car itself might have been half a century old, but the running gear was thoroughly 21st century; Jaguar Land Rover had given the Royal couple a prototype vehicle that had been converted to run on electric power. ‘People went wild for it,’ recalls Nick, the director of AutoPrivé, a London-based automotive concierge service. ‘You had the elegant look of a Jaguar E-Type, but the ecological credentials of an electric car. Jaguar were swamped with orders.’
Unfortunately, those orders are unlikely to be met any time soon, as Jaguar Land Rover has pulled the plug on this the project, called Jaguar E-Type Zero. However, there are still ways for drivers to indulge in classic motoring, without contributing towards the very modern problem of climate change. AutoPrivé offers its clientele a wide range of services, from vehicle sourcing and restoration, through to importation, export, storage and consignment. ‘A client might come to us to get hold of a certain car,’ says Nick. ‘We might protect their privacy if they’re in the public eye, work on restoration if it’s a classic model, or assist with the bureaucracy of the ownership side. Often, they will then come to us when they want to sell their vehicle.’
Though Nick does deal with some dedicated car collectors, many of his clients are wealthy individuals with a passion for nice vehicles, but limited enthusiasm for the shortcomings of old automobiles. ‘Many of my clients think, I’ve always wanted a classic car, but I’ve been put off by the maintenance and lack of reliability,’ he says. Indeed, some have learned the hard way. Nick can recall a period a few years ago when many on the London scene wanted a certain model of Mercedes from the 1960s. ‘They were incredibly elegant cars; they looked wonderful,’ he says. ‘But, inevitably, clients would spend a lot of money on the car, go away on an assignment, return to their garage three weeks later, and it would have leaked oil, or the battery would be flat. Interest in having such a vehicle dries up pretty quickly.’
Fortunately, there are now a handful of classic car restoration firms in the UK, US, and continental Europe that specialise in turning vintage petrol models, such as the Jaguar E-Type, into fully functioning electric cars. Post-conversion, expect to find the electric motor, fast-charging batteries and regenerative brakes you might typically see in a Tesla or other electric vehicle. These conversions not only improve a classic car’s reliability, but they also help to ease a driver’s conscience in a world increasingly concerned with CO2 emissions.
‘A Normal E-Type or classic Mercedes will look exquisite, but for some people, the moment you drive off, the car will often leave behind a nasty impression either because of the exhaust fumes or the smell of petrol,’ says Nick. ‘That doesn’t sit right with a lot of clients today, who are often in the public eye. Electrification removes that aspect.’ Of course, an electric motor with batteries will not slot neatly into every car. Electric motors are often lighter than their petrol or diesel counterpart, but the battery packs are heavy and therefore integration into an elderly vehicle chassis is a challenge.
Though Nick has come across some classic Minis that have been electrified, he doesn’t recommend the conversation of comparatively cheap vehicles, as the costs are relatively high. Similarly, he has yet to come across a Ferrari that has had its engine removed and replaced with an electric version. ‘I think the engine is such an integral part of those exotic Italian thoroughbreds.’ He also says that some very traditional car restoration firms won’t take on electrification commissions. ‘They view the process as sacrilegious,’ he explains. ‘It’s taking the heart out of a classic, and in their view replacing it with a soulless engine.’
Yet Nick argues that more progressive restorers can work around a heritage model’s limitations and a client’s expectation, finding the right electric motor and dashboard to suit both contemporary and classic tastes. ‘A lot of work has gone into adapting, say, an old rev counter to display amps instead, or a fuel gauge to indicate the range left in the batteries,’ Nick explains. ‘You glance at the dash, and you really cannot tell it’s an electric car.’ Not that there’s any shame in going electric. ‘I think this process rejuvenates classic cars,’ he says. ‘The classic car audience tends to be quite mature, while the demand for this sort of new technology and reliability is often younger.’
He also understands how a well-made electric classic car could allow younger drivers to distinguish themselves in cities such as the British capital. ‘Lamborghinis and the like are commonplace in London, but if you’ve got a silent Jaguar E-Type, you will really stand out as you glide past,’ he argues. And while the conversion work is still in its infancy the pace of development is moving quickly and AutoPrivé can already cater to a wide range of classic conversions.
For those ever so slightly nostalgic for the days of fossil fuels, the old engine can be preserved as a kind of artistic memento. ‘The engine can be mounted on a plinth so that the client can show their son or daughter,’ explains Nick, ‘and say ‘that used to power the car.”
For more information on electric classic cars, speak to Nick Johnson @ AutoPrivé click here: Contact
© Alex Rayner, Noted Magazine for Quintessentially Lifestyle Management