Electric cars are a fast-growing segment of the new car market. Bloomberg estimates 14 percent of all global vehicle sales will be electric powered in 2022. The collector car market can also move toward new technology in its vehicle restorations as automakers shift to eco-friendly drivetrain options and electric vehicles become more of the norm.
“Is part of it wanting to save the environment? Yes, but there’s also a Wall Street angle where you can find the valuation behind EV brands,” said Jason Church, chief operating officer of the Courtesy Automotive Group.
Legacy EV of Tempe, Arizona, has embraced EV technology and provides consumers electric drivetrain conversion options in the restoration of their classic cars. During an electric car symposium January 25 at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction site, Rob Ward, chief executive and founder of Legacy EV, expressed his role in the collector car market.
“I saw the need for the integration of the batteries, the controller, how the operator interface was going to work and a huge opportunity in the aftermarket world,” Ward said. “Hot rodding is about doing new things and improving, and we’re really excited to be here and part of what’s happening.”
To convert your collector car to an electric vehicle is not necessarily a cheap endeavor. The most modestly priced Legacy EV conversion kit starts at $17,800 and includes all the necessary hardware to get your project car up and running. It features a 127 horsepower motor with a 91-mile range, an 8.7-hour charge time and Tesla batteries.
On the high end of the scale is the 5.4 Hyperformance Series Kit priced at $66,800 and with that option you get a 473 horsepower motor with a 264.6-mile range and a 6.3-hour charge time.
While none of these options are inexpensive, a 5.0-liter Ford Coyote V8 crate engine starts at $9,975, and you can shop for a Ford AOD transmission in the $4,000 range, a collector car restoration project can be eco-friendly and contribute fewer damaging elements to our environment.
Consumers have the chance to use different drivetrain options in their vehicle projects and that’s one of the best aspects of collector cars, you can customize you car to your wants or needs. EV options for your project car are becoming a bit simpler in the restoration process.
