At first glance, the Mercury Coupe built in 1949 has nothing special. A two-door in Art Deco style, which was apparently not driven for several years. In fact, the car is a surprise: It accelerates from zero to 96 km / h in 3.9 seconds and is 193 km / h fast. "This is probably the fastest 49 Mercury ever," says Jonathan Ward proudly. "It could be even faster, but we wanted to build something sensible."
For the "reasonable" performance Jonathan Ward's company Icon underwent the coupe of a reverse plastic surgery. The rusty body looks as if the car had stood too long in the California sun, but under the cover is the latest technology. Because this car is a so-called Restomod: a vintage car that has been restored but also modified with modern technology.
A silent vintage car with 405 hp
Instead of the usual 6.2 liter eight-cylinder with 430 hp works in this Mercury an almost silent "V8". Where once the gearbox was located now sits a 298 kilowatts - in old currency 405 hp - strong electric motor. The necessary energy for a Tesla battery delivers - to usual eight-cylinder reminds only the form of the power electronics under the hood.
However, the Icon team does not only adapt the engines to all Restomods, but also the suspension, steering and brakes, explains Ward. "Combined with the electric drive, it takes the car to a whole new level, making the car whisper quiet and pulling like a locomotive through the lack of gear changes."
For fans, the electric motor is a sacrilege
With the transplantation of a Tesla drive in a classic Mercury icon designer Ward was not only friends in the scene. "Many traditionalists do not recognize the art that's in our cars, they're angry when we install a modern engine in such a car," says Ward. This rejection is even stronger for electric drives, explains classic car expert Frank Wilke Classic Analytics: "Many fans go immediately to the ceiling, if cars differ only minimally from the original, for them such a conversion is a sacrilege."
Improving the performance of an old car in a big way with new parts is extremely expensive. "It took us about 4,000 hours to make this car, three times as long as a comparable combustion engine," explains designer Jonathan Ward.
The installation of an electric drive is comparatively easy
However, this was not only the new electric motor, because this is relatively easy to use. "But the simple kits do not offer what I'm looking for as a designer," Jonathan Ward says. "I wanted to achieve an ideal weight distribution, so I had to get creative with the battery."
Ward has therefore housed the individual battery packs of the 85 kWh Tesla battery at different points in the car. They are now under the front seats, over the rear axle as well as in the place, which took the tank earlier and under the hood. "Splitting the battery was very easy, because Tesla builds it into single, square segments," says Ward. The real problem is to cool the components because they all have different thermal cycles. "So we've developed our own temperature management system that keeps all parts in their ideal working area, making the car safer and more durable."
The quietest rattling and creaking is audible
However, after the powertrain was finished, a new Stromer problem was revealed: "When you electrify such an old car, you hear the slightest squeaking and rattling," Ward explains. Finding the acoustical troublemakers and putting them off, however, would take a while: "Springs in the seats, squeaky body parts or door handles, it can be anything."
That's why the electric Mercury is more expensive than its combustion predecessor. A car in this series usually costs $ 200,000 to $ 600,000, Ward explains. "This one is at the upper end of this spectrum". Such prices, narrows analyst Frank Wilke, are however not the rule. "Typical Restomods cost around 200,000 to 300,000 euros," says Wilke.
No car for classic car fans
The buyers are not a classic oldtimer clientele but mostly sports car fans who compare such prices more with those of a Lamborghini or Ferrari, explains Wilke. "Everyone has in their circles but everyone, so they have a vintage convert, so he has modern performance."
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Photo gallery: Amischlitten with electric heart"More and more people love the vintage look, but want to live greener - or do not have the patience for the technology of a classic car," explains Ward. This is precisely the solution that electrification is solving: "The electric drive reduces maintenance enormously, because fewer and simpler systems are in the car." Thus, the electrification could keep many vintage cars on the road longer.