When I was a kid my best friend’s mum had a triumph vitesse. We used to sit in the back and she would take us out to various fun places. One trip I remember was to Brands Hatch
NICE conversion! Beautiful car! I really enjoy watching you explain everything! I see a whole different world in California if people would consider converting their mechanical love of life to electric after their petrol drivetrain wears out.
Can’t wait to see the full test drive. It’ll be interesting to see how the conversion improves the handling and acceleration of this lovely little classic. 👍
To me, the Mk2 Vitesse was the best-looking descendant of the Herald that Triumph made. It's a real pleasure to see that one so beautifully restored and running on electricity. The owner will be very proud of it. Thanks Richard. 👌🙂👍
The restoration was top notch but it crashed when the wonderful sounding straight six was ripped out. I mean who in their right mind would do that to a classic car? Sick that's what these people are.
this car won't be gathering dust in a yard somewhere it will keep going from day one. Really hope it lives up to its promise cos it is so full of 'hussle-free' promise. Small, droptop, gettinandgo... it would make a nice wedding car
Loved this one. The engineering of both the restoration and your electric conversation is amazing. That car would look lovely in my garage , would be great for the summer...
It looks like some cars in order to get a proper restomod with EV conversion cost much much more than the same car on collector's marketplace. However some owners make the difference with their love and their own younger age memories for those vehicles. That makes possible a car like Vitesse to come back full of glory any other more expensive and desirable cars to get envy about, and owners alike. Stunning job done! That is much more than a car like that deserves but I am not the owner to judge.
With the Herald and Vitesse we always had to loosen the suspension bolts, stick a sandbag in the front footwell area and another in the boot. Run the car back and forth in the workshop to get it to settle and then put it on a four poster so we could tighten it all back up under load. They handled much better and sat better on the suspension doing this. Never tighten the suspension bolts with the suspension hanging on a two poster.
Another beautiful conversion Richard. I always had a soft spot for them after having a drive in one years ago with a Mangoletsi stage 2 head fitted. This car is better than it was when it was new. Superb restoration coupled with ECC’s engineering and magic = one absolutely amazing Triumph Vitesse Mk2 à la ECC 😎🏴👍
That front suspension found its way into countless kit cars and specials... The vitess made a great summers day car and the original engine was not without some poke. Lovely job. .. Now wheres that early or mid type Matra Bageera 😉😎👍🏼
Well that was a treat. I'll enjoy thinking more about it. It's beautiful, and the engineering is superb, thank you all for rebuilding it. Just don't break it before I get to have a play! Gonna get me a clothed peak cap and a pipe...😎
Hey Richard, I was thinking about adding "shore charging" to my van... and since I have the same dislike of "cutting holes in vehicles" that you have. I ended up creating a plug-in point in the side of the rear bumper. Seem like you could utilize the cutouts that most cars already have for the exhaust pipes and just fab up an elegant waterproof box/mounting plate option.... also, I love your work. Keep it up so I can keep on dreaming.
It will never be too late to convert if the body is kept without rust. Besides the later you convert the newer more advanced technology will be used into conversion.
It will never be too late to convert if the body is kept without rust. Besides the later you convert the newer more advanced technology will be used into conversion.
Another excellent conversion ! All you need to do is to put a small 'U-Shaped' cut-out at the very bottom of the boot lid and you will then be able to close it down over the cable for public charging :)
I really love the Triumph Vitesse/ Herald/Spitfire and GT-6 set of sportscars, that said, be careful how hard you get on the power, the original 2000cc straight 6 could burst the rubber 'doughnuts' that are in the rear axle. Lovely cars though, i never had a Vitesse but a couple Heralds and several 1500 Spitfires and even a mk1 GT-6.
Lovely job, wish I could afford to do the same to my mk 1. And I can confirm the front bias, the engine and gearbox weigh 180kg, it's like having a boat anchor just in front of your toes ;)
looks great - u look like you need a "lowering block" or two under the rear transverse spring - that will dial out the positive camber that is apparent in the rear. (I have an early herald - but with that same upgraded rear) Great job!
Yes it had the straight six that was also in the big saloons. A bored out one to 2.5L was in the PI too, one of the first production petrol injection engines I believe? Think it was Lucas? Beautiful engine but not strong enough crank for 2.5L. The Vitesse is beautiful! The excellence of the rebuild and electrification is nothing short of art! It’s beautiful! Well done!
Yes also in the GT6. Elin Yakhov says the 2.5 block is externally the same size so I guess theoretically you could fit that if you were unable to source a good replacement 2 litre unit..
Anything’s possible but it would have required a bit of metalwork to make it work and even then we think it wouldn’t have had the width for the charge socket.
I would understand converting a Herald but not a Vitesse where it's wonderful straight six engine is a huge part of its character. I fully appreciate the quality of the work and engineering that has gone into this however it is not for me I am afraid.
I don't know, I reckon your glamorous assistant coulda tarted himself up a bit for the job... Triumphs are perfect cars for restoration and electrification, not great build but absolutely gorgeous cars. Would love one.
I can't seem to find the final Vitesse episode. As the long term owner of a late Herald, the conversion is very appealing to go along with the full resto that mine needs. keep up the good work - cheers
I seem to recall that the variations of the Herald and Spitfire had a chassis which would sag in the middle. Door closing apparently proved to be a problem. Is anyone else aware of this?
It makes the conversion of a front engine rear wheel drive car much easier. But you can only do it if you use a motor that is around the same power as the original or it’ll blow the gearbox up. 👍
Question! We are ordering an R1S Rivian and we are realizing that AM radios are no longer installed on Electrics due to noise problems. Are you still installing AM radios on your conversions?
Another great conversion giving new life to something that hasn't been used as an actual car for forty years. And once again Richard clarifies that there is no modification of original mounts. Everything is completely reversible. That won't keep all the purists quiet, but it will lower the volume. [Edit] p.s. That turning circle is mad. The Vitesse almost looks like it's moving sideways at times.
There is nothing great about ripping out the heart and soul of a classic car and that is it's original engine. This is Frankenstein's monster. Ruined!!
I would like to do the same type conversion in a 1976 Triumph Spitfire, but with 2 more battery packs, (one in the front and one in the rear). How much (rough figure) was the total cost of that installation/conversion (not including any government tax breaks or incentives)?
Love this conversion, it's one I've been really looking forward to. The car looks gorgeous. If anything the Herald would be even more suitable for conversion than the Vitesse because its weedy little engine was a horrible liability even back in the day, they're getting on for 2CV levels of failing to keep up with traffic. EVing it means you can keep the charming bodywork stock but upgrade the performance to eliminate the main obstacle to using it as a classic daily driver. They're far more readily available than the Vitesse too. But...what on earth was going on with the camber of the nearside rear wheel?? Surely it's only supposed to be at that angle half-way round a corner! 😉 (Assume that's how the restorer set it up, curious to know the reason why) Love your work Moggy
Ah, that makes sense, thanks. Really looking forward to seeing your test drive. And by chance Hubnut has also dropped a roadtest of an original Vitesse a few hours ago, so that'll make a fascinating comparison. Classic car UA-cam can be absolutely great sometimes! @@ElectricClassicCars
I agree; the Herald is a better fit, as you could argue the thing that made the Vitesse special was the straight six. Still, it's all reversible so as long as you keep all the bits, just enjoy the update. 😁
Another very nice conversion! Could you please talk more about your conversion job. What batteries have you used? Teslas? How are they configured? You usually use Tesla drive units. Why this time a Hyper9? Do Tesla batteries work with Hyper9 Motor without any problems? Or what needs to be considered?
Great Job! Used to have one of these except it was a left hooker. For the record, Triumph always used Stromberg Carbs, while MG used SU's. Earliest Vitesses had a 1.6 litre straight 6 which got stroked out to 2 Ltrs later on. Good to see the weight distribution is improved, the original was dire! Did you keep the Rotaflex's in the half shafts or upgrade to a proper universal joint as used by Lotus?
Love ALL your work, i restored a Triumph Herald coupe hard top in red years ago only to have it burnt to a crisp in the Canberra bushfires cheers from OZ. PS any road tests soon??
I was thinking 30-40k pounds, so you're there. Something you do for love I guess as its just not viable when you can buy a mainstream car for less with better spec
@@xyredmaxYes, I'd love my 2016 Golf Sportsvan to be transformed into electric, but realistically, an MG4 has lots of really nice safety features, V2L and 7 years warranty from 30K euros, so I guess that conversions only are interesting in very special cases, and with fat pockets 😉😉 Anyway, if I had enough money, I'd talk to ECC, as their conversions are top notch 👏👏👏
I agree. I have 3 old classic cars in good condition, and if money was no object, ECC would have them on their list. But for the last 10 years, we have been driving a BMW i3 and now a Kona EV, both bought for 31 grand, a no brainer
Is there anything stopping you removing the gearbox, moving the motor rearward, then lowering/enlarging the front battery box ? Curiosity, not criticism obviously!
Because it's convenient to retain the Gearbox, and to set-off in 2nd Gear. The Hyper 9 Motor will safely rev to 8000 rpm, meaning that you would easily hit 60 - 70 mph in 2nd. In the Vitesse weighing-in at 940 kgs, the car will have terrific acceleration throughout the rev range. Motorways - you can then change-up to third gear, and this will bring down the Hyper 9 rpm, and also the running current - once you hit cruising speed. It's unlikely that you would ever use 4th gear. The clutch in the Vitesse would be a Stage 2, but you never need to depress the clutch pedal, as you leave the car in 2nd gear. You could easily two-pedal drive this car, (I do) which makes it easy. I would NEVER rev-up the Main Motor and then drop the clutch, because (with 173lbs/ft of torque) you will have broken gearbox casing, or drive shafts / rear diff issues. The good thing about a Hyper 9 is that you can ' set' your own (safe) Acceleration Curve to suit the vehicle, with the aid of a Laptop. I have had this same set-up on my Classic Car since 2019, without a single issue. Hope that this helps.
@@ElectricClassicCars Hyper 9 works very well on a Classic Beetle, and the front & rear Battery Packs greatly improve the weight balance. A good entry-level EV.
Sorry, I'm not sure I understand why you/the client leaves the gearbox in? The extra weight could be removed or replaced with batteries, either way better performance...??? People still want to change gears for the feel, even though it's redundant?? No judgement, just curious.
If you removed the gearbox you’d still need a gear reduction unit between the motor and prop shaft to get the right overall gear ratio for a decent top speed. The weight gain is minimal between the old gearbox and a gear reduction unit. 👍
Hi Went to mouser website to get the electric connectors that you bought in the rolls I emailed them about the connectors sent them a picture Wasn't much help Could you supply me with a product code if possible would be very helpful Cheers john Luv your channel by the way
I do love these electric conversions on valuable classic cars (that are never really going to be used) but it’s all getting a bit predictable and repetitive. I think this is now the time to start refitting current modern cars that were all currently use every day, as far more people will be able to relate to the point of bothering to do it. Many people like me love their current ICE family car but would obviously love to have it electric powered but cannot afford to buy a new £35-40 k new electric version of the same thing….
Keep a level head and stay with what you know. EV's are just a scam and not worth having. Many of the mainstream car makers are pulling out of EV production as sales are so poor. I guess that is what happens when a product is not fit for purpose.
@@glenhardy4770 Good ( as per usual ) looking forward to seeing the car on it’s test drive. Just changed my mind. It was a bit disappointing, because we didn’t see any of the work taking place and no test drive.
@@banksarenotyourfriendsalthough “ we swear we have not compromised the structural integrity of a 1960s British sports car” has to be a pretty low bar to clear. A few well placed battery boxes probably add significantly to the strength and rigidity of those cars.
@@ElectricClassicCarsExactly. Converters should be optimizing the new installation, not compromising it for a future event that will never happen (like the location of the charge port in this case).
Was the engine in this Vitesse, a very rare example, non functioning or has this been simply converted to electric propulsion and the engine sold to pay for the desecration of a classic motor vehicle? The designation of a vehicle being a "Classic" , is defined by ALL aspects of its lineage - bodywork, engine, design, history. Only 8,000 Mk2 were produced so there will have been very few in existence before this one was stricken from the historical context. It adds nothing except media reach to the objective of converting everyday ICE engines to EV. Surely it is possible, and probably more profitable, to show how to convert everyday cars (modern Minis & fiats, Corsa, Fiestas......) to EV?
The car came to them without an engine, as he explains in the video. I get that it’s not original now but, with the conversion, it’s far more likely to be closer to an everyday car than a trailer queen. Also, he can only show what people bring to him for conversion, to be fair. These are all customer cars
Who said the objective of Electric Classic Cars was to convert everyday ICE engines to EV? Plenty of other channels do that. This channel is about reversible, bolt-in conversions of classics. There's even videos addressing the whole philosophy behind converting classics. I invite you to have a watch.
There's nothing special about the Vitesse 2.0 straight 6. Essentially the same motor went into the GT6 and Triumph 2000. As he says this is completely reversible so anyone can scare up the (admittedly very lovely and smooth) 6 cylinder and plop it in. There is a converted Spitfire near my house. After the EV conversion he drives between 15000 and 20000 KM a year.... with the ICE he barely managed 1000. Another guy has a 2CV converted. He also drives it more than his bigger car (also an EV) because it is so much fun! I personally am also hesitant to convert rare cars. There was a Porsche 968 near me whose body was in very good condition but all mechanicals were shot (engine and gearbox seized) . The guy only wanted 5000€ for it. But as the car is rare and I will no longer own an ICE I wouldn't take it... It is gone now but I have not seen it back on the road... So I am now wondering... isn't it better these things are on the move than them being crushed?
@@arpinchock If there’s ever a scrappage scheme to get people into EV’s, there’ll be lots of beautiful cars crushed. It happened here in Ireland years ago. It’s far better for them to be converted than crushed.
As was stated in the video this car has not been running since the 80s. A Vitesse today goes for between 2 and 5 thousand pounds. So it is unlikely that anyone will take the effort to bring a rolling chassis up to original condition, with non matching parts, when they can buy original top quality for five thousand. I mean where are you going to get the engine for a start ? Raid another classic car. This car would have been crushed in due time . However as a labour of love someone decided to make it better then new for whatever money it took. And saved the car. If you see cars less as a painting that has to be exactly as it was when it left the artist’s hand and more of a grand country house that survives by being appropriate to era in which it finds itself, country seat, hotel, wedding destination, movie backdrop. Always useful, always changing. The alternative is most will rot away.
Even the ad in this video is educational and fun to watch. Good job ECC spreading the word about the importance of using the proper crimp tool for each connector.
That was a no brainer. You need to use the correct tool for every job whatever on a car. Mind you even more important when you are messing about with HIGH Voltage....you don't want it to catch fire!!
@@itsalldoable Most car fires come from 12 V system, regardless of engine type. Plus, you want your low voltage system to keep working, so good crimping is necessary.
Ah, the Triumph rear suspension. Lethal in the wrong circumstances. My Mk1 Spitfire had it. If you took a corner briskly, the inside rear wheel would lift and tuck in as the rear of the car was so light (you could lift it off the ground). When it re- contacted the road, the wheel would straighten and kick the tail out, causing the car to veer/oversteer drastically. Pretty terrifying, especially in the wet. The improved suspension prevented this to a degree. I think Triumph just added a couple of brackets to prevent the rear wheels from tucking in when they lifted.
@@ElectricClassicCarsThe budget the designers had at the time limited the development. It's flawed but I think they produced a decent family of cars considering. The tragedy is imagine what might have been with better management & a decent budget!
Beautiful triumph! Richard you are great hole filler 😊 and promoter😊
When I was a kid my best friend’s mum had a triumph vitesse. We used to sit in the back and she would take us out to various fun places. One trip I remember was to Brands Hatch
NICE conversion! Beautiful car! I really enjoy watching you explain everything! I see a whole different world in California if people would consider converting their mechanical love of life to electric after their petrol drivetrain wears out.
Good call. WAIT until the ICE power train is done. Then do it. I’ve been wondering when i would finally see a Sunbeam that was taken electric…
There was a guy doing conversions featured in Revenge of the electric Car more than 10 years ago. Don't know if he is still doing it.
@@zapfanzapfan Check out EV West. There certainly are other EV conversion shops in CA as well.
Can’t wait to see the full test drive. It’ll be interesting to see how the conversion improves the handling and acceleration of this lovely little classic. 👍
You and me both!
To me, the Mk2 Vitesse was the best-looking descendant of the Herald that Triumph made. It's a real pleasure to see that one so beautifully restored and running on electricity. The owner will be very proud of it. Thanks Richard. 👌🙂👍
What a beautiful restoration and EV conversion job. Undoubtably better than factory new.
The restoration was top notch but it crashed when the wonderful sounding straight six was ripped out. I mean who in their right mind would do that to a classic car? Sick that's what these people are.
Cracking looking Triumph Vitesse
this car won't be gathering dust in a yard somewhere it will keep going from day one. Really hope it lives up to its promise cos it is so full of 'hussle-free' promise. Small, droptop, gettinandgo... it would make a nice wedding car
Loved this one. The engineering of both the restoration and your electric conversation is amazing. That car would look lovely in my garage , would be great for the summer...
Another beauty from ECC! 🚗
It looks like some cars in order to get a proper restomod with EV conversion cost much much more than the same car on collector's marketplace. However some owners make the difference with their love and their own younger age memories for those vehicles. That makes possible a car like Vitesse to come back full of glory any other more expensive and desirable cars to get envy about, and owners alike.
Stunning job done!
That is much more than a car like that deserves but I am not the owner to judge.
Your quality of work is outstanding.
Thanks. The bar was set high on this one by the quality of the restoration.👍
With the Herald and Vitesse we always had to loosen the suspension bolts, stick a sandbag in the front footwell area and another in the boot. Run the car back and forth in the workshop to get it to settle and then put it on a four poster so we could tighten it all back up under load. They handled much better and sat better on the suspension doing this. Never tighten the suspension bolts with the suspension hanging on a two poster.
Good tips. Thanks 👍
What a beautiful little car
Needs a small lightning bolt next to the Vitesse badge.
Another beautiful conversion Richard. I always had a soft spot for them after having a drive in one years ago with a Mangoletsi stage 2 head fitted. This car is better than it was when it was new. Superb restoration coupled with ECC’s engineering and magic = one absolutely amazing Triumph Vitesse Mk2 à la ECC 😎🏴👍
Many thanks!
That front suspension found its way into countless kit cars and specials... The vitess made a great summers day car and the original engine was not without some poke.
Lovely job. .. Now wheres that early or mid type Matra Bageera 😉😎👍🏼
Had one loved it brilliant car mine was as you say a 2 litre but also had overdrive in 3rd and 4 th gears
A beautiful restoration, and what better to future proof than and EV conversion from ECC. Amazing work!!! 👍⚡️🇬🇧
Amazing, all you need to do is convert a late 70s Fiat Panda 4x4 and you have converted all my dream garage 😊
Maybe one day!
Amazing that you hit the weight target with almost 50kWh aboard
I think it was more like 30kWh but yeah you’re right it was nice to hit our estimated weight target right on the nose. 😉👍
@@ElectricClassicCars ah must have misheard. Still a very usable amount
I wonder what a replacement battery would cost.
Fantastic! Cheers!
Well that was a treat. I'll enjoy thinking more about it. It's beautiful, and the engineering is superb, thank you all for rebuilding it. Just don't break it before I get to have a play! Gonna get me a clothed peak cap and a pipe...😎
Awesome attention to detail 👏👏👏😍😍😍
Another classic car future proofed.
Don't kid yourself....EV's are dying out, look at the mainstream car makes....nobody wants them and nobody will want this in a few years time.
Hey Richard, I was thinking about adding "shore charging" to my van... and since I have the same dislike of "cutting holes in vehicles" that you have. I ended up creating a plug-in point in the side of the rear bumper. Seem like you could utilize the cutouts that most cars already have for the exhaust pipes and just fab up an elegant waterproof box/mounting plate option.... also, I love your work. Keep it up so I can keep on dreaming.
Absolutely amazing! I live in the US and own a 1971 Spitfire which I hope to convert to electric one day. This serves as great inspiration.
It will never be too late to convert if the body is kept without rust. Besides the later you convert the newer more advanced technology will be used into conversion.
It will never be too late to convert if the body is kept without rust. Besides the later you convert the newer more advanced technology will be used into conversion.
Another excellent conversion ! All you need to do is to put a small 'U-Shaped' cut-out at the very bottom of the boot lid and you will then be able to close it down over the cable for public charging :)
A "52 Cadillac tail light" hidden style socket would have been nice.
Achilles heel of the Vitesse is the differential. I destroyed mine by fitting a 150bhp TR6 engine and gearbox
This is just gorgeous.
Well done.
Thanks. It’s a lovely car to drive too. 👍
Lovely job lads, you’re EV artisans.
Thank you kindly!
I really love the Triumph Vitesse/ Herald/Spitfire and GT-6 set of sportscars, that said, be careful how hard you get on the power, the original 2000cc straight 6 could burst the rubber 'doughnuts' that are in the rear axle. Lovely cars though, i never had a Vitesse but a couple Heralds and several 1500 Spitfires and even a mk1 GT-6.
Nice selection of classics (including your current Elan I presume) 👍
@@philtucker1224 Sold it actually.
Lovely job, wish I could afford to do the same to my mk 1.
And I can confirm the front bias, the engine and gearbox weigh 180kg, it's like having a boat anchor just in front of your toes ;)
looks great - u look like you need a "lowering block" or two under the rear transverse spring - that will dial out the positive camber that is apparent in the rear. (I have an early herald - but with that same upgraded rear) Great job!
Thanks for the tips!
Yes it had the straight six that was also in the big saloons. A bored out one to 2.5L was in the PI too, one of the first production petrol injection engines I believe? Think it was Lucas? Beautiful engine but not strong enough crank for 2.5L. The Vitesse is beautiful! The excellence of the rebuild and electrification is nothing short of art! It’s beautiful! Well done!
Thank you for your kind words. 👍
Yes also in the GT6. Elin Yakhov says the 2.5 block is externally the same size so I guess theoretically you could fit that if you were unable to source a good replacement 2 litre unit..
@@philtucker1224 Yes definitely! One from a 2500 TC saloon would be perfect!
Another stunning conversion. Would it be possible to have a taillight swing out to reveal a charge port?
Anything’s possible but it would have required a bit of metalwork to make it work and even then we think it wouldn’t have had the width for the charge socket.
This is awesome
I would like to convert my 1962 Triumph Herald.
Cheers another classic
Cool 🏎
I would understand converting a Herald but not a Vitesse where it's wonderful straight six engine is a huge part of its character. I fully appreciate the quality of the work and engineering that has gone into this however it is not for me I am afraid.
I don't know, I reckon your glamorous assistant coulda tarted himself up a bit for the job...
Triumphs are perfect cars for restoration and electrification, not great build but absolutely gorgeous cars. Would love one.
My glamorous assistant is a tart. 😆😉👍
I can't seem to find the final Vitesse episode. As the long term owner of a late Herald, the conversion is very appealing to go along with the full resto that mine needs.
keep up the good work - cheers
It’s coming soon.
I seem to recall that the variations of the Herald and Spitfire had a chassis which would sag in the middle. Door closing apparently proved to be a problem. Is anyone else aware of this?
Yes very common (and not just the Triumph convertibles) saloons didn’t have that issue..
Thoughts on the use of a gearbox on an electric vehicle? Any plusses? Any minusses?
It makes the conversion of a front engine rear wheel drive car much easier. But you can only do it if you use a motor that is around the same power as the original or it’ll blow the gearbox up. 👍
10:44 turning circle is good but watch out, ISTR old Heralds and Vitesses had a reputation for breaking the stub axles in the front suspension.
AND grinding away the nylon "top hat" bushes in the wishbone outers.
Looks like it needs 500kg of batteries in the boot to get the real wheel camber to look sensible
It’s all new suspension and bushes so it’ll take a few miles to bed in. 👍
Question! We are ordering an R1S Rivian and we are realizing that AM radios are no longer installed on Electrics due to noise problems. Are you still installing AM radios on your conversions?
Another great conversion giving new life to something that hasn't been used as an actual car for forty years. And once again Richard clarifies that there is no modification of original mounts. Everything is completely reversible. That won't keep all the purists quiet, but it will lower the volume. [Edit] p.s. That turning circle is mad. The Vitesse almost looks like it's moving sideways at times.
There is nothing great about ripping out the heart and soul of a classic car and that is it's original engine. This is Frankenstein's monster. Ruined!!
I would like to do the same type conversion in a 1976 Triumph Spitfire, but with 2 more battery packs, (one in the front and one in the rear). How much (rough figure) was the total cost of that installation/conversion (not including any government tax breaks or incentives)?
Love this conversion, it's one I've been really looking forward to. The car looks gorgeous.
If anything the Herald would be even more suitable for conversion than the Vitesse because its weedy little engine was a horrible liability even back in the day, they're getting on for 2CV levels of failing to keep up with traffic. EVing it means you can keep the charming bodywork stock but upgrade the performance to eliminate the main obstacle to using it as a classic daily driver. They're far more readily available than the Vitesse too.
But...what on earth was going on with the camber of the nearside rear wheel?? Surely it's only supposed to be at that angle half-way round a corner! 😉 (Assume that's how the restorer set it up, curious to know the reason why)
Love your work Moggy
The suspension and bushes are all brand new. It needed a few miles of driving for it to settle down, which it’s now done. 👍
Ah, that makes sense, thanks. Really looking forward to seeing your test drive.
And by chance Hubnut has also dropped a roadtest of an original Vitesse a few hours ago, so that'll make a fascinating comparison. Classic car UA-cam can be absolutely great sometimes! @@ElectricClassicCars
I agree; the Herald is a better fit, as you could argue the thing that made the Vitesse special was the straight six. Still, it's all reversible so as long as you keep all the bits, just enjoy the update. 😁
Another very nice conversion!
Could you please talk more about your conversion job. What batteries have you used? Teslas? How are they configured? You usually use Tesla drive units. Why this time a Hyper9? Do Tesla batteries work with Hyper9 Motor without any problems? Or what needs to be considered?
Great Job! Used to have one of these except it was a left hooker. For the record, Triumph always used Stromberg Carbs, while MG used SU's. Earliest Vitesses had a 1.6 litre straight 6 which got stroked out to 2 Ltrs later on. Good to see the weight distribution is improved, the original was dire! Did you keep the Rotaflex's in the half shafts or upgrade to a proper universal joint as used by Lotus?
salute
Love ALL your work, i restored a Triumph Herald coupe hard top in red years ago only to have it burnt to a crisp in the Canberra bushfires cheers from OZ. PS any road tests soon??
Road test when it stops raining. 😉👍
Go on, how much for the EV conversion?
I'd say 40,000 - 50,000 euros 😉😉
I was thinking 30-40k pounds, so you're there. Something you do for love I guess as its just not viable when you can buy a mainstream car for less with better spec
@@xyredmaxYes, I'd love my 2016 Golf Sportsvan to be transformed into electric, but realistically, an MG4 has lots of really nice safety features, V2L and 7 years warranty from 30K euros, so I guess that conversions only are interesting in very special cases, and with fat pockets 😉😉
Anyway, if I had enough money, I'd talk to ECC, as their conversions are top notch 👏👏👏
I agree. I have 3 old classic cars in good condition, and if money was no object, ECC would have them on their list. But for the last 10 years, we have been driving a BMW i3 and now a Kona EV, both bought for 31 grand, a no brainer
@@xyredmaxVery good choices! If (when) I convince my wife, we'll buy our first electric car, and I'm 100% sure that it will not be the last 😍😍😍
Hope you sorted the rear suspension!
IN the course of time I hope some one will put the straight 6 back in.
Nice. How about a TR4, 5 or 6?
Did you change or upgrade the differential, to handle the torque of the electric motor? The older triumph diffs weren't very robust.
Very good point....I bet that was a bit too challenging. I bet the Rotoflex couplings won't last very long either.
Looks nice but I'm not sure about the positive camber on rear suspension
Cheers guys
Great work, I'm curious 🧐 do you use scanners - lidar/photogrammetry of the existing build to then get your cad models? Nice and tidy fit that!
Is there anything stopping you removing the gearbox, moving the motor rearward, then lowering/enlarging the front battery box ? Curiosity, not criticism obviously!
If we did that we’d still need a gear reduction unit to get the rev range right for a decent top speed. 👍
Can you explain why you keep the original gearbox - not just this example, but other projects too you have converted.
Because it's convenient to retain the Gearbox, and to set-off in 2nd Gear. The Hyper 9 Motor will safely rev to 8000 rpm, meaning that you would easily hit 60 - 70 mph in 2nd. In the Vitesse weighing-in at 940 kgs, the car will have terrific acceleration throughout the rev range. Motorways - you can then change-up to third gear, and this will bring down the Hyper 9 rpm, and also the running current - once you hit cruising speed. It's unlikely that you would ever use 4th gear. The clutch in the Vitesse would be a Stage 2, but you never need to depress the clutch pedal, as you leave the car in 2nd gear. You could easily two-pedal drive this car, (I do) which makes it easy. I would NEVER rev-up the Main Motor and then drop the clutch, because (with 173lbs/ft of torque) you will have broken gearbox casing, or drive shafts / rear diff issues. The good thing about a Hyper 9 is that you can ' set' your own (safe) Acceleration Curve to suit the vehicle, with the aid of a Laptop. I have had this same set-up on my Classic Car since 2019, without a single issue. Hope that this helps.
It keeps the conversion simple in a front engined rear wheel drive car. 👍
@@ElectricClassicCars Hyper 9 works very well on a Classic Beetle, and the front & rear Battery Packs greatly improve the weight balance. A good entry-level EV.
👋👍
Sorry, I'm not sure I understand why you/the client leaves the gearbox in? The extra weight could be removed or replaced with batteries, either way better performance...??? People still want to change gears for the feel, even though it's redundant?? No judgement, just curious.
If you removed the gearbox you’d still need a gear reduction unit between the motor and prop shaft to get the right overall gear ratio for a decent top speed. The weight gain is minimal between the old gearbox and a gear reduction unit. 👍
Perfect, thanks so much for the response👍👍👍
Rear axle looks seriously displaced.
hey man im still waiting on the update of the race car multiple times every day i check and its nowhere to be found
It’s coming. We’re still waiting on our custom drive shafts to be made. 👍
Hi
Went to mouser website to get the electric connectors that you bought in the rolls
I emailed them about the connectors sent them a picture
Wasn't much help
Could you supply me with a product code if possible would be very helpful
Cheers john
Luv your channel by the way
Which ones are you looking for? LV or HV? How many pins?
Hi
I'm after the male connector
Cheers john
@@johnclark290LV or HV? How many pins?
I make the comment about the suspension and then you immediately reference the original problem with these cars .
Oh dear! That’s so sad. ☹️
I do love these electric conversions on valuable classic cars (that are never really going to be used) but it’s all getting a bit predictable and repetitive. I think this is now the time to start refitting current modern cars that were all currently use every day, as far more people will be able to relate to the point of bothering to do it. Many people like me love their current ICE family car but would obviously love to have it electric powered but cannot afford to buy a new £35-40 k new electric version of the same thing….
Keep a level head and stay with what you know. EV's are just a scam and not worth having. Many of the mainstream car makers are pulling out of EV production as sales are so poor. I guess that is what happens when a product is not fit for purpose.
Have you done a Triumph Stag ? Seems like an obvious candidate....
1st
2nd
So what did you think of his episode?
@@glenhardy4770 Good ( as per usual ) looking forward to seeing the car on it’s test drive.
Just changed my mind. It was a bit disappointing, because we didn’t see any of the work taking place and no test drive.
This "fully reversible' attitude is foolish. Who will ever convert that car back to gas?
I'm pretty sure it's got more to do with it being easy for VOSA/DVSA to sign off as safe if you've not drilled any new holes in it.
@@banksarenotyourfriendsalthough “ we swear we have not compromised the structural integrity of a 1960s British sports car” has to be a pretty low bar to clear. A few well placed battery boxes probably add significantly to the strength and rigidity of those cars.
None of our 70+ customers has reversed their cars yet. 😉👍
@@ElectricClassicCarsExactly. Converters should be optimizing the new installation, not compromising it for a future event that will never happen (like the location of the charge port in this case).
Lovely project but ugly car… 😂
Short journeys will ruin the engine.....
100 miles of range? Really? Not too useful is it?
Was the engine in this Vitesse, a very rare example, non functioning or has this been simply converted to electric propulsion and the engine sold to pay for the desecration of a classic motor vehicle?
The designation of a vehicle being a "Classic" , is defined by ALL aspects of its lineage - bodywork, engine, design, history.
Only 8,000 Mk2 were produced so there will have been very few in existence before this one was stricken from the historical context.
It adds nothing except media reach to the objective of converting everyday ICE engines to EV.
Surely it is possible, and probably more profitable, to show how to convert everyday cars (modern Minis & fiats, Corsa, Fiestas......) to EV?
The car came to them without an engine, as he explains in the video. I get that it’s not original now but, with the conversion, it’s far more likely to be closer to an everyday car than a trailer queen. Also, he can only show what people bring to him for conversion, to be fair. These are all customer cars
Who said the objective of Electric Classic Cars was to convert everyday ICE engines to EV? Plenty of other channels do that.
This channel is about reversible, bolt-in conversions of classics. There's even videos addressing the whole philosophy behind converting classics. I invite you to have a watch.
There's nothing special about the Vitesse 2.0 straight 6. Essentially the same motor went into the GT6 and Triumph 2000. As he says this is completely reversible so anyone can scare up the (admittedly very lovely and smooth) 6 cylinder and plop it in.
There is a converted Spitfire near my house. After the EV conversion he drives between 15000 and 20000 KM a year.... with the ICE he barely managed 1000.
Another guy has a 2CV converted. He also drives it more than his bigger car (also an EV) because it is so much fun!
I personally am also hesitant to convert rare cars. There was a Porsche 968 near me whose body was in very good condition but all mechanicals were shot (engine and gearbox seized) . The guy only wanted 5000€ for it. But as the car is rare and I will no longer own an ICE I wouldn't take it... It is gone now but I have not seen it back on the road...
So I am now wondering... isn't it better these things are on the move than them being crushed?
@@arpinchock If there’s ever a scrappage scheme to get people into EV’s, there’ll be lots of beautiful cars crushed. It happened here in Ireland years ago. It’s far better for them to be converted than crushed.
As was stated in the video this car has not been running since the 80s. A Vitesse today goes for between 2 and 5 thousand pounds. So it is unlikely that anyone will take the effort to bring a rolling chassis up to original condition, with non matching parts, when they can buy original top quality for five thousand. I mean where are you going to get the engine for a start ? Raid another classic car. This car would have been crushed in due time . However as a labour of love someone decided to make it better then new for whatever money it took. And saved the car.
If you see cars less as a painting that has to be exactly as it was when it left the artist’s hand and more of a grand country house that survives by being appropriate to era in which it finds itself, country seat, hotel, wedding destination, movie backdrop. Always useful, always changing. The alternative is most will rot away.
Why oh why haven't we got mass production of old cars converted into electric?
I can’t hear a British accent say the word crimp more that once without thinking about the Mighty Bosh. Sorry not sorry.
Another beautiful build.
Cute little car 😊
It's a little beauty.! Thanks as usual. Jim Bell (Australia)
Many thanks!
I see a couple of Testarossas in the background. How many have you done now?
3
Even the ad in this video is educational and fun to watch. Good job ECC spreading the word about the importance of using the proper crimp tool for each connector.
Thank you!
That was a no brainer. You need to use the correct tool for every job whatever on a car. Mind you even more important when you are messing about with HIGH Voltage....you don't want it to catch fire!!
@@itsalldoable Most car fires come from 12 V system, regardless of engine type. Plus, you want your low voltage system to keep working, so good crimping is necessary.
Ah, the Triumph rear suspension. Lethal in the wrong circumstances. My Mk1 Spitfire had it. If you took a corner briskly, the inside rear wheel would lift and tuck in as the rear of the car was so light (you could lift it off the ground). When it re- contacted the road, the wheel would straighten and kick the tail out, causing the car to veer/oversteer drastically. Pretty terrifying, especially in the wet. The improved suspension prevented this to a degree. I think Triumph just added a couple of brackets to prevent the rear wheels from tucking in when they lifted.
I think Triumphs of this era were designed to be pootled about rather than pushed. 😉👍
My first car was a Herald Mk1. I remember the tuck well . . .
Yikes. My 69 Fiat rusted out from under me but at least the suspension kept the wheels straight!
@@ElectricClassicCarsThe budget the designers had at the time limited the development. It's flawed but I think they produced a decent family of cars considering. The tragedy is imagine what might have been with better management & a decent budget!
That looks absolutely mint👍
What a shame - a Herald might have been a good conversion but to butcher a six-cylinder rarity...
Love it :)
Lovely car. I nearly bought on way back in the eighties. But that was a 1600 Vitesse. Lovely.
superb!
Do these still break the front stub axles when you corner too hard?
Seen a few of them do it in my youth. 🙂
Hey Richard. Love your work 👍
Thanks. 👍
Great work - a lovely car - I remember when they first came out!
I know you said the suspension needs to settle but it desperately needs lowering an inch or so. Apart from that, lovely car and excellent conversion.
It’s already settled down now, after just a small amount of test miles. 👍
A voltesse then 🤔
I like that 😉👍
Lovely Vitesse, now smoother than when it had the straight six! Love the badge solution to the hole!