Company converts classic cars into electric vehicles to reduce emissions but preserve heritage
- Arc Motor Company is one of many companies dealing with electromods – classics turned EVs
- Their first project is a 1974 Ford Bronco
- The EV-powered Bronco is twice as powerful as the original one
Published on Dec 27, 2023 at 11:59 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Dec 29, 2023 at 1:51 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Adam Gray
Some tuning companies are beginning to convert classic cars into electric cars.
Purists don’t really like that, but there are a few advantages that come as a byproduct of this, some might call it heathen, endeavor.
READ MORE: This Ford Bronco has been transformed into a 6×6 BEAST
One such company is Arc Motor Company, based in Ontario, Canada.
Arc uses scrapped Tesla batteries to convert great classics into usable, drivable, sustainable modern vehicles.
Their first project is a 1974 Ford Bronco, one of the most beloved classic trucks.
The Ford Bronco’s V8 was replaced with two electric motors.
The bad news is the iconic V8’s gurgle is gone, but the good news is the Bronco now makes twice as many horsepower.
And the range is better, too.
Partly because the EV’s range is pretty good, albeit not stellar, but chiefly because the V8-powered Bronco gets fairly terrible MPG.
So it’s a win-win.
The conversion comes at a cost, though.
Turning your old and battered Bronco into an electromod – that’s what some call these vehicles – is a $75,000 job.
And that’s just the starting price, but it may go up depending on how you want to spec it.
And this, of course, is without including the cost of the donor vehicle.
This is always going to be a bit controversial because some people believe classic cars shouldn’t be messed with.
However, other people argue that such conversions make sense from a purely practical standpoint.
Old classics require a ton of maintenance which costs time, money and stress, just to run.
Whereas, with an electric conversion, the vehicle becomes usable.
It can be driven every day, everywhere, and it still looks great.
The jury is still out, and electromods are still a relatively new concept.
And perhaps the Bronco isn’t even the best example, simply because the modern one is just as cool as the classic one.
Even so, these electromods will probably become even more popular in the future.
Only time will tell.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
