EV enthusiast created a ‘Frankenstein’ by combining a Plaid Tesla Model S and a 1967 Shelby Cobra
- EV enthusiast Don Swadley has created a unique 1,100HP Shelby Daytona with a Tesla Model S Plaid powertrain
- The car is the first ever swap of a Tesla Plaid powertrain into a new vehicle outside of Tesla
- Acceleration is so raw that you get huge amounts of wheelspin even at 40 mph
Published on Jan 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Editorial Guest
Last updated on Jan 22, 2025 at 10:07 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
An American performance car enthusiast has created a real ‘Frankenstein’ monster, fusing the powertrain of a Tesla Model S Plaid with a 1967 Shelby Cobra.
Enthusiast Don Swadley’s creation is unique. It is the first full swap of a Model S Plaid powertrain into another car’s body.
YouTuber Eddy ‘Eddy B’ Borysewicz of Revolt Systems was able to get behind the wheel of it and experience the car firsthand.
Borysewicz has driven all sorts of fast cars, but this one legitimately terrified him.
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The Tesla Plaid S Powertrain Produces Over 1,100HP
The American YouTuber claims there is too much power, with the EV’s powertrain now inside an extremely lightweight body.
There isn’t a single powertrain component in this Shelby Cobra that is from another car.
Swadley fully integrated the Tesla Plaid’s powertrain, including the 100kWh battery pack, inverters, and cooling system.
The car produces 1,100HP.
Thanks to the well-integrated powertrain, the software and hardware think it is still inside a Tesla.
As Borysewicz explains, this means the Cobra can operate at 100 percent without causing any issues.
The seamless integration means that should an issue arise, the Tesla computer will detect it and alert the driver.
This ensures you can’t hurt or damage the motors or batteries, as the car will prevent you from carrying on should something go amiss.
The Cobra Model S Plaid’s Speed Hits Like A Dragster
Borysewicz then describes the driving experience. When the throttle is stepped on, the Cobra feels like a high-performance dragster.
This is true not only from a standstill, but also if you put your foot on the gas at 40mph.
The acceleration is instant and raw, as we expect from several high-performance EVs.
What helps make the acceleration so raw is how light the Cobra is now.
The car now weighs 3,300lbs, while a regular Model S Plaid will weigh over 5,000lbs.
That means Swadley has shaved around 2,000lbs of weight from the vehicle, creating what Borysewicz calls a ‘go-kart on steroids.’
The project harks back to the old-school days of hot rods and muscle cars, when owners pushed the limits of their vehicles to achieve extra performance.
Frankly, we’d like to see more of it.
