There’s no doubt that electric vehicles are the future. We’re gradually moving away from petrol and diesel cars, and more and more people are opting for EVs. This is great news for the environment and car designers who are no longer constrained by the technicalities of things like engine placement and air intakes. Could the past hold the key to the future of car design, though? We’ve found some pretty cool EV restomod designs online, so we created this post to list them all.
Restomodding is the practice of restoring a classic car while modernising it. While some have chosen to take the route of restomodding their classics with an electric powertrain, the skilled designers amongst us have taken it to a whole new level.
While we have previously reported on manufacturers such as Renault and Hyundai looking to the past with their R5 or Pony reboots, these designs are made by designers and tuners rather than the manufacturer. Which one would you most like to see make it into production?
BMW 02
BMW was dabbling with electric drivetrains long before the release of their first production EV, the i3, in 2013. Way back in 1972, they unveiled the 1602 Elektro-Antrieb at the Olympic Games, which were hosted in Munich, Germany. It looked identical to the 1602 that was already in production. Sadly the cars only ever shuttled VIPs and served as support cars, never making it into production.
Designer David Obendorfer decided to revisit the design and give it a 21st Century makeover with his BMW 02 Reminiscence Concept. It pays tribute to the original while modernising it to appeal to today’s market.
Emilia GT Veloce
The Alfa Romeo seems to be a popular choice amongst restomodders. While we are showcasing the Amilia GT Veloce, there are a few different EV versions of the Alfa Romeo Guilia GT floating around. It’s clear to see why those lines are timeless, lending themselves well to a 21st-century reboot.
Developed by German tuning company Emilia Auto Gmbh, the Emilia GT Veloce, pairs the classic 60s coupe with a modern powertrain borrowed from an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
Mercedes W114 EQ
The W114 and W115 are the archetypal Mercedes Benz. The three-box design is synonymous with Mercedes saloons throughout the 20th Century. While today’s e-class is sleek and more rounded, this iconic design is known the world over. These cars went on forever, with taxi’s going around the clock multiple times. Launched in 1968, they had an eight-year production life before being superseded by the W123.
Lars Sältzer decided to render a reboot of this iconic body style with the W114 EQ. He kept the boxy design of the vehicle with large front grille while making the panels seem a little more modern. He also incorporated features you would find on today’s luxury cars, like those integrated door handles.
Lancia Delta EV
Today, Italian manufacturer Lancia is a shell of its former self. Once a rallying powerhouse kicking out rallying thoroughbreds such as the Fulvia, Stratos and of course, the infamous Delta. In production from 1979 to 1994, the Delta inspired a cult-like following of fans who reminisce about its prowess in the group B stages to this day.
Italian automotive designer Sebastiano Ciarcià took on the task of designing a modern-day reboot of the Delta. He took inspiration from the S4 Stradale (1985) and the HF Integrale Evoluzione (1991) to creat his modern-masterpiece.
Porsche 930
The iconic Porsche 911 is an automotive design that needs no introduction. The 930 was the fastest production car available in its homeland of Germany from its unveiling in 1975 up until it was replaced in 1989. The circular headlights and iconic curves are still synonymous with the German automaker today.
Matteo Gentile decided to take this iconic design and modernise it just enough to make it fresh with his 930 restomod. The rear is probably the nicest angle of this vehicle, with an updated striplight running across the bottom that seamlessly blends with the vehicle, the oversized grille becomes a focal point.
We hope you enjoyed seeing these restomods as much as we have. Which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.
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