Series 2 Starts January 27 On Quest
Vintage Voltage follows Richard “Moggy” Morgan and his team of electric car experts as they convert and restore classic cars into electric power.
They are global leaders in electrifying classic cars including everything from Porsches to Land-Rovers. But they face a huge challenge as they re-engineer classic cars with 21st century power and technology while keeping the looks and appeal of the original.
With some cars more than 50 years old it's never going to be easy...
How To Watch
UNITED KINGDOM
Watch on Quest TV. Freeview 12 or 114, Freesat 167, Sky 144, Virgin 169 or catchup at discoveryplus.co.uk
The Cars of Series 2
Porsche 911
Entrepreneurs Mark and Charlie want to build a new business selling electric Porsche 911s and they’ve asked Moggy to develop the prototype. Tasked with improving every aspect of the car – from handling to top-end speed – this is a mission Porsche-loving-Moggy is happy to take on. If he succeeds then there will be more 911 commissions to come.
But converting an air-cooled petrol car, and maintaining the front to back weight balance, pushes the team to their limits. A track day test duel with a high performance petrol 911 awaits….. if the team can complete the car to a tight deadline.
DMC DeLorean
Owner Leighton bought his DeLorean with the idea of converting it to electric – so he can drive to work in it and have the worlds’ coolest commute. A huge ‘Back to the future’ fan, he wants its under-powered petrol engine and poor handling to be transformed by a retro electric fit. But this unusual two door coupe needs a complete engineering makeover and the team have to totally restore the interior. When completed, how will this electric car perform on a daily commute and will it be the dream DeLorean which finally lives up to the film icon image?
Austin Mini
Moggy creates a Mini with ten-times more power than the old petrol version, for enthusiastic owner Simon. The car has been in Simon’s family since the 1970s and after a full restoration and EV conversion he wants to hand it on to his daughters.
The Mini is a very small car, so trying to shoehorn in a powerful Tesla motor to the tiny engine bay is a mission. Then electrical issues with a battery box threaten to stop the project in its tracks. Eventually the team finish this challenging build and take it to a nearby airfield for a ‘flat out’ test drive.
Land Rover Series 2A
The VIP owner of a 1970 Land Rover wants to remain in the shadows and bankroll the conversion from afar. Not fazed by their mystery client the team crack on, converting this 4x4 for an electric offroad life. ECC have converted Land Rovers before but this older, more fragile car is in desperate need of restoration and is taken back to a bare shell before they begin the painstaking work of creating a 21st century E-Landie. Moggy decides on a full-on test drive across the wilds of Wales, but will the EV be able to tackle the tough terrain?
Volkswagen Type 2 Camper
This 55-year-old, classic camper has been a family friend for owner Nick for years. But it is unreliable, slow and hard to drive so now he wants to convert it to electric. Moggy knows and loves all things VW, so he relishes the chance to give this old bus a new lease of electric life. Nick wants the camper to look the same but perform like a 21st century EV. The team struggle to make his vision a reality as they strengthen, update and convert the car….. while retaining the original patina.
BMW Isetta
Owners Tom and Aleks love their eccentric ‘bubble car’ but are too scared to drive it on the London streets. It is slow and has a dangerously difficult gear change, but they can see a bright future for the little microcar if Moggy can convert it to electric. This is the first three-wheeler the team have tackled and the unique engineering challenges need ingenious space-saving solutions.
Super-cheap motoring and a congestion zone free life await our city slickers if ECC can nail this micro conversion and get the Isetta back on its three wheels.
Volkswagen Beetle
When entrepreneur Aeron drops off his 1971 VW Beetle he hopes to kickstart a new business selling electric classics direct to the public through his dedicated E-Showroom. For Moggy the challenge is to convert the Beetle at a price which will give Aeron enough profit margin to develop and grow his business idea. Moggy needs to keep a close eye on every cost, to ensure that this car is a practical electric conversion with a realistic end sale price. When they discover damage to the paintwork, a potentially expensive respray threatens both the budget and the business model.
BMW 3.0 CSi 'Batmobile'
The BMW ‘Batmobile’- nicknamed after its outrageous body kit - is a 1970s racetrack icon. Owner Michael had one on a poster on his bedroom wall as a child, but now he dreams of creating a super quick E-BMW. Bought as a non-runner at auction his car is riddled with rot and has an interior full of mould. With a nut and bolt, bare metal restoration and full upgrade to a 450HP Tesla motor this build challenges the whole ECC team as they work to get this car shipshape for super yacht captain Michael.
Gordon Keeble
Only 99 of these bespoke British sports tourers were ever built. It used to be a V8 petrol gas guzzler, but owner Anthony now wants a clean, speed machine. Everything about this car is handmade, from the interior to the fibreglass bodywork. Moving the motor from the front to the rear of the car is tough enough, but ECC also have to build a one-off cage inside the car to handle the weight of the new batteries. And when the car catches fire during some complex welding….the team wonder if they will ever complete this conversion.
Porsche 944
Owner Lee loves his 944 - which has a reputation as one of the best handling Porsches ever built - but it has become unreliable, and with advancing age he finds it hard to drive. Moggy is tasked with converting this manual coupe into an automatic, easy-to-drive electric sportscar. It’s a massive mission as he has to move the powerplant from the front to the rear and balance the weight of the new batteries.
The Cars of Series 1
Karmann Ghia
A 60s style icon gets the speed to match its looks
The VW Karmann Ghia looks beautiful, but it never went as fast as it looked. Now Moggy and his team have been asked to convert it to electric power, but can they give it the performance it deserves without ruining the classic driving experience?
Fiat 500
The perfect classic city car
Moggy and his team struggle to find space inside a tiny Fiat 500 as they try and turn it into a perfect electric city car. Will the speedy owner be happy with her dream electric classic car?
Land Rover Defender
The first electric four wheel drive
Four wheel drive cars are big and heavy, with complex drive systems. Perhaps that’s why so few people have tackled an electric conversion. Attempting to update a 20th century icon like a Land Rover Defender, with it’s low tech under-pinnings, means the team need to re-imagine almost every aspect of the mechanicals. Can they find a way of giving the car maximum power and range, while keeping its four wheel drive capability?
Chesil Speedster
Prototype for the future
The boss of Chesil Sportscars brings a stunning 50’s styled Speedster to the workshop to discuss creating a prototype for a new electric model. It’s a huge business opportunity for Moggy, but the pressure’s on, they need to get it right first time…
BMW 1602
Back to the future
This BMW’s owner wants to leave a legacy for the future and create an electric homage to the famous 2002 Turbo, so the next generation get to see why this wild saloon was dubbed ‘the ultimate driving machine’.
Photon Bike
First ever motorbike conversion
Moggy and the team are used to four wheels, so when a commission comes in to create a retro style bike with a 21st century electric twist, they simply can’t resist! But have the team bitten off more than they can chew when a Royal Enfield donor bike arrives at the workshop?
Ferrari 308 GTS
More horses in the prancing horse stable
A Ferrari that’s had it’s engine stolen provides the perfect opportunity for Moggy and his team to convert their second 308 GTS. But converting a classic Ferrari to electric power is contentious…especially when the goal is to make it go faster, brake harder and handle better than the original.
Lancia Fulvia
The rallying legend is electrified
A Lancia Fulvia arrives at the workshop, but can Moggy and his team convert this much loved classic, without ruining its famously agile handling?
MG Midget
The ultimate Midget restoration
The team work on a 1960s MG Midget which quickly turns into a bigger restoration project than expected. A much-loved part of the family, it’s now time for the ultimate restoration and everything is upgraded from the electric motor, to the suspension and brakes.
Porsche 914
Ugly duckling transforms
The brief is to design the car that Porsche would have constructed if they’d been building electric sports cars in the 1970s. The 914 was never a popular car, due to its unusual styling and modest power, but it always had a lot of potential. Can Moggy and his team pull out all the stops and create the ultimate electric Porsche 914?
All About Electric Classic Cars
Based in the heart of Wales, Electric Classic Cars are world leading experts in electric
conversions of classic cars including iconic classic conversions, full restorations and dream
builds.
They are pioneers in this new and exciting market creating custom builds for each client to
match their ambitions while bringing the cars bang up to date with 21st century innovation giving
improved reliability and better performance.
Some older classics need upgrades to the brakes and suspension to handle the extra power,
plus they can add modern enhancements such as electric heating, power steering, regenerative
braking, and more.
Series 1 Sponsor: Octopus Energy
Vintage Voltage is proud to partner with Octopus Energy. They're doing energy better, both for you and for the environment.
The energy industry in Britain is ruled by a handful of complacent dinosaurs peddling fossil fuels, pricing trickery and poor customer service. In 2016, Octopus entered the market to disrupt the status quo with energy that's good for the planet, good for your wallet, and, honestly, good for your soul.
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