A brief guide to electric conversions for classic cars
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Aurich Lawson)
Earth Day is April 22, and its usual message—take care of our planet—has been given added urgency by the challenges highlighted in the latest IPCC report. This year, Ars is taking a look at the technologies we normally cover, from cars to chipmaking, and finding out how we can boost their sustainability and minimize their climate impact.
The term "restomod" first started gaining traction back in the 1990s. As muscle car enthusiasts searched for ways to improve the performance and reliability of their vintage machines, a cottage industry of folks adapting late-model powertrain and chassis components soon began to emerge. Today, you'd be hard-pressed to find a restored late-'60s Mustang or Camaro on the road that hasn't been modified with some kind of modern tech—be it a computer-controlled fuel injection system, an updated brake and suspension system, or even a modern V8 engine.
To some, that might be sacrilege. To others, it's simply about getting with the times.