TH-cam dropped this gem of a video in my feed. I, literally, have daydreamed to myself about an EV Cobra (in pewter) for the past 7 to 8 years. Thanks for this awesome video!
should have done a flat battery-packaging ( probably 60-120kw and 500-1500HP discharge and 4X4 with a switching/controls and a glass-dashboard/central infotainment centre ) as it's possible for frunk+rear storage and putting the ECU+inverters-ect under the sail-panel were the original AC-ace had tank-ect and used the grill-flaps and ducting around the frunk ect id do a bench seating but im a bigger individual 200-300lb's/over-weight and 5,5ft+ still probably more user friendly vs hemi-dodge+Tr6060 winks
This is my absolute dream build. Always thought that if I ever decided to do an electric vehicle build, I'd want to do it on a Cobra chassis. Beautifully done.
Restores my faith in what can be produced in this country against the technophobic trend well done Matt. We have the potential, it must be released, and particularly education.
Thanks for the peek at your rear suspension! I decided to do something similar with my Mustang. The benefits are many. No cutting the frame rail, no need to cut and redo the interior, keep flange-flange width, and the ability to keep using mustang wheels.
What a great conversion! Congratulations. The real scary thing for me was watching you drive it on the winding narrow roads. Here in Canada that would be a one way road! ;-)
this makes total sense start with a clean sheet I would use the model 3 rear motor and suspension and ya a lot more battery options very nice build well done.
@@jank330 agreed, that would be my choice as well. However EV conversion tech is moving at an alarming so things have come on quite a bit. A similar story to my tesla powered TVR 😉
AC Cobra becoming a DC Coupe? ;) This sort of weekend ride is ideal for an EV build. There's more then a few low volume vehicles that the Tesla drivetrain is just as valid a choice as a K-swap or an LS, and a ton of base-model cars that classic musclecars were built on, where they would be built in to clones of the V8 versions, could be EV swapped instead. A mid-60's six cylinder Barracuda or Mustang with Model 3 or Model S hardware would be a fast ride.
Some petrolheads would complain about missing the noise of the Cobra. But, I've heard one up close and I would definitely not miss that noise if I was sitting in it every day. A great conversion of a classic beast. Hope to see it when all the final tweaks are completed.
you don't drive it everyday, you enjoy it on the weekend. Cobra's are ment to be heard. I do love the engineering but it would fit more of a cruiser like a classic mustang or sl450 convertible.
Boys and their toy's what can be done in coming day's then trickling down to me it will be game changing in very good positive way .oh I just I was in car with you ty.
I'm trying to get my head around the regs. I think it might be easier in the USA. From what I can tell in the UK you either go this expensive route which costs £6-£7k just to get it approved, or you somehow do a conversion of an old vehicle WITHOUT modifying the chassis?
Great engineering and I get it. However, having driven a Cobra as nature intended it, for me the visceral nature of its ICE powerplant is foundational to the car's DNA. Teslas and BYDs (Burn Your Dwelling) are made for batteries and silent motoring, not Cobras IMHO. Can't imagine battery powering my Ducati - same thing. Anyway - not taking anything away from the build - great to see engineering innovation of this calibre. Cheers from Australia - Dave
3 years ! , I think I would have given up if I was the customer . I dread to think how much that cost . I watched start to finish so I guess that says something 😀.
This was a full build ... nothing was "ripped"... it is its own creation. There are plenty of examples of excellent (and terrible) Cobras with V8 power so there's no loss here.
Whilst its a fantastic piece of engineering, I can't quite shake out of my head that its like Harry Potter's Dementors have sucked the soul out of a cobra.
@@chargeheadsuk Given the extreme challenge of fitting sufficient kWh capacity into a restricted space classic vehicle I don't think LFP is the way to go ... it makes the job even harder.
technically cobras are ACE/?triumph?-LLC+ford+Shelby-hybrid and maybe chevy-SBC-200-383 powered ( after Shelby and ford-3 got into spasms and or contracts didn't get renewed ) and maybe one/failed-experiment ( Shelby did it under contract and drove it one-time and said never again, and bill Cosby refused to honour/picking up-ect aka returning it back to the factory after being scared....less ) 540ci~twin-blower's/cammer-instead ( 4 or 5 speed manual transmission ) of being a dodge/hemi ( sorry fuzzy memory's as im a dodge or uk car types, not into ford's-act generally ) for bill Cosby AC-ace was/is ~4L~ L6's ?3speed? or 4-trans included is jaguar and or centrifugal-blower'd this is closer to what AC team'd up with elon/merc/Toyota and or modernised it like moris mini has a modern-ish convertible/BEV model now available, missed the chance of getting flat floor as carol's-S known to not like the humpback+iconic backward's-shifter ( might be possible to be just as iconic as red-house gaited or dodge's 1970 coronets-bench/E-body pistol-grip or France weirdness designs ) but saw it as a necessary evil at least within 1960-80's common technology available
The lack of care for the passengers safety straps is kind of funny, as there isn’t much ‘safety’ there in the case of an accident. There isn’t even a personal roll bar. You’re on the roads and not a race track. My father has a v8 cobra. It is very loud as you drive everywhere. You really can’t have conversations because it is a ‘race’ car. It literally shakes house walls as you drive by slowly. It is made for the open roads. And by me we have the best country roads. The electric concept is nice if you’re going to put a lot of miles on it in an urban environment. To each its own when you have a shit ton of money. The one thing about a cobra is if you just going to let it sit you’re missing the point of owning it.
I can't remember exactly why they wanted it. They made me do it while I was there. If I remember correctly they wanted the removal of the plug to require 2 actions and the easiest option on the day was to wrap some wire around it.
@@modscotsman sounds about right. Can't remember exactly now and at the time wasn't quibbling about putting some lock wire on if that helped getting the test passed!
If you need to go IVA then yes you need an R100 inspection first. I was told (but I have not investigated) that there are other options other than MIRA now for the R100.
Brand new vehicle. Not much worse than other modern replicas which are glass fibre bodied rather than aluminium. The originals swapped engines from the old engine AC used. Plus this version is probably less likely to kill you!
@@chargeheadsuk I was told a day or so before my test with MIRA that the Vehicle Certification Agency were doing R100 testing significantly cheaper. I don't know how true this was/is and I didn't pursue it as I was pretty much committed to MIRA and my timeline but it may be worth further investigation by anyone else who is going that route...
Matt is the smartest, yet most humble guy I know. A true engineer.
@@davidlukey5189 he's a great guy and it was fantastic to hear the detail.
TH-cam dropped this gem of a video in my feed.
I, literally, have daydreamed to myself about an EV Cobra (in pewter) for the past 7 to 8 years.
Thanks for this awesome video!
@@Michael-Gill glad you found it. Thanks for the positive comment 🙏
should have done a flat battery-packaging ( probably 60-120kw and 500-1500HP discharge and 4X4 with a switching/controls and a glass-dashboard/central infotainment centre ) as it's possible for frunk+rear storage and putting the ECU+inverters-ect under the sail-panel were the original AC-ace had tank-ect and used the grill-flaps and ducting around the frunk ect id do a bench seating but im a bigger individual 200-300lb's/over-weight and 5,5ft+
still probably more user friendly vs hemi-dodge+Tr6060 winks
This is my absolute dream build. Always thought that if I ever decided to do an electric vehicle build, I'd want to do it on a Cobra chassis. Beautifully done.
A beauty to be sure... wonderful workmanship - - kudos.
@@stevemyers2092 a thing of beauty for sure!
Restores my faith in what can be produced in this country against the technophobic trend well done Matt. We have the potential, it must be released, and particularly education.
Epic. I want one
@@mcscars i want two 😎
Thanks for the peek at your rear suspension! I decided to do something similar with my Mustang. The benefits are many. No cutting the frame rail, no need to cut and redo the interior, keep flange-flange width, and the ability to keep using mustang wheels.
@@PWN-E good to hear 👍
No worries, I have loads more pics - let me know if you want any more details
What a great conversion! Congratulations. The real scary thing for me was watching you drive it on the winding narrow roads. Here in Canada that would be a one way road! ;-)
Beautifully executed! If those numbers ever come up, that would be on my shopping list.
@@GaryHerschell Matt has certainly done some great work here. 💯
this makes total sense start with a clean sheet I would use the model 3 rear motor and suspension and ya a lot more battery options very nice build well done.
@@jank330 agreed, that would be my choice as well. However EV conversion tech is moving at an alarming so things have come on quite a bit. A similar story to my tesla powered TVR 😉
AC Cobra becoming a DC Coupe? ;)
This sort of weekend ride is ideal for an EV build. There's more then a few low volume vehicles that the Tesla drivetrain is just as valid a choice as a K-swap or an LS, and a ton of base-model cars that classic musclecars were built on, where they would be built in to clones of the V8 versions, could be EV swapped instead. A mid-60's six cylinder Barracuda or Mustang with Model 3 or Model S hardware would be a fast ride.
@@PiDsPagePrototypes I like what you did there 😉
He's an ACE comedian!
What a fantastic feat of engineering!
@@timmoggeridge3122 💯
And not a flat touchscreen in sight….👍
@@JustmeandB courtesy of Peterson EV
Beautiful car with no soul
1.3 giga watts. Great Scott Back to the Future.
Good Shift!
Some petrolheads would complain about missing the noise of the Cobra. But, I've heard one up close and I would definitely not miss that noise if I was sitting in it every day. A great conversion of a classic beast. Hope to see it when all the final tweaks are completed.
@@trevorberridge6079 lets hope this car does plenty of miles and gives equal amount of smiles 😁
you don't drive it everyday, you enjoy it on the weekend. Cobra's are ment to be heard. I do love the engineering but it would fit more of a cruiser like a classic mustang or sl450 convertible.
Top-shelf work.
@@balikbayan21 😂 for sure!
A lovely thing
Electric Cobra 427 is my dream car
@@gmdc5850 this seems to be a common theme. Maybe someone should do a kit for one 🤔
It’s stunning. Fibreglass body?
Yep
Oooh…people will hate this one!!
Boys and their toy's what can be done in coming day's then trickling down to me it will be game changing in very good positive way .oh I just I was in car with you ty.
Looks fabulous!
@@SmartMart1658 a real eyeful for sure 💯
I had a built Unique kit and could not imagine, no matter how fast, the missing side pipes roar! No thanks...
Looks awesome. Hope it’s the upgraded large rear motor, even though I can’t imagine this will ever accumulate high miles
The UK is so ahead of the US on EV conversions
@@LarryRichelli both compliment each other I feel.
Really? How so?
I'm trying to get my head around the regs. I think it might be easier in the USA. From what I can tell in the UK you either go this expensive route which costs £6-£7k just to get it approved, or you somehow do a conversion of an old vehicle WITHOUT modifying the chassis?
Nice!
Some cars are made to be V8 powered , the Cobra is one of them . I drive a Tesla model 3 LR which is made to be electric.
And some people have put gas, diesel, and turbine engines in Tesla cars. It’s ok to experiment. Have fun!
@@Chris-bg8mk 💯
Great engineering and I get it. However, having driven a Cobra as nature intended it, for me the visceral nature of its ICE powerplant is foundational to the car's DNA. Teslas and BYDs (Burn Your Dwelling) are made for batteries and silent motoring, not Cobras IMHO. Can't imagine battery powering my Ducati - same thing. Anyway - not taking anything away from the build - great to see engineering innovation of this calibre. Cheers from Australia - Dave
There's no shortage of Cobras. Drive what you want.
Where are the chrome bumpers and roll cadge
@@Shrillracer as discussed in the video, the customer wanted a more subtle look
3 years ! , I think I would have given up if I was the customer . I dread to think how much that cost . I watched start to finish so I guess that says something 😀.
@@antoniopalmero4063 I'm three years in on the TVR and we havent touched the refurb yet 🙈
He should be arrested for desecration ...
. Just NO NO NO and WHY WHY WHY , ripped the heart and soul out of a lovely car..
Don't worry, I'm guessing the Tesla was already written off before he ripped out the drive unit.
Steady on mate, I'm far too pretty for prison.
This was a full build ... nothing was "ripped"... it is its own creation. There are plenty of examples of excellent (and terrible) Cobras with V8 power so there's no loss here.
@@netmaster10000 nice one!
He didn't. It was a new kit car.
Whilst its a fantastic piece of engineering, I can't quite shake out of my head that its like Harry Potter's Dementors have sucked the soul out of a cobra.
Until you step on the … pedal!
An electric DKW!! Be still, my two stroke heart!!!
@@paulw8356 😂
The low seats look cool, but God-help you if you get rear-ended. (Note to self: spec mine with a roll bar with integrated head restraints. 😂)
Would it be easier to use small Tesla drive unit? Think they are 200hp?
Possibly, they both have the same mounting positions so wouldn't be a huge benefit. LDU seemed the logical choice when I started
What batteries would you use now, 3 yrs on?
@@TeslaBulldotcom LFP are good for safety, its finding a chemistry that's has the power as well.
@@chargeheadsuk Given the extreme challenge of fitting sufficient kWh capacity into a restricted space classic vehicle I don't think LFP is the way to go ... it makes the job even harder.
Its not a Cobra , it's a kit car replica. Big big difference.
@@bobbybishop5662 same same, but different 🤔
technically cobras are ACE/?triumph?-LLC+ford+Shelby-hybrid and maybe chevy-SBC-200-383 powered ( after Shelby and ford-3 got into spasms and or contracts didn't get renewed ) and maybe one/failed-experiment ( Shelby did it under contract and drove it one-time and said never again, and bill Cosby refused to honour/picking up-ect aka returning it back to the factory after being scared....less ) 540ci~twin-blower's/cammer-instead ( 4 or 5 speed manual transmission ) of being a dodge/hemi ( sorry fuzzy memory's as im a dodge or uk car types, not into ford's-act generally ) for bill Cosby
AC-ace was/is ~4L~ L6's ?3speed? or 4-trans included is jaguar and or centrifugal-blower'd
this is closer to what AC team'd up with elon/merc/Toyota and or modernised it like moris mini has a modern-ish convertible/BEV model now available, missed the chance of getting flat floor as carol's-S known to not like the humpback+iconic backward's-shifter ( might be possible to be just as iconic as red-house gaited or dodge's 1970 coronets-bench/E-body pistol-grip or France weirdness designs ) but saw it as a necessary evil at least within 1960-80's common technology available
It's definitely a Cobra ... but clearly it's not an AC Cobra. But 'twas ever thus ... there must be at least 500 kit Cobras for every real one!
The lack of care for the passengers safety straps is kind of funny, as there isn’t much ‘safety’ there in the case of an accident. There isn’t even a personal roll bar. You’re on the roads and not a race track.
My father has a v8 cobra. It is very loud as you drive everywhere. You really can’t have conversations because it is a ‘race’ car. It literally shakes house walls as you drive by slowly. It is made for the open roads. And by me we have the best country roads.
The electric concept is nice if you’re going to put a lot of miles on it in an urban environment. To each its own when you have a shit ton of money. The one thing about a cobra is if you just going to let it sit you’re missing the point of owning it.
XXLnt !
@@utube091116 🎸🎸
Lock wire on a hv plug? Never heard of that requirement for r100 before
@@modscotsman thanks for your comment, maybe some one with the knowledge on this can shed some light?!
I can't remember exactly why they wanted it. They made me do it while I was there. If I remember correctly they wanted the removal of the plug to require 2 actions and the easiest option on the day was to wrap some wire around it.
@@mt-qw7yt I know that any hv connections should not be accessible directly and need to have a plate or system to access it.
@@modscotsman sounds about right. Can't remember exactly now and at the time wasn't quibbling about putting some lock wire on if that helped getting the test passed!
So to build an EV this way you need to budget £6-£7k to pass the regs?
If you need to go IVA then yes you need an R100 inspection first. I was told (but I have not investigated) that there are other options other than MIRA now for the R100.
@@mt-qw7yt Thanks.
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
Made a golfcart out of a classic vehicle.
Brand new vehicle. Not much worse than other modern replicas which are glass fibre bodied rather than aluminium. The originals swapped engines from the old engine AC used. Plus this version is probably less likely to kill you!
It's a new build. No actual classic vehicles were involved ... it just happens to be based on an attractive existing classic design.
50% of the reason for building a cobra is the v8 sound.
More, I think, as it's really an AC Ace with a huge V8.
So you're saying 50% of people buy a cobra to make noise 😂
@@chargeheadsuk No.
So you’re saying people build V8 Cobras for half-arsed reasons?
MIRA what a ridiculous cost
@@pauldby1479 agreed, it needs refining for sure
@@chargeheadsuk I was told a day or so before my test with MIRA that the Vehicle Certification Agency were doing R100 testing significantly cheaper. I don't know how true this was/is and I didn't pursue it as I was pretty much committed to MIRA and my timeline but it may be worth further investigation by anyone else who is going that route...
@@mt-qw7yt thanks for sharing 👌
Great but far too quiet.
This is an atrocity. NO EV swapping a vinytage ICE car.
Edit: ah, didn't see the video, as Chargeheads mentioned below...
@@pear7777 its a brand new kit car 🤷♂️
@@chargeheadsuk owkayyyy, then it's allowed.
Why would you 😢🙃 !!!!
I would be worried about it turning over, you’d have zero protection from the waist up 🤦♂️
Maybe don’t turn it over? The body/chassis manufacturers make a roll over bar if you want one.
The choice is yours ... so add a roll over bar!
You go out of focus at 5 mins. Haven't you looked at it.
Give me one with a heavenly VROOM VROOOOM sound please.
Nice, I don't like the color.
Sacrilege. Nice job though!
Sacrilege.
Such a shame to see an iconic sports car turned into a milk float.
What a sin a electric cobra at least when the battery gos on fire you can just jump out no lovely v8 engine what a poxy thing to do to a car
What a disgrace