Electric Triumph Vitesse Project
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 มิ.ย. 2023
- It's time to introduce you to the beautifully restored Triumph Vitesse and let you know what the plan is with her and what we've done so far.
This one is going to be a stunning little British sportscar when finished.
The Installer Show is at the NEC, Birmingham 27-29th June. You can book your tickets on the link below:
installer-2023-visitor.reg.bu... - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
![อาจารย์ยอด : พระเตะผี [ผี]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zusDOIFasaE/mqdefault.jpg)
The original engine for that Mk.2 Vitesse was 104bhp, the figure of 70bhp you quoted was for the earlier 1600cc engined version
Thank you. I came to say this 👍🏻
Thanks for the correction 👍👍
Pair o’ monsters.
I had a '59 Herald when I was in High School! Ah, the memories! Very much like the Vitesse.
Waiting for the smart roadster kit. You‘d nail it for sure ❤
What about a pontiac solstice or Saturn sky ev conversion kit? Tens of thousands we're made between them on the same chassis.
It's a fairly light modern 2dr vert and roadster chassis. With several already converted to ev.
A well done kit there by ecc, using a single model 3/y motor&decent sized pack around 50kwhs could sell hundreds as elktromods become more popular. Plus it's got crumple zones, air bags&traction control as standard. And an aftermarket exists for parts to. 🤔
I’ve been thinking the same for a while. I’ve a Smart Roadster Coupe that would be fantastic as an electric vehicle.
Beautiful car ! Great videoand conversion!
Thanks!
I love an old Triumph, VWs have never really done it for me. Each to his or her own.
I learned to drive in a Herald in Australia. It was unregistered and a bit of a dirt track bush basher. Good memories
Really is interesting to see how to are able to create these different configurations to fit each make and model.
this is a beautiful little car! great videos about fantastic work
It’s a cool conversion. A spot-on restoration! I’d love to do an electric conversion of a 1969 Fiat 850 Spyder. However, everyone of those that I’ve seen have lots of rot. Great job guys on another supreme conversion!
Thanks 👍👍
I love your work, and your enthusiasm!
Thank you! Cheers!
I briefly had a 1962(?) Triumph Vitesse. Bought two junkers and put them together into a running vehicle but then literally got run out of Abilene by the Sheriff and had to abandon the car. Loved it for a few months.
Great old Triumph Vitesse
I was looking at an NSU RO80 the other day and it struck me that it would make for an awesome conversion....
i remember they Wankel engines didnt last long and the were selling for little money and people were replacing the engine with a Ford v6
I worked with NSU at the time. The main issue we found was owners over revving the engine, as the higher the revs, the quieter it got, until it didn’t…
Many people didn’t realise they weren’t in top gear on the motorway, as it wasn’t in the usual place on the gate (where 5th gear ended up many years later).
I know of at least 3 owners who admitted to that…
As for the Ford engine conversions, V4 or V6, both were terrible, as the engine was cast iron and made the car handle like a rice pudding!!
Absolutely bloody gorgeous. One of my favs so far. Great to see some of the British classics warmed up.
Thanks 👍👍
Peugeot also made motorbikes, bicycle and grinders (salt, pepper, coffee).
They still do.
They also made sowing machines and farming implements.
Good one. 👍😀
Bond and Amphicar on same chassis
Front of that car reminds me of a 1959 Buick Invicta with the canted headlamps and fenders
Love the engineering and thought that goes into these conversions. Still trying to get my head around a Vitesse or GT6 WITHOUT that beautiful straight 6 engine noise. Same applies to the Stag. Beautiful V8 burble. Head says 100% yes....heart and soul still not convinced at all. There must be another way to be clean and keep the soul intact. All that said, brilliant engineering.
I really enjoy the videos, I’ve learned more about electric cars watching your channel than anywhere else. Thank you
Great to hear, that was one of the reasons for starting the channel. 👍😀
BMW, KTM, Honda and Ariel are the first car/bike manufacturers that come to mind... probably lots more...
Beautiful!
Your the Picasso of the electric conversion wow i am blown away with this one very well done to you and the lads 👏
Thanks 👍👍😀😀
Lovely, my parents had a Vitesse when I was little and I've always wanted one; an electric Vitesse will live up to its name.
Stunning example!
It really is!
Wow that is a lovely car, wish my Dad was still around so i could show him that. He had a Vitesse that he put a 2.5 Pi engine into, so 150bhp. That was a quick car in its day and sounded lovely too.
Any chance of a Countach vid?
BMW makes cars and motorbikes.
I also don't understand why you guys haven't had an MGB or MGA in there yet. I thought they were more prolific as a popular classic. Certainly are here in Australia.
MGBs definitely are but we’ve not had one to convert yet. An MG midget was through for conversion a year or so back. 👍😀
IV saw an MG EV conversion on TH-cam a while ago. Of course all the "purists" got upset. I wonder how many of them would be prepared to bring a basket case MG back to life in its original form. Maybe 1 percent? Rhetorical question. Anyway, here's that Jonny Smith showing off an MGB EV
th-cam.com/video/O3KmcAO5Xmc/w-d-xo.html
I personally have a soft spot for Triumph Motors, especially the Vitesse. Unbelievable restoration as you say, well done for keeping the interior totally original. The owner will be absolutely delighted with this car once your guys have performed their magic😎🇬🇧❤️
Nearly bought one many year's ago. That was a 1600. Lovely little car.
A little interesting unrelated snippet/fact - the Heralds used to have a rubber trim on the bumpers. These would often go missing. Some unscrupulous roller skaters would relieve the owner of the rubber strips and use them as a 'front brake' on their skates when out on the road. The soft rubber pad that was effective on the roller rinks wooden floor, was useless on tarmac, so when going out on the road, a quick swap was done - two nuts and washers was all that was needed. The single bolt 'dance' brake was different to the twin bolt speed skaters brake. All modern brakes seem to be of the single bolt design, but back in the 60's/70's the twin bolt versions were bolted directly to the baseplate.
Every days a school day 👍👍
Great video guys
What a beauty!!!!
Sure is 👍😀
The Vespa (Piaggio) group did make cars (besides scooters) for a short period of time, the Vespa 400.
That right and so did Innocenti Lambretta Scooters & the classic Mini car under license, NSU made scooters, motorbikes an cars, Heinkel, Zündapp and BMW made scooters/motorcycles and (micro) cars and there must be many more.
That pretty little Vitesse reminds me so much of my mothers old Triumph Herald - which was supposedly good for 75-80MPH flat out, though last seen billowing smoke into the cabin via the glovebox! Quickest exit I have ever made from a passenger seat, cute little car RIP...
DKW made wonderful cars and motorcycles. Growing up with dkw (and Auto Union) cars and a dkw moped, they hold a fond place in my ❤. Keep making the fun, informative videos!
We sure will. 👍😀
Nice lil red sports car. There I said it
Regarding your questions during the video:, the engine mount of the Triumph Vitesse, GT6, Herald and spitfire are all mounted to the front suspension turrets, connected with 2 bolts on either side of a inner vertical flange of these turrets. There your design would fit all if you make use of this position. However there is a slight difference between the gearbox mounting of the 4-cylinder (heralds and spitfires) and 6-cylinder (Vitesse and GT6) as the startermotor is on fitted on the other side meaning the belhousing of the gearbox has a different shape. The bond equipe and several kit cars have the same setup as they used the same triumph chassis and mechanical setup.
Good info. Thanks 👍
I'll be watching this, need to do something with a Spitfire. Tim has a nice looking Healey. My father has had a BJ8 since the 80's he's just restored to sell. Mixed feelings about letting that go.
Make him an offer 👍👍👍😀😀😀😎
What a great conversion company you are! 👏👏👏
Thanks 👍😀
I perfect candidate for an electric motor conversion. I had a Mk1 Vitesse many, many years ago. I'm going to follow this conversion with great interest .
Good luck.
Stag! Your not old enough to see the beauty of the Stag!😅
Really glad that you guys are doing more FR cars... would like to see more FF too.
I hope that the Engine bay, ALWAYS looks that good, and NEVER gets all Greased up like the ICE versions do !
GREAT job guys !
And a BEAUTIFUL initial restoration !
You could see it was a good one from the moment you introduced it !
Love it !
Thanks 👍😀
My Vitesse had an overdrive switch on third and fourth gears to reduce the amount of gear changing.
Mine did as well. Brilliant invention.
Can't wait to see how this comes out !
A number of car manufacturers made trucks, buses, military vehicles, motorcycles, and even bicycles, through the decades. (Some also made aircraft and aircraft engines, such as Wright, FIAT, Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, Moskvitch, Bristol, Messerschmitt, Ford, Kawasaki and Daimler Benz.) Raleigh, Wolseley, Coventry Eagle, Humber, BMW, Rover, NSU, Triumph, New Hudson, Honda, Suzuki, Singer, Yamaha and Villiers are just a few of the many which come to mind. And Alvis made cars and military vehicles.
Another point for keeping the gearbox that wasn't mentioned is the speedo drive often comes from the gearbox in old sports cars. Yes it's possible to use an inductive pickup and use a motor to drive the analogue speedo, but it's a lot of work. You also missed of what I would argue is the best Triumph and the king of the 'camping holiday' ragtops, the TR6.
Good points 👍
My first car was a Vitesse 6 (1.6 litre 6 cylinder) The turning circle was brilliant but I had to change the steering plastic bushes every year.
Hey Richard, love your work 👍
Hey, thanks
Very interesting - what a beautiful looking car - and yes, rather quirky British car engineering - the science of ergonmomics must have been in its infancy when they designed the dash controls and switches! Am looking forward to seeing the final state of the conversion. Thank you.
Would love to see a C3 Corvette 1968-1982 alot of chassis so any kit would apply to a whole lot of them.
Superb. I still run my Herald 1200 (my first car that I've managed to hold onto all these years) and my son has a Spitfire project car. Both would be ripe for a conversion. Many of these Triumphs will have been modded over the years so your generic/modular approach sounds great. I’ll be following this with interest.
You guys fill me with optimism for the future. If you can get the price of the conversion kits down to a reasonable level you'll have a sure fire hit on your hands. I've owned 3 spitfires and one stag and I'd have loved to do an ev conversion on them.
To those commenting on the ride height, the plan is to enter it as an electric gasser in drag events ! :)
🤣🤣🤣
TT ....................a straight axle would make it Proper ???.........from the States
If that's a classic car then I must be a classic human!
Rover also used to make bikes until the mid 1920's
I never knew that one 👍👍
@@spudproductions7606 I Didn't know it either until a couple of years ago when I went to the Heritage Museum at Gaydon and they had one there on display
Beautifully done and one of the very few where it makes no sense to put in a frunk (otherwise one would get a heart attack every time opening it for fear of scratching it ) 😂🎉
Beautiful resto! Still waiting for that modified Fiat 500 kit to fit a 77 Fiat 124 Spyder 😊
Ural is another company that (used to) make motorcycles (Bimmer Boxer clones) and trucks.
The Triumph motorcycle company was sold off in the mid 1930s. I owned 3 Vitesses of different marks, as well as 3 heralds. The most used part of all of them was the “reserve” arrangement on the fuel tank. Trouble is, you had to remember to reset it when you filled up! I think the weird lever on the dash was for the dashboard light.
As regards reusing those old meters. Don’t waste your time, except for the speedo and tacho. Tried it with the oil pressure gauge in my Jag Mk2. They are so non linear it is not worth the effort. I managed to find a 2” 1mA tacho, which I then drove using a modern pressure transducer.
I had a reserve tap on an old Beetle. It didn’t have a fuel gauge. Used it all the time. 👍
Herald, Vitesse, and GT6 all use effectively identical engine mounting.
The Spitfire has slightly lower engine mount positions on the suspension uprights, but the front plate on the engine side is identical to the Herald dimensionally.
If you copy the original engine mounting positions, as it seems you have, this will drop into any of the Herald-derived cars quite easily.
BMW also does cars and bikes :-) Oh and seeing that Countach body up there in the background is killing me!!! Looking forward so much to seeing it EVed ...
Afternoon guys
So nice 😍😎
Cool👍😀
If it were me, I'd have the estate and have the stance adjusted accordingly.
Request... cobra with a plaid or high output motor of your choosing.. love what you guys are doing.. keep it up.. also, sorry.. a tremec or other transmission that can handle that torque? Maybe I'm just fantasizing 😂😂😂
As a former Vitesse owner, I am blown away by this project. Indeed, the separate chassis family that developed from the Herald is certainly an interesting subject for a building block development, although the Spitfire and GT6 bonnet may be a bit of a challenge for fitting the battery box. Would it be possible to fix a more compact engine in the gearbox/clutch bell housing space? It would also probably help to lower the centre of gravity.
Maybe you could work with specialist Canley Classics, who have a range of new parts machined from alloy for these cars, or with the Triumph Sports Six Club (TSSC).
By the way, the original output of the straight six was 70 kW (95 hp), although the MkII version (like this car, the important difference being a rear axle that actually provides something like road holding) churned out 104 hp, thanks to a few tweaks to the cylinder head internals.
Thanks for the info. 👍👍😀😀
Good info. Thanks. My thinking with the lower bonnets of the Spitfire and GT6 would be to swap from the front and rear battery boxes around. So the shallower box from the rear sits in the engine bay on the Spitfire and GT6. We’re also developing a gear reduction unit to replace the original gearbox to enable us to shift the motor back into the transmission tunnel which should allow us to drop the front battery box some, so we may not need to go with the swapsy plan. 👍
I think it would be interesting to see one of these kits installed in one of the small American cars from the 1950’s and early 1960’s. Such as a Nash or Rambler American, Chevrolet Corvair, early 1960 to 64 Ford Falcon or Mercury Comet, Plymouth Valiant or 1960 to 64 Pontiac Tempest or Le Mans. Those are all small light weight cars, and could take more power from the electric motors with standard driveline parts. You could even do a International Scout or a Jeep CJ-5 or Ford Falcon Ranchero from 1961 to about 1966. Then there are the Corvair 95 pickup and vans, the Ford 1960 to 66 falcon based vans and the dodge A-100 vans and pickup. And then there are a number of other small dispatch and postal deliver vans that are light weight and compact.
Love these cars had two first mk 1 2litre which I rolled due to rear wheel tuck , then mk 2 with electric overdrive which was amazing.
Beautiful, be cool to see it driving and the result performance wise.
Great video as usual and a really nice restoration. The 'funny switchy thing' under the dash top is the switch for the interior light (just the one) which should be right by it. Interesting that you have two holes in the boot to stabilise the rear battery box - they are exactly where I punched two holes through in my Herlad to let the water out!
Oh, that’s what it was…….. now it makes sense. 👍😀👍
BMW springs to mind.
I had an early one, very nippy. I eventually used the chassis and parts to build a JC Midge kit car.
I have a funny feeling that the first time the Triumph 6 got into that smaller body that it dropped to being 1750 CC.
Use the NACS socket in the fuel cap hole with an adapter for the UK charger network
I like those older classic cars as they had more style over efficiency. This looks like a very good conversation.
Or conversion.
I’ve just finished a MK2 Spitfire in white with red interior and this is exactly what I was looking for. Suspect it’s a huge cost though so may wait until things drop a little.
Ok firstly the Vitesse with the 2000cc engine was rated as104 bhp. The 2500cc Triumph six is a straight swap into the Vitesse and i'll bet the Vitesse with a 2500 will give the Healey a run as it should be lighter too. That said, i do like most of your conversions but i'd rather have the straight 6 instead of an electric motor in this case, hearing a Triumph 6 especially a tuned one is pure joy, just love hearing the banchee cry when you wind it up.
Thanks for the info. 👍😀
I like to see the charge socket behind rear number plate or behind the front grill
One idea for the charge point is hidden behind a tail light. Kindigit Design has made a few cars where the tail light pops out then swings away on a hinge mechanism.
It's a British car. 100km is probably farther than it went between tune-ups.
I used to work at a Triumph agency and I service these vehicles back in the 60s this vitesse is sitting a little bit to high it has +camber .
Very nice car 😊
Did you watch the full video? We explained why the camber is off. 👍😀
BMW, Audi group (Horch and NSU), Peugeot all made motorcycles at some point in time. Peugeout does or did until very recently
Be interested in more details as soon as a Spitfire conversion kit is available please. My Mk3 is 'mid resto' (for several years now...) and I've been waiting on a mainstream EVconversion option - looking forward to the Vitesse completion.
That looks like a very nicely restored Vitesse. As a long time Vitesse / GT6 owner modifier I'm watching this with interest, especially since I looked quite seriously into doing similar when I restored my GT6 a few years ago. Cost was a serious barrier, and the desire for a bit more than 100 mile range didn't help. I was also looking at the Hyper 9, but by my reckoning the available torque was going to make short work of the Triumph gearbox, which even on the 6 cylinder cars is not noted for being robust. The earlier 4 cylinder cars (Herald / Spitfire 1 - 3) are worse. I was thinking of going direct drive and sitting the motor as far back as possible, leaving more room up front for batteries etc and saving another 25kgs or so.
As regards interchangeablity between the "small chassis" models, apart from a few very early cars, the engines all mount in the same place, to the front of the suspension turrets, but on the 4 cylinder cars the shorter engine means that the bell housing joint is a bit (25 - 30mm) further forward. Not also that the Spitfire engine bay is longer but shallower at the front corners
For charging point, consider the Spitfire solution which is a flip cap mounted in the middle of the deck between hood and boot aperture (Spitfire tank is located where your battery box is).
Oh, and you need to come up with a sound track to match the original 6 cylinder engine which makes a very pleasant noise and helps drown out the rattles and creaks that these cars always have....
Wonder if it would be possible to mount the motor onto an overdrive unit less the gearbox. That would give two gears (forward) and allow the use of the original prop but mount the motor where the gearbox sat?
Tim mentioned his Healey. I wanted to get a used BJ8 in the mid '70s when they were available for under $5K. Now a restored one costs in the $90-$100K+ range. I still have a Moss Motors parts catalog from 2002 (issue #2, great shape). With it's 6cyl monster I could see you putting just about everything in the "engine" bay. Of course, I doubt anyone with one of these restored cars would dare do a conversion but it would be fun (and scary) to drive as an EV.
You never know ⚡️⚡️⚡️👍👍😀
Not a classic car (yet), but would happily convert my MK6 Fiesta if something was available for it! Think this should be the way forward for a lot of older cars, rather than scrapping and building an entirely new car. Less environmental impact.
Holy crap, I have a couple of Bond Equipes which are a fibreglass body over the vitesse 2ltr running gear. I am really interested to know how this goes and the cost because while I love the straight 6 burble at idle and the torquey roar on acceleration it would be interesting to see if there is a green future for these classics (maybe I could change one to electric and get a specially adapted audio system to make the brrmm brrmm noise).
Its a cure car ❤
The conversion should also fit the Bond Equipe 2 litre, and the Bond equipe GT4S same chassis.
Interesting 🤔
Great car. Needs some beefy tires too.
That is a beaut of a restoration regardless of the drivetrain! Rolls Royce has to be the ultimate EV conversion? Also the big Jags from the 60's
This is very cool. I love the EV conversions of quirky little cars, I'd love to see conversions of Humber 80s, Morris Minor & 1100, Hillman Imp really early Toyota Corolla & Honda Civic.
I had a mk1 2 litre convertible as my first classic car. Tuck under rear wheels (!) Think the 2 litre was 95bhp in the mk1. Overdrive was essential. Offset driving position but oddly extremely comfortable. Can't be faffed with manual gearboxes, carbs, sticky points etc now so an electric classic convertible is a great idea to me 🙂
I would love to see a kit available for a Triumph TR-6, and perhaps a TR-6 build series.
Agreed
I’m not sure if maintaining the nostalgia of shifting occasionally would outweigh the possibility, or I should say probability of replacing the drivetrain on a regular basis. The “expected” torque should be well in excess of the original.
The standard transmission on the Vitesse was frail, you made no mention if it has an overdrive fitted.
It is possible to upgrade the gearbox with TR7 and Dolomite parts that will help, but the diff carriers are prone to breaking.
Fitting a Quaife carrier will fix that, the rotoflex drive doughnuts will suffer with 120 bhp, there is a CV joint upgrade that will be better.
I like the idea of a generic kit, as said the Herald spawned the GT6, Vitesse, Spitfire not forgetting the Amphicar.
My personal thoughts would be to fit the Hyper 9 where the gearbox is this would remove the gearbox/ clutch / overdrive weakness and provide more room for batteries.
I have a saloon MK2 Vitesse and have relocated the filler to the upper deck n/s
Good luck with the project.
Simon
Good info. Thanks
You don't have to like it to put love into it! 😁 Great job as ever! I think a #SunbeamStiletto would be an interesting Brit Car Conversion Project! A bizarre little racer, with lots to 'like too! 😇
Good idea. 👍😀
the real sporty one was a herald jack brabham conversion with the coventry climax engine
Never heard of that one 👍😀
TR6 used a bored out Vitesse engine to 2.5 ltr rater than the Triumph PI which was a stroked up version
Have you thought if doing a kit for the Fiat 128? There were over 3,000,000 made, plus another 1,000,000 under licence by Zastava, making them one of the most built cars ever. Even if only 25% remain, that’s still a helluva lot of potential customers. Much of the 128 running gear continued into subsequent Fiats such as the Regatta, Strada, etc … . The VW Golf was based on the 128; there may be sufficient similarities to do a generic kit that fits both marques.