1986 Porsche 911 Electric – Classified of the Week

Whenever we dare mention a classic that has been converted to run on battery power, we invariably get all manner of emails from people in heavy-knit jumpers telling us that it’s a travesty. And in the eyes of those people, it may well be, but what a person does with their car or their money is their business. If they have, say, a Porsche 911, and they want to replace the flat-six with a load of AA Duracells, more power to them. We know they’re not for everyone, but is that not the richness of the human condition? The fact we all like different things. This Porsche 911 from Rindt might upset people who wear Porsche-branded jackets without a hint of irony, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive.

Subject to a full nut and bolt restoration, this Ruby Stone stunner is in essence a brand new car, complete with modern day technology. The shell has been lovingly restored, the interior re-trimmed and the whole thing sits on a stunning set of staggered, deep-dish wheels. Power comes from twin electric motors, delivered, naturally, to the rear wheels. But here’s where things get interesting – this Porsche 911 might be electric, but it retains the manual transmission. This is key, as it means that despite its silent running, it still offers that feel of engagement. It’s still, ostensibly, a Porsche 911 for the driver.

And that extends to the look of the car. There is no exhaust, obviously. But that’s about the only visual hint that what lies beneath is so different. The suspension is fully adjustable, for example, and is controlled electrically. But via a drop-down, hidden panel. That iconic dash still has the familiar gauges, but with a different source for their required information. Sit in it, feel it, engage with it, it’s still a 911.

We applaud this car. It’s a great display of what can be done when meshing modern technology with a classic design. And isn’t that something classic cars have embraced for decades in the guise of hot rods, customs and so on? This isn’t a sweeping proposal for every classic car, this is an expression of design and passion. It’s not an affront, it’s not out to cause offence and it’s not telling you how to live your life. It’s just an idea that has come to outstanding fruition. And fundamentally, nobody is forcing anyone to buy it. There are still thousands of flat-six examples out there.