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ELECTRIC AVENUE: Fueling the trends of the new collector car
June 24, 2021
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by Eric Becker
The 2022 GMC HUMMER EV Edition 1, the world’s first all-electric “supertruck,” made history, becoming the first electric charity car sold by Barrett-Jackson and bringing in an incredible $2.5 million for charity at the 2021 Scottsdale Auction.
There’s no denying that electrified Resto-Mods are gaining in popularity. Restorations where the oily mechanical bits give way to transistors and lithium ions are becoming more common in the collector car hobby. The rise of the electric powertrain has leant itself to more than just the savvy commuter car. The instantaneous torque and uproarious straight-line speed have been noted by performance fiends everywhere.
This 1978 Ferrari 308 GTS converted to electric power sold for $84,700 at the 2018 Scottsdale Auction.
But many of us aren’t ready to part with our reciprocating combustion engines just yet. For some, no matter how ludicrous the speed, the sci-fi sounds and whirs of an electric motor still can’t replicate the old-guard appeal of a shouty, rumbling, well-tuned fuel burner. As the electric tipping point nears, the collector car hobby has entered a period of change. Classic sheet metal stuffed with capacitors, batteries and coils furthers advancement in hot-rod engineering and helps to preserve the styling, a piece of art and design history people wish to celebrate.
The desire to meld timeless aesthetics and charm of the original car with the technology we just can’t do without is the founding principle of the current Resto-Mod momentum. Even with electrified vehicles, there is still a proper sense of occasion rendered here – just using the medium of electricity and powertrain of the future.
The all-electric drivetrain in the Ferrari 308 that sold at the 2018 Scottsdale event consists of three HPEVS AC-51 motors in a V8 configuration.
Electrification trickling its way across the stage is nothing new. Several electrified Resto-Mods have crossed the Barrett-Jackson auction block – an electric-powered Ferrari 308 that sold at the 2018 Scottsdale Auction springs to mind, as does a 1965 Volkswagen Beetle convertible from the 2021 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction and a 1971 Chevrolet C10 that crossed the block at the 2021 Las Vegas event. Fully charged and fueled by premium electrons, these iconic machines now get a second wind, a chance to take to the open road with newly infused electric vigor.
Beyond Resto-Mods, the world of the hypercar is abuzz with dozens of electric concepts promising well over 1,000 horsepower and enough torque to make your soul smile. Shall we deploy some interesting numbers? If you want to know how far the electric car has come in the in last decade, consider the original 2010-12 Tesla Roadster.
It may look like a classic VW, but this Beetle that sold at the 2021 Scottsdale Auction is electric-powered.
The Lotus Elise-based sportscar boasted a peak output of 288 horsepower, 295 ft/lbs of torque, a 0-60 sprint of 3.6 seconds and a range of 244 miles. No slouch by any means, but compared with Lotus’ new 2,000-horsepower Evija hypercar, those numbers seem laughable. It is in essence Moore’s Law in automotive form, the rate of innovation and technology in electric powertrains is booming at such a rate that Tesla’s entry-level Model Y crossover boasts superior performance to their once flagship sports car.
That same electric performance has entered America’s most beloved segment of the automobile, the pickup truck. From well-funded startups to established manufacturers, there is a plethora of electric pickup trucks slated to hit the market in the coming years.
2021 Scottsdale Auction-goers were surprised to find a LegacyEV Hyper9 electric motor capable of 120hp and 173 ft/lbs of torque under the hood of the 1965 VW Beetle.
Tesla’s Sci-Fi inspired Cybertruck made waves when it was revealed, Ford recently confirmed the return of the beloved F-150 Lightning and GMC resurrected the Hummer with a new 1,000-horsepower electric version, the very first of which sold at the 2021 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction. The world’s first all-electric “supertruck” made history, becoming the first electric charity car sold by Barrett-Jackson and bringing in an incredible $2.5 million for charity. The Hummer boasts the most literal form of 4-wheel drive, with each wheel being driven by its own motor, and can rocket to 60 mph in approximately 3 seconds.
The race is on between the established automakers and startups for who will be first to market. No matter who wins the electric truck race, we as consumers take home the top prize.
The move toward electric vehicles in the performance space and customization scene won’t happen overnight. Rather, it will grow in fits and spurts, eventually becoming more and more established as a reasonable alternative rather than a perceived esoteric option.