Ford now has a crate electrical motor system a la GM’s eCrate. Dubbed Eluminator, it’s meant for customizers who, for no matter motive, wish to construct round batteries somewhat than old style carbon smoothies. We do the identical factor you do when such issues are introduced: interact in flights of fancy. The dialog often begins with “What Ford might we put this in?” adopted by “What non-Ford merchandise acquired Ford engines, anyway?” and eventually “Why am I looking for salvage-title Econolines?” (OK, that final one may simply be Byron).
In contrast to GM’s eCrate system, which was basically designed to be dropped into wherever you may usually shove a small block, Ford’s first Eluminator providing is geared towards transverse functions. This often means front- or all-wheel drive, which is smart as a result of it was derived from the packaging in its Mustang Mach-E crossover. However as Ford identified with its 1978 F-100 SEMA construct, you do not really want to fret about foolish little issues like driveline orientation if cash is not any object, as is the case for our imaginations.
That is the great distance round to saying most of those most likely aren’t even remotely doable for a shade-tree DIYer, however that will not cease us from dreaming.
Ford Pinto
As a toddler, I used to be fascinated by the Pinto largely due to the horror tales. My mother described the automotive’s notoriety, and seeing one within the Albertson’s parking zone would elicit in me a macabre curiosity. So eradicating the troublesome gasoline system and changing it with an Eluminator electrical powertrain might rework it from a Molotov cocktail on wheels right into a 241-horsepower (or extra) buying cart. Decide your poison. I select the latter.
As for precisely which Pinto type to decide on, I’d take Jeremy Korzeniewski’s suggestion, and use the Pinto Cruising Wagon because the canvas for this restomod. There can be extra room for batteries than the sedan/hatchback, plus, simply take a look at it. — Senior Editor, Inexperienced, John Beltz-Snyder
1969-70 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
I’m not advocating really changing a Cougar Eliminator to electrical, however it’s included right here as a result of Eliminator/Eluminator. When Ford coined the Eluminator identify, this was most likely the inspiration. (This or a 1933 Ford Coupe hotrod owned by ZZ High’s Billy Gibbons.)
These sizzling Cougars are uncommon (fewer than 5,000 complete for the 2 mannequin years). Some had the Boss 302 engine, some had the 428 Cobra Jet or Tremendous Cobra Jet. Values can strategy $100,000 at this time, in accordance with Hagerty. So electrifying one in every of these can be a daring transfer, however as an alternative you may use a lesser Cougar to construct an Eluminator Eliminator clone. The SCJ model had one thing like 355 hp and 440 pound-feet of torque, so 480 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. like within the dual-motor Mach-E GT can be the last word Eliminator. Although one motor can be lots. You should definitely put aside some electrical energy to function the super-cool hidden headlights and sequential flip indicators. — Managing Editor Greg Rasa
1970-1971 Ford Ranchero
Now we’re talkin’. The Chevy El Camino could also be extra memorable, however simply check out the Ford Ranchero Squire above and inform me it isn’t wonderful? The sharp entrance, the sunshine Coke-bottle curves down the bodysides, the barely-there pillars for the passenger compartment — it is good. And that does not even embody the true showstopper: fake wood-grained paneling. This factor screams ’70s type, and I determine the mattress affords loads of room for no matter batteries could not be match underneath the lengthy hood.
Now, really becoming the powertrain right into a Ranchero might not be the best job on the planet. Ford’s Eluminator is supposed for a transverse mounting, in any case. However I determine perhaps there’s a technique to make an entire one-piece unit out of the package that replaces your entire rear axle. Or perhaps a whole entrance cradle could possibly be swapped in to make this sucker front-wheel drive. Anyway, these are matters for one more dialogue; we’re simply selecting platforms right here for enjoyable, and I am sticking with the Ranchero Squire. — Shopper Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski
2000-2006 Lincoln LS
I believe the Lincoln LS is a bizarre and underappreciated automotive. Shopper Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski agrees, at the very least with the primary half, stating that it may need been better-appreciated had they not developed a status for imploding after about 50,000 miles, setting homeowners up with enormous post-warranty repair payments. Positive, I imply, in case you care about that form of factor…
The excellent news is, swapping in an electrical powertrain would remove many of the rear-wheel-drive, Jaguar-based Lincoln’s costly bother spots. The LS was a midsize, so there’s extra room for batteries right here than in a few of Ford’s sportier RWD choices. Plus, it wasn’t a lot of a corner-carver to start with, so you will not have to fret about dulling its manufacturing unit reflexes, however you continue to get one thing with a smaller footprint than a Panther-based Ford, Lincoln or Mercury. — Affiliate Editor Byron Hurd
1960-63 Ford Falcon
I’ve all the time been a fan of the Ford Falcon. It embodies the perfect parts of the early Nineteen Sixties Jet Age design and is one in every of Ford’s underrated vehicles, caught between the fins of the ‘50s and the pony-car eras. That’s a disgrace. Whereas the unique Falcon supplied two straight sixes and a modest V8 (260 cubic inches), electrifying the Falcon would make one of many authentic compact vehicles aggressive with a number of the strapping Mustangs to come back. The Falcon was comparatively mild and shorter than the Mach-E. Utilizing trendy Mustang electrical energy may really be a bit a lot, however operating the crate motor (281 hp, 317 lb-ft) can be spot on. — Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore
1972-1976 Ford Courier
The Ford Courier ticks a stunning quantity of packing containers for me as an electric vehicle conversion. It has a household connection, as my dad had a Courier as his first automotive that he drove by faculty. He was actually keen on the little factor, and drove it until it rusted by. And, as a fan of Mazdas, it is interesting to me since it’s actually a badge-engineered Mazda, identical to the Chevy LUV was a badge-engineered Isuzu, and the Dodge D50 was a Mitsubishi. It is also a good-looking little pickup by itself. As an EV conversion, a truck makes lots of sense, too, since it could deal with the heavy weight of batteries, and there is loads of room at both finish to suit the motor and stated batteries, even in a small mannequin. And at last, 281 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque can be hilarious in such a small truck. — Information Editor Joel Stocksdale
Ford Escort Mk II rally automotive
Possibly it’s as a result of I’ve been taking part in an excessive amount of “WRC 9″ as of late, however I certain might go for an electrical Ford Escort Mk II rally construct. The Excessive E rally sequence is already proving that electrical rallying can work, and the Escort is undoubtedly my Ford steed of selection for such a mission.
Slapping the Mach-E electrical motor onto the rear axle of an outdated Escort sounds a bit scary at first, however weighed down with batteries in every single place else, the power-to-weight ratio may find yourself being simply the correct amount of diabolical. A single-motor setup rated at 281 horsepower from Ford would nearly match what the little Cosworth engines have been able to outputting again of their heyday, so this might come close to to or match the efficiency of probably the most potent Escort rally vehicles.
A small, comparatively light-weight and fairly inexpensive EV is strictly what I’ve been craving from the market, too. Mini will get shut with the SE, with its fundamental faults being the inherent front-drive structure and its restricted vary. It’s possible you’ll be fearful about vary with how small the Escort is (I do know, it gained’t match a ton of batteries), however it’ll solely must traverse a rally stage at a time. Simply plug it in afterward. The small, two-door, rear-drive Escort checks all my packing containers for enjoyable, cute and sporty. — Street Take a look at Editor Zac Palmer
1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V Collector’s Sequence
I actually desire a land yacht private luxury car with an electrical motor instead of no matter 112-horsepower 9.3-liter V8 it initially had. And never only for the needs of this train. I imply, I really need one, and the one factor holding me again is the dearth of cash. My lack of sanity is all for it. Particularly, I desire a Lincoln Continental Mark V, and if we’re actually getting granular (trigger why not), I desire a Collector’s Sequence from 1979 painted in Midnight Blue. Identical to the one I noticed at Portland Cars & Coffee once, or the one up there on the Citadel Antiques retailer. Wait, is that Tom Selleck shopping for a knight helmet? Trigger I am fairly certain it is a younger Tom Selleck shopping for a knight helmet. — Senior Editor, Land Yachts, James Riswick
