In the first years of the air-cooled 911, the rear-engined sports car was offered with a 2.0-liter boxer that developed just over 200 horsepower in the most potent specification available at the time. The Neunelfer from EV West can do better than that, though, all thanks to a Tesla-sourced electric motor with around 400 kW on tap.
That figure converts to 536 horsepower, which is pretty ludicrous for a car that tips the scales at 2,400 pounds (1,090 kilograms). Finished in Irish Green over black leather and carbon-fiber dashboard trim, the electric restomod before your eyes also features a bolt-in Tesla subframe and two battery packs that total 32 kWh.
EV West estimates the range at 140 to 150 miles (241 kilometers), which isn’t half bad when you think about it. Remember the RBW EV Roadster we’ve talked about a few days ago? The MGB-inspired electric sports car tops 160 miles (260 kilometers) from 34.5 kWh or 200 miles (320 kilometers) from a larger battery pack.
Recently raffled through Omaze to benefit the Petersen Automotive Museum, the one-of-a-kind Neunelfer is a short-wheelbase model that demands respect from the driver in the twisties. Off the line, the instant torque and skinny tires can easily translate to plenty of wheel spin and a smoke cloud.
The San Marcos, California-based company has also preserved the rear bias of the 911 because 45 percent of the weight is up front thanks to 16 kWh of batteries hiding in the frunk while the remaining 55 percent hangs over the rear axle. “It actually helps the car hook up a little better,” said Michael Bream, the owner of the “gas to electric vehicle conversions” workshop.
EV West offers a Tesla Model S drive unit starter kit at $11,900 as well as a Porsche 911 EV conversion kit at $11,594 including the regenerative braking system. According to head honcho Michael, “customers are spending around $35,000 for all the parts, batteries, and such" to convert the 911 into an EV.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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