OLD DOG NEW ELECTRICS

The engineers at EV restomodders Everrati have got their hands on a Land Rover. Goodbye to another classic, then?

- SAM BURNETT

It sometimes seems these days like everyone out there is snapping up classics like dogs from rescue shelters in order to spiff them up and shoehorn in electric motors. There's a template - you start with an old car that could do with a new lease of life and you squeeze in a powertrain scavenged from deep in the sad entrails of a written off Tesla. Congratulations, you've formed a car company.

If you're trying to build up a serious business you'll use a B-list classic, because people are less likely to be a upset about it being chopped up. If you're really serious then you'll develop your own powertrain and find a reliable source of batteries, maybe even find yourself a few engineers from established carmakers to help the cars go down the road properly. Which is what Everrati has set about doing with aplomb.

You'll know the Oxfordshire firm, which was started in 2019 by Justin Lunny and Nick Williams, for its 911 upgrade. The Porsche was an easy first choice because everyone is doing them and there's a solid market, but also because there's quite a difference between how people see different models. The company insists it only chops up 964 Tiptronics, the Ringo of the 911 line-up.

But can you imagine being a fly on the wall in the office discussions when they're trying to decide what car to go after next? There needs to be a decent supply of them at the right price, they need to be reasonably well loved and they need to have an unremarkable engine that no one will miss.