Some would call it sacrilege; re-engineering classic cars to run on electricity. Others would call it a waste of time and resources. But Lunaz would call it the future — and we’d be inclined to agree.
Headquartered in the motorsport mecca of Silverstone, Lunaz first powered up in 2018, founded by avid classic car collector David Lorenz. Since then, the EV brand has led the charge in restored classics, with David Beckham recently announced as the start-up’s latest investor.
Yet still, there are those who don’t agree with the business plan. Stripping the original engines from vintage cars grinds the gears of some motorists. But Lunaz isn’t letting up. Now with almost ten different models available, those with minds open enough and pockets deep enough (prices start at a planet-saving, wallet-draining £350,000) are in for quite a ride.
The cars are resurrected using a very specific, tried-and-tested restoration process. Firstly, the donor car is inspected. Whether it’s a Range Rover or a Rolls-Royce, engineers scour everything from the chassis to the suspension to get a general feel for the vehicle. Only then do they kick off the clean-power conversion by removing the internal combustion engine.
And this is where the tech takes over. Under the supervision of Lunaz’s Technical Director — triple F1 World Championship winning Jon Hilton — the car is 3D scanned, stripped down and rebuilt from the ground up.
Uprated brakes are installed, along with power-steering and tuned suspension. The in-house electric powertrain, along with its battery chargers and DC converters, is sensitively built into the existing design.
Things are even modernised inside the cabin; with WiFi, Apple Car Play and a satellite navigation system all delicately integrated into the dash. Then, after a buff, polish — and a charge, these age-old motors are ready to ride again.
And what motors they are. If you’re a Bentley man, you can opt for either a Continental Coupé or the four-door ‘Flying Spur’. For Jaguar enthusiasts, there are XK120, XK140 and XK150 models on offer. For real luxury, Lunaz can whip you up a clean-running Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. Or, for the off-roaders, a Classic Range Rover.
But, for us, the best option is surely one of the first developed by the brand; the 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V pictured throughout this article. With its iconic silhouette and newly silent ride, David Lorenz’s initial foray into the industry has given new power to the sparkling legacy of a simply extraordinary car.
The future, then — as far as Lunaz is concerned — belongs to the past. But, with lines this sweeping and designs this enduring, we’re just glad the British brand is bringing these electrifying motors back to life.
More into updated models? From the Defender to the Mini, here’s how to successfully reinvent a classic car…
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