EV Conversion Gives 1960 Euro Coupe Modern Curb Appeal
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Electric cars are nothing new. Battery-powered vehicles date back to the dawn of the automotive era. EV fans have been putting together shade-tree battery conversions of gasoline vehicles for decades. Of course, some of these green-tinted drivers are more interesting than others, especially when they take the shape of a classic like this 1960 Auto Union 1000S - opens in new window or tab..
That plate doesn’t lie. This classic has been given a full electric conversion.
The 1000S itself is a rare bird, never mind the decision to replace its internal combustion engine with electric propulsion. The cute Euro coupe was built in great numbers on the other side of the Atlantic but relatively few made the long journey by boat to the United States before production ceased in 1963. With a pillar-less hardtop design and classic front proportions, the Auto Union 1000s was motivated by a three-cylinder engine—two-stroke, no less—that produced 44 horsepower and lots of early motoring smells.
The 21.5 kilowatt-hour battery pack provides about 75 miles of driving range.
If any car could benefit from an electric upgrade, it’s the 1000S, whose attractive body work deserves a power plant that can keep things equally interesting when behind the wheel. Enter Azure Dynamics, a company once at the forefront of battery-powered drivetrain development. Azure worked with Ford to build a limited run of electric variants of Transit Connect delivery vans. Unfortunately, by 2012, the company was swept into bankruptcy by more nimble tech operators, most notably Tesla.
The Auto Union coupe is a looker from every angle.
As part of the body-off restoration given to the Auto Union coupe for sale in this listing, the owner outfitted the vehicle with an Azure Dynamics three-phase AC24 motor. Paired with a DMOC445 controller, this boosts the 1000S to roughly 55 horsepower and a whopping 282 pound-feet of torque. EVs are known for very zippy acceleration from zero. A regenerative braking system is also employed in the 1000S to help keep the car's 21.5 kilowatt-hour lithium battery pack topped up, but when you need to plug in it does offer a dual-charger—which should fully charge the car overnight. With a fully charged battery, you're looking at close to 75 miles of driving range.
The past meets the future inside the 1000S cockpit.
Although the car retains its original four-speed manual transmission (with an electric reverse), the heating system has been upgraded to hot water / forced air, and an LCD screen has been installed to keep passengers apprised of the vehicle's charge level and energy consumption. A full interior refresh and outside repaint have the Auto Union looking brand new (albeit switched from its original black to an Ascot Grey hue).
One of the best parts of owning a unique classic car like this Auto Union 1000S - opens in new window or tab. is rolling up to your local cruise night in something no one else in the parking lot is driving—or for that matter, may have ever seen before. Multiply that by a factor of 10 with this no-expense-spared zero-emissions EV conversion, and you’re virtually guaranteed to turn more heads than the most exotic metal parked beside you.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.