For Sale on eBay: A Pure Electric Ford Bronco Classsic
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Gateway Bronco, based in Hamel, Ill., specializes in Ford Bronco - opens in new window or tab. restomods. The outfit transforms classic Broncos by adding a new growling Coyote V-8 engine and all kinds of modern comforts—from Italian leather seats to Apple CarPlay - opens in new window or tab.. But now, in a high-tech twist, Gateway Bronco - opens in new window or tab. is offering its restored beauties with a new option: a purely electric powertrain.
It's not cheap. A luxury Bronco EV is available on eBay is offered with a starting bid of $250,000. The price reflects that only five will be built—each one with customized high-end features.
Seth Burgett, CEO of Gateway, told us how the electric Broncos came to be:
We got a call from a client who said he was feeling guilty about the prospect of driving around with a big V-8 under the hood. He wanted to know if we could shift the build to all-electric four-wheel drive with a smaller carbon footprint. We said sure, and now we have five of them in production.
A rendering of the electric Bronco.
The shift to electric won't reduce the power. Gateway produces five-liter, 460-horsepower Coyote Broncos with 10-speed automatics. The motor gives 400 horsepower—but with a huge advantage in instant torque. In a drag race, the electric version would probably win.
Burgett says the batteries are in the engine bay, in the area formerly occupied by the fuel tank, and under the rear seat. They yield a 200-mile range on a single charge. Electric GT, based in Huntington Beach, Calif., supplied the motor, battery, and engineering.
eBay bidders are vying for a car that’s still under construction. Burgett said the winner could choose from a long list of options. Here's a gallery of what your electric Bronco could look like:
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Electric Broncos and other Classic EVs
Conversions are becoming a small craze, with many using Tesla systems. Johnny Cash’s 1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow - opens in new window or tab. was always quiet, but now it’s even quieter—with Tesla power and a 200-mile range. Converted from a brand-new Model S by SHIFT EV, it pulled in Tesla’s ABS, traction and stability control, air conditioning, and even the center stack—mounted in the trunk to preserve the old stallion’s vintage leather and wood ambiance.
Meanwhile, EV West builds conversion kits - opens in new window or tab. for the VW Karmann Ghia, Beetle and Microbus, Porsche 356 Speedster (mostly likely the kit versions), 912 and 914, and the Toyota MR2.
EV West’s Michael Bream says that rear-engine VWs and Porsches are among the most straightforward cars to convert. The rear-mounted engines are easily removed. There’s no cooling system to work around. BMW 2002s are also popular for conversions, as are Mazda Miatas.
Another Classic EV Conversion on eBay
If a six-figure custom electric Bronco don’t match your budget, consider the Tesla-powered 1969 VW Westfalia Edition bubble-top camper on eBay. Current bidding is at $17,000.
This VW camper has Tesla power and 65 to 85 miles cruising range.
This one was restored in 2017 by Vdub Classics - opens in new window or tab. in Ventura, Calif. The company used an EV West kit and eight Tesla battery modules (yielding 24 kilowatt-hours). Besides having way more power than the bus’s original flat four, it has a backup camera, regenerative braking, and electric reverse.
The flavor of the classic VW camper is retained, with a modern drivetrain.
Plus, you get the VW’s original features, including an ice chest and a sleeping loft in the bubble top. The range is up to 85 miles per charge, depending on driving conditions.
The only demerits on this low-mileage bus are a few scratches and a little rust. Plus, the icebox door is cracked.
Of course, if you’re ready to go electric, you can buy one of Tesla's models. eBay has a whole gallery of them - opens in new window or tab.. And if Broncos are your thing (regardless of powertrain), then read: New Ford Bronco vs. Early Broncos: What You Should Know - opens in new window or tab..
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