Classic cars brought back to life in an electric era

Car manufacturers have begun to take notice of the “classic meets electric” craze and are bringing back electric versions of historical classics. Volkswagen recently announced that they will be begin production of an updated version of their legendary VW campervan, the ID Buzz, in 2022. The ID Buzz is an all-electric, autonomous-capable throwback to the most iconic vehicle of the 60’s.

So, what does the future have in store for some of our classic cars? The team at WhoCanFixMyCar have chosen six icons and, as you can see, given them a bit of an electrifying update…

Aston Martin DB5

The Aston Martin DB5 was dubbed “the most famous car in the world” during the 1964 New York World’s Fair – and we tend to agree. Known for being James Bond’s preferred set of wheels, the DB5 has a place in the heart of motoring enthusiasts around the world.

Our concept image of an electric-powered DB5 above is making it way through the English countryside, somewhere it feels right at home. The iconic shape of the car has been maintained but electric styling has been added, such as the circular headlights, wing cameras that project a video of the side of the car into the cockpit and futuristic spoke alloy wheels.

Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic

Created by Jean Bugatti, the son of the company’s founder Ettore, the Type 57 is instantly recognisable to car fans around the world. In 2018, the car won the prestigious Peninsula Classics Best of the Best award and one version of only four versions to exist is famously owned by Ralph Lauren.

On our Type 57 e concept, we’ve added distinctive wheel arches independent from the rest of the body of the car as a throwback to the original Atlantic. The cabin is made out of curved glass to give the occupants a panoramic view while maintaining the distinctive curved roof of the previous generation. We think it wouldn’t look out of place in a Batman movie,

Jaguar E-Type

Ranked by many as the finest classic car of them all, the Jaguar E-Type was produced between 1961 and 1975. The car has since established itself as an icon of the motoring world due to a combination of its high performance, beauty and affordable pricing. Even Enzo Ferrari was impressed, calling it the “most beautiful car ever made”. It has long been rumoured that Jaguar would release an electric version of the E-Type, however it has so far not materialised.

In our concept image showing an electric version of the E-Type, the classic long front end has been maintained while we’ve added a wraparound glass cabin to update the car for the modern era. Distinctive, sharp wheel arches have replaced the previous arching and now house updated classical Jaguar spoke wheels.

Lamborghini Miura P400 SV

Famously appearing in the opening scene of heist film ‘The Italian Job’ to the background music of Matt Monro “On Days Like These” the Lamborghini Miura is a cultural icon of its time. It was the first supercar in history to opt for the now typical rear-engined two-seat layout, the standard for supercars in the modern era.

As you can see from our render above, an updated, electric version of the Miura would be a welcome site on the roads of Italy and the rest of the world. The striking circular headlights have been kept on the car as a throwback to a bygone era, and the car has been lowered to match current trends in the supercar category. The front grille has been removed to create a sharper, more modern aesthetic.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

Only 1,400 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing’s were ever built, adding to their prestige and desirability. The car is based on the highly successful race car, the 1952 W194, and was the first production vehicle to feature a direct fuel-injection engine. This led to the car’s nickname “the racecar of the street”. Celebrities such as Pablo Picasso, Jan Manuel Fangio and Paul Newman all owned a 300 SL Gullwing.

Our electric version of the 300 SL Gullwing includes an illuminated Mercedes-Benz badge in its grille. The famous gullwing doors have been kept as they are still considered to be a futuristic design to this day. Updated side vents have been added to the sides of the car, which now cool the electric motor, oil and air conditioning rather than a petrol-powered engine.

Shelby Cobra

Developed by famous American car engineer Carroll Shelby in 1961, the Shelby Cobra is one of the most iconic cars to come off any production line in history. The very first Cobra ever built, used as Shelby’s personal car and prototype, sold in 2016 for $13.75m. It is the most expensive American car ever sold.

Keeping the iconic, chunky Goodyear tyres and the famous racing stripes down the middle of the car, our render above shows what a modern electrified Shelby Cobra could look like. The Cobra now features a roll bar over both seats, rather than just the drivers side. We’ve also added small vents on the side of the car as a