Converting a classic Porsche to electric is sacrilege. But then again…

The famed 356 has been brought bang up to date with battery power. But might electrification be the saviour of historic cars?

What makes a classic car enjoyable? Is it merely its significance, whether historic or personal? Or is it the way it looks, drives and sounds? No doubt anyone who owns an old car will be quick to respond, but such questions assume a much greater significance when a car such as Electrogenic's Porsche 356 is involved.

The Oxfordshire-based company specialises in electrifying classics, replacing their original internal combustion engines with electric motors. But there's more to it than that, such as adapting the new technology to suit the spirit of the original machine, or otherwise the customer's wishes.

In this case, a 1964 Porsche 356C had its original 1.6-litre air-cooled flat-four petrol engine replaced with an electric motor capable of producing 80kW of power, or 120bhp. The conversion is discreet in that the car's distinctive appearance has been entirely preserved inside and out. Rather strikingly, the original four-speed manual gearbox has also been maintained, and it has been connected to the electric motor so it changes "gears" with the lever it was fitted with all those years ago.

The adaptation may be enough to make many classics enthusiasts wince but with this conversion Electrogenic has, more than anything else, made me question what exactly makes an older car so special.

The first time I drove a classic, I had the pleasure of getting behind the wheel of a fabulous 1964 MGB Roadster. At the time, the roar of an old-fashioned combustion engine felt like one of the most memorable markers of the classic drive. It allied perfectly with the analogue nature of the drive which unforgivingly forces the driver to engage with the mechanical parts at all times, with little room for mistakes.

So you would be forgiven for presuming – as I did – that removing the Porsche 356's original engine would strip away its soul, along with any joy it brings. But I was proven wrong, at least in part.

Firstly, this 356 retains its visual glory by remaining unrecognisable in a line-up of originals with petrol engines, apart from the branded window sticker. From the outside there is not a single clue to betray the modifications under the skin; the iconic rounded lines which define Porsche's DNA feel respectfully preserved. In short, it means this car is still just as striking on the road today as the day it came out of the factory in Gmünd, Austria.

Even the original exhaust outlets remain, despite serving no practical purpose, because they are part of the larger rear bumper assembly and removing them would alter the original profile.

The same thinking was applied to the interior. I was happy to discover that the analogue nature of all the dials and switches is still present and working. The fuel gauge, for example, is unchanged but now measures the level of charge in the battery rather than fuel remaining in the tank. The one alteration to the interior is the old heating control knob, which sits below the gear lever, now selects neutral, drive and reverse but otherwise looks the same.

The only signs of modernity come when you pop the boot (being based on a VW Beetle, the engine was at the back, remember) to reveal the electric motor under a clear housing (as per the customer's request) where the old engine used to be; and under the bonnet, where one of the battery packs has been fitted alongside the spare wheel. There is another battery pack tucked away behind the rear seats.

Cleverly, even the charging port for the 36kWh batteries, which should be good for 140 miles, fits seamlessly under the original fuel filler flap for an eye-pleasing integration.

Keeping the modern upgrades from visually intruding is not just important for those who concern themselves with appearances. As I discovered, its purpose is to set the best possible stage for an immersive driving experience, which Electrogenic has managed to create.

Thanks to the instant torque of the electric motor, this 356 now has far more urge than it ever would originally. You can put the power down to the rear wheels off the line, but rather than delivering it in a dull and linear way, it forces you to engage by changing gears via the clutch pedal and gear lever, up and down the four-speed manual gearbox.

From first gear, just like any old-fashioned combustion engine, there's plenty of torque which quickly maxes out at the red line and you’ll soon find yourself reaching for second and third as the car picks up speed. The steering is not power assisted, which means it feels heavy and will give you a proper workout when you negotiate bends – all in the interests of driver pleasure, naturally.

All of this gives this Porsche a level of involvement many would deem impossible on an electric car. You can bolt it down a straight, slam on the brakes, stick it into second and commit to the curve as the side forces push your body into the door. Naturally, the electric motor will never stall if revs fall all the way down, nor will it explode if the red line is abused (though I must admit I did not try this), but there is still a constant interaction with the driver.

Of course, classic enthusiasts would maintain that the sound of a roaring engine behind you is key to the experience, particularly when it's time to turn the key to bring it to life. But this electrified conversion is by no stretch of the imagination a sanitised experience. The electric motor produces a powerful whirring as it picks up speed, which is accompanied by the wind noise as the car punches a hole through the air and the crackle of tiny stones hitting the undercarriage. While it is not the symphony many of us know and love, it is strangely fitting.

The original 356 was fitted with disc brakes for much-improved stopping ability compared with drums, but Electrogenic has improved them to give drivers extra confidence to use more of the available power. Brilliantly, regenerative braking has been omitted in this particular model, meaning the motor will not aggressively slow the car once the accelerator has been lifted, thus making one-pedal driving impossible unlike with most EVs.

The costs of such a conversion usually varies between £30,000 and £50,000 depending on the exact car that's being converted, what sort of extra modifications and add-ons are ordered as well as the battery capacity.

Purists will argue it is sacrilege to strip this authentic, matching-numbers Porsche 356C of its original, fully-working engine and replace it with an electric motor. But as Electrogenic keenly points out, the process is fully reversible – although none of its customers has chosen to do so to date.

After trying this conversion, it became clear that a great deal of work had been done to retain as much of the original experience as possible without the internal combustion engine and the fuel tank.

Choosing to go down the path of an electric conversion means effectively trading some of the car's original experience for a greater degree of usability and access

As owners of classics will be acutely aware, an ageing car requires constant maintenance and due care. Indeed, that might very well be some people's favourite part of owning an old car, but the reality is that you may often spend more time fixing something than enjoying it on the road.

Fewer mechanical parts and ageing components should in theory mean that maintenance on a converted classic is nowhere near the concern it would be on an original.

It also makes them far easier to live with and use day-to-day. There's no warm-up period, for example, and plenty of power to keep up with modern cars. Because it's electric, this 356C is also civilised around town, where many petrol-powered classics can be recalcitrant.

The unstoppable march of time means we are destined to see fewer classic cars on the roads either way. Younger generations tend to choose cars which are easier and simpler to drive, and increasingly lose interest in what's underneath the bonnet. If electric conversions of classic cars become easier and cheaper to maintain and live with, it might mean more stay on the road.

In the end, the debate boils down to a simple question: keep a car original, or keep it on the road? I know what I prefer.

electrogenic.co.uk

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