Amazing Project: Jaguar Mark V With Tesla Power
A 70 year-old Jaguar Mark V with a Tesla motor is a green machine that all kinds of gearheads should love.
Last month, we learned that Jaguar is aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, and as our friends at Motor Authority have reported, the company could be an all-electric brand in as little as four years. That news obviously kicked off a huge discussion here on the forum, as it will mark the end of a spectacular run, during which Coventry managed to release some of the most beautiful machines to ever grace the roadways of the world.
Now, as I’ve said here ad nauseam, I’m a big fan of lumps. And while that term has traditionally implied the presence of a different internal combustion mill, I’m also enamored with vehicles like the electric Jaguar XK120 from Lunaz Design, and the E-Type Zero concept. Because it’s obvious — at least to me — that the world would be a far more beautiful place if the roads were filled retrofitted golden-era British iron, instead of vehicles seemingly designed to look hideous.
So I about lost it when I saw that YouTube star SuperfastMatt picked up a 1950 Jaguar Mark V, with the intention of swapping in a Tesla motor.
It’s an ambitious project to be sure. But with projects like a CBR 1000 RR-powered Honda S600 already under his belt, and what sounds to be engineering knowhow in spades, it seems Matt is more than up to the task. As a confirmed car dork who follows far too many builds on YouTube, I can’t wait to see how this progresses.
As you might be able to tell from the pictures, the car in question spent the better part of three decades sitting. Fortunately, it did a lot of that sitting in a metal building, and not out in the elements. Since it’s also a California car, there don’t appear to be any significant rust issues, which means that our hero shouldn’t have to spent to much time on structural repairs. That’s not to say there’s a shortage of work to be done, however, as most of the interior looks ready to disintegrate, even if the dash has held up fairly well.
If you’re as curious as I am about this project, you’ll be pleased to learn that this is just the first video documenting the transformation, and there are a few more episodes already in the can. I wouldn’t recommend skipping ahead, however, as it gives a good overview of the build, along with an interesting explanation of why 50/50 weight balance isn’t ideal for a vehicle.
Since that figure is something that many folks tend to regard as gospel truth, Matt’s sober, engineer’s take on it was pretty enlightening.
So check out the video below, and let me know what you think about the project. As I said above, I’m thrilled about the drivetrain swap, though I will express I have mixed feelings about the American hot rod-style custom work Matt is considering for the bodywork. Part of me thinks it could look awesome, but this body is so clean I kind of hate to think about it being hacked up. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens!
Photos: YouTube