A Classic Mini Electric Adventure // Jonny Smith
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- Опубликовано: 9 мар 2020
- The Mini is as classic a British icon as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bowie, beans on toast, saying the word bloody and Yorkshire puddings. This is a new take on the Austin Mini of old, using new electric tech for zero emission classic car ownership. The Swind-E Classic - swind.life/products/e-classic/ - can be based on any Mini you want (old Countryman, Clubman, Cooper or just an early 1980s City like this) and then full restored to incorporate a 24kWh lithium-ion battery pack under the transmission tunnel, an 80kw electric motor under the bonnet and range for over 125 miles. It is better balanced, lower centre gravity and has more boot space than the Alec Issigonis original.
The Mini was made in Longbridge and the current Mini is made in Cowley, but the Swind-E is reimagined in Swindon, alongside hyper e-bikes, BTCC (British Touring Car) engines and a few other boundary-pushing projects.
This is a £79,000 old Mini so it is almost three times more expensive than the Mini-E Cooper Se I test drove in the last video. The price tag will make many scoff and scarper, but it can also act as a magnet for wealthy car enthusiasts who live where combustion engines are being outlawed. Perhaps this new breed of resto-mod classic EV will draw a new breed of old car appreciation for a gang of people who like the looks, but not the hassle of classic vehicles?
•Lithium Ion 24kWh battery pack
•Brushless electric motor producing 80kw of power (equiv 110hp)
•Fully charged in 4 hours via Type 2 connector (Fast charging option available)
•Range of 125 miles (200km) with regenerative braking system
•Top speed is 80mph (130km/h)
•0 to 60mph (0-100km/h) in 9.2 seconds
•30-50mph (50- 80 km/h) acceleration time of 4.3 seconds.
•Weight 720kg (increase of 80kg from starter car)
•Improved weight distribution (57/43 compared to 68/32% of the original car)
•No petrol tank means boot space is increased to 200 litres
•Standard features include USB charging ports, underfloor heating, heated leather seats and front and rear windscreen
•Options include infotainment and sat-nav system, power steering, a full-length sliding fabric roof, air conditioning, performance tuning packs and bespoke paint colours
•Choice of six standard colours with a contrasting roof
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Filmed and edited by Mark Taylor-Hankins / inksharkman and Nick Poole
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Jonny Smith
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98
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Website: www.carpervert.com
Instagram: / jonnycarpervert
Twitter: / carpervert
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I built the world's quickest street-legal electric car: www.flux-capacitor.co.uk 
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"Maybe I like to feel vulnerable"
Really leaning into the whole Carpervert thing. I like it!
He's dodgy
👍🏻
@@djlondon7956 why?
Please cover more EV resto-mods! I find this segment both fascinating and underrepresented on RUclips.
You had me sold on this until 7:30
Yeah that's not ok. A decent donor car should cost around 8 grand and bits from a wrecked nissan leaf or something shouldn't cost more than 10-15. Labour withstanding, 79k is a lot.
Fubar
Yikes, what a shame.
Oh my. $157,000 Australian Dollarydoos. It is nicely done but... *cough*
I mean if they are going to find a car, do all the work and then give it to you. It's not supposed to be Zoe it's a classic. Seems good to me.
I love the idea of a crate motor that I can put in a car that I have built myself, that really floats my boat
An electric mini.... ‘self preservation’ society coming to fruition.
I'm all for that!
the price is a bit steep, but in 10 years time you'll be able to buy those kits really cheaply... my mk1 escort will be keeping its ICE when it eventually gets back on the road, but im more than comfortable with it going electric when it can be done by the competent DIYer within a reasonable budget... another cracking video Jonny
Spot on
The progress being made with the Lexus 450H gearbox with built in dual electric motors capable of 300BHP would be ideal for Classic RWD Fords
The kits will never be really cheap. How much is a 350 crate motor now? About $5k. Still, they're going to be far cheaper than they are now.
@@IOUaUsername they will get cheap, especially with used bits.
Absolutely, well said
Oh Joy!..what a video!..I grew up in Stratton St. Margaret, Swindon so Jonny is driving around my old stamping ground from the 1970’s.. he goes down Wanborough Hill a few times (even better on a bike)..past the Plough, The Harrow and The Brewers Arms..fave pubs..Covingham and back to Greenbridge where Swindon Powertrain are. Thanks Jonny!
It's cute how he went around each roundabout instead of just straight over them like the locals
@Lawit ygm most of them are painted onto the road
As a person from the US, saw those and what? Why ? Put a tree there.
@@frugaldiyhandyguy9295 basically a t junction with extra steps, they work well
@@frugaldiyhandyguy9295 large vehicles still need to get through, often they have to go straight over them.
Going round bumps is both fun and a good spinal defence ;)
Many classic cars are left to rot or are hardly ever used its great to get them out on the road in a practical and sustainable way. ♡ I'd love to see more.
I love the idea of it especially this would be the most reliable mini ever
But the problem and I see 79000 of them
As with all electric cars it is the cost which is very disappointing
But I do like it
The price will definitely drop in the coming years, Hopefully!
If they are planning to sell the e-axel as a drop in component, you’d hope they could do that for £10k or less. The rest seems to sourcing and restoring the car
very true... there are other companies converting classic cars- last time I looked the cheapest option was about €12k plus the car.
For 79k sourcing could be a brand new model 3 and a guy with a spanner 🤷♂️
If you see it more along the lines of a fully restored, bespoke car, you can justify the price a little more. One can hope that, with other EVs, the price will come down at least a little, as the tech becomes more ubiquitous and the company themselves get used to building more examples.
More subscribers needed!! This is now my favourite RUclips channel. Thanks Jonny, the best show you can be in is the one you make yourself.
Beautiful Mini - Swindon Powertrain have done a wonderful job, and I love to see old cars rejuvenated with EV power, especially classics including the Mini. I find it brilliantly imaginative to combine the best of the old and the new, and keep classic cars in daily use on all roads. Better for the environment and for a sense of history.
Sounds exactly like a milk float circa 1980
When I win the euromillions and live in London, I'll have this idea but a Hillman imp.
My uncle used to race one
I think this is great recycling of classic cars for use in cities. Sure we need to keep some with their original power trains for future generations to see how we got around in "the old days" and how things have changed. Best of both worlds!
Best car presenter on media tv . Good on ya Johnny , cheers 👍🏆🇬🇧
Electrifying an Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1974 would be epic!
I love the classic mini, but paying 79 grand for one, I think I'll pass :)
Indeed you can get a mint condition one for a lot less like even a cooper S for a lot less, I hope the kits become available and more affordable.
As a proof of concept, this wee Mini is an excellent thing, but yeah - as everyone else is saying, 79k means it really is a car only for the super-rich at the moment.
BUT as mentioned in the video, given a little time, and those electric trans-axle block things should come down in price, and then it makes converting a classic car into an electric one a good project for the DIY'er etc, and ESPECIALLY if they start outlawing fuel-burning engines on some congested cities, then they will be perfect for that kind of thing. :) A mean, look at the Nissan Leaf. They are bloody everywhere on the road now, so Nissan are doing something right!
That's the car I learned to drive in. Stiff clutch. Loved it. Drives like a go kart.
if it means classic from our youth can be driven and saved for the future then bring it on, just make it cheap enough for the everyman. Great video Johnny, easily enough quality and enthusiasm for the mainstream TV
I love these classic EV restos. Such a great way to keep.old cars on the road without the horrible reliability. Superb video Sir as always.
Agreed Jon, and much more environmentally friendly than crushing the old mini and manufacturing a new EV
My mate had a lime green mini back in the last 80s, one night we ended up in a farmer's field after a particularly exuberant attempt at country cornering (post pub). Class Jonny - from a Yorkshire puddin.
I had a T reg black mini clubman 1275 GT with gold alloy's,Cobra bucket seats bolted permanently to the floor, so my mates found it very hard to climb through the centre of the seats to get in the back,a fat Willy's surf shack sticker on the boot, and mud flaps so that I could look even cooler than I thought I was in my head 😎.
The handbrake turns on gravel carparks late at night in the 80's ,oh what special memories.
Another classic video by Jonny and Mark! My original Mini didn't run in the damp and grew moss in the inside window channels. I would have loved this conversion, and proper sealing up of the body joints
Loving the vids Jonny. Automotive content like this being readily available on YT is just great for us car perverts. 👍🏻
That is such a great thing! To keep our classics on the road when the government eventually bans piston engines is a brilliant and clean work around. 💪👍👍
Ive just watched this video and the new Mini e back to back, and for my money, the BMW version wins hands down. Both in looks, strength and sheer appeal.
Like you, I have never been a “mini” person, in fact Ive never owned or driven one, but the New Mini E really appeals to me. If they could get diesel mileages out of them I’’d have one tomorrow, or even a Honda E!!! Really like your format Jonny, this is what Top Gear should be doing, not fannying about in super cars nobody can afford. keep up the good work.
great review....my 1st car (1977) was a 1963 mini...sliding windows/starter button on the floor etc....still remember its reg...6937 VM ....loved it...sold it in 1980 for exactly £53 ...happy days
Great video and agree the exciting thing is the power train, plug and play development. Looking forward to the factory tour.
Great video, such a desirable Great car. Look forward to the off the shelf kits becoming available.
I think I've just fallen in love. What a great car. Britain needs to start making these, like this again.
Fantastic! The ultimate in recycling, and a car that is an absolute classic. I wish them well.
The Audi A2 would make a nice conversion for this forthcoming 'Crate', very light body, aerodynamic shape and four seats.
I love the idea of electrifying little city cars like this. They were originally designed for efficiency and low consumption in their day, this is just natural progression. I'd love an original civic or mk 1 golf.
Bloody brilliant. That mini was the same colour scheme as my first one, just that mine was a clubman. Was great to see a classic mini that had an EV heart transplant. I don't think I would actually want to own one today, but I love the fact that you can take a very british classic car and have it 're-engined' for todays (and tomorrows) EV world.
Thank you for showing us, and can't wait to see inside the factory.
A Mini city E was my first car in 2000 - I remember I used to wave at many other minis back then, just about still being sold new. I was jealous as mine was old and rusty, but I loved it ... so ... much. Would love a electric mini conversion!!
Definitely excited to see where this goes in the future. If they can get the price down to a reasonable level, the possibilities are endless.
This is great, my head is spinning with cars I could put this in!!
You and me both.
What about a Hillman Imp, would definitely suit the low slung electric motor and it already has a frunk. Loved those cars.
There were lots of Mini based kit cars that this would fit.
e-mini marcos perhaps?
that's awesome... the want is strong! Fantastic video as always Jonny! Thank you!
How much better to give continued life to "old" cars that people love than either scrapping or losing them to a museum. I want that drivetrain package for my 2006 Fiat Multipla please - 6 full size seats and a decent boot! Ditto for my daughter's Honda FRV.
Love it. I would love a GT6 Mk3 with the EV power train. Mamosa yellow I believe the colour was. My grandfather had a petrol GT6.
I think that what they are doing with the “crate electric motor system idea” is brilliant.
My first car was a Mk5 Cortina 2.3 Gaia and i loved it. If only it was bloody reliable.
This would be a great car to restore as electric.
Bring the revolution brother, I am excited for the possibilities!!
An electric Tina Ghia would be stunning!
CarPervert yes it would, unfortunately I won’t be doing it. I don’t have the spare £80k burning a hole in my pocket , bank account or anywhere else come to that. 🤷♂️💵💵💴
My husband and I have mulled over the idea of doing an EV conversion on our 1950 Pontiac Chieftain one of these days. Being able to buy a crate motor-style kit and do it ourselves would be awesome
David Browne mini with an EV Powertrain. Awesome. Looks so much fun.
That “other” channel is cool but not Jonny Smith in a Red EV Mini cool.🚗🚘
I ❤️the original Minis.
Did they part ways with Fully Charged? I haven't seen Jonny there for a while ...
@@aigen-journey yeah, they parted amicably is what I heard.
Donald Kline Media you love the original minis key word there is original. This is far from an original mini now it’s been ruined. No old feeling will come with an electric powered car no matter what the shell is. This is blasphemy in the REAL car world.
@@channeltv6595 Go back to the original means of transport : legs ! Back in my day we used to walk 12 miles to hunt for food ! These days the new people are using stupid cars !
@@channeltv6595 I take it you also feel exactly the same way about project binky where they removed the shitty old A-series and replaced it with a modern 4 cylinder engine
Seeing them side by side really emphasises how fugly the new one is
u took the words just right out of my mouth, BMW ruined it.
I'd say the r53 is the best looking mini made and the best handling mini ever... but that was designed and made by rover before bmw bought it... 2007 up they are pure bmw and you can tell
Nice Jonny, love this trend and all the possibilities it entails. Loving the new content, keep up the great work! 👌
It's a great way to keep classic cars moving and should help to ensure they'll continue to be allowed on the roads for a long time to come. The visceral throb of internal combustion will probably become rarer in future but we might also appreciate it more as a result. Bring on the electric restomods, I say.
This is an amazing idea!
Oooo, if I had the money, I'd buy one. Loved my old Mini ❤
How much is it?
@@MrMarkusmulder 79K
@@williamholmes7529 aaah 😬 okay...
DIY maybe
Very good video. I think people would rather see a classic car on the road rather than rotting in a garage or driveway. Ev’s are a good choice for people who like future tech and the old classic look
Well Jonny Boy been watching U Tube Stuff for many years and i got to say this format / Production is the BEST i've seen.
Great video 👍
This NEEDS to happen to old Citroens!!
Can you IMAGINE sitting on the plush marshmallow-like seat of a DS, prodding the column shifter and just smoothly wafting silently away like a cloud in a breeze? It's meant to be.
@@SmallBlogV8 Absofrigginlutely!! I am looking for brave insane people who would properly restomod a DS or at least elecrify it, but so far, sadly haven't found anything. But it is going to happen!!
I'd really like to see that, it would work so well. You'd have to run the HP hydraulic pump from an electric motor but you could make it ultra efficient by turning it off when the accumulator sphere is full, if you used a deliberately loud solenoid or relay it would still sound like the click you get on old Citroens when the pressure has built up.
The cheekiest happy car ever. Rally Legend to boot. Now electric ? Sure! Brings a smile to my face just looking at it.
I love the idea of electrifying old cars!
Keep them coming. Great review. It does sound like a milk float though!
This whole concept of electric drive train in a crate could re-ignite the 1920s/30s specials craze, the type of thing you see at Vintage Sports Car Club events, where you got a chassis and dropped something (like an aero engine) into it. Electric drive trains could move that whole "specials" concept into the 21st century.
Love the idea of electric motors in classic cars
I love this £79000 price. Cold shower i the morning watching YT. I see this trend as way to save old cars from crusher. When you have no other option, then electrification is the way to go. Jonny you smiley face is a reward for the price tag.
Love this. Give it a decade and there’ll be loads of crashed/scrapped old EVs to strip for projects like this. Can’t wait.
Im with you - love the tech
Love this conversion. My first car was a 1275 GT which I loved but needed lots of TLC. So a conversion would make absolute sense as the handling must be amazing.
Love it. Great concept for the future of motoring.
Would be interested to know the price of just the EV conversion without the resto. Also if they sold the motors and controllers as a kit like a crate engine, I'm sure many more people would be interested.
The fact that there is a company can make a bolt in subframe/electric motor package for fiat 500's should mean same can be made for mini subframe, that same subframe could go in metro's, and even MGF/TF
I believe that will be an option in the future, having spoken to a representative about converting my own mini. This is more of a proof of concept (or at least, that is my understanding). Still won't be cheap though.
8000 pounds for all components to convert your mini - Swindon are already selling it.
I think that's a great idea. In years to come were going to need EV tech to enable us to keep our classics on the road & as technology moves on it will become more accessible and cheaper.
Winner winner chicken dinner..
Holy Pants!
Just came here from James May's Mini electric video (the new thing which for some reason is called a Mini.)
This is much, much better.
Thanks Mr. Pervert, keep up the great videos.
EDIT
I forgot to say...
There are many Minis on the road here in Japan running their original A-Series engines.
Here in Central Japan there are about 5 or 6 Mini dealers and repair/restoration shops within about 150 kilometres (100 miles) of my house. You'd poo your pants if you saw the prices they go for. They cost more, sometimes double, what a brand new city car goes for. I would have one if I had the cash and if I still wanted a car (only use bikes now).
You can tell you're a genuine car guy Jonny . . . Avoiding potholes :-) :-)
The ev resto-mods can pretty easily be reversed but crushing them or having them abandoned as legislation kicks in, not so much so.
Head tuck is a motorcycle habit 😄
I’m interested in the tour, so look forward to seeing that episode, I have two questions really.
1. What are the costings from the £79k, how much is the base mini vs the electric powertrain.
So, could I use my classic mini as a basis, and just pay for the powertrain?
2. What are the combined emissions when you are starting with a recycled car?
The initial cost of producing a new car from raw materials vs the cost to restore a classic? That would be interesting to know.
Thanks for a great episode, loving this new series of yours. I’m an Aeronautical Engineer so really enjoy the technical content you add.
As with all EVs I'm guessing that the battery is the largest chunk of that cost. I'm hoping to see some real advances this year in getting battery prices well below the magical $100 per kWh
Paul Taylor if you have a look at www.electricclassiccars.co.uk/shop it’ll give an idea of the EV parts cost for off the shelf bits/secondhand batteries etc, but I suspect this Mini will contain quite a bit of bespoke gear if it’s being used as a showcase for this Swindon company’s products.
A couple of years ago I would not have even watched this, now, it's the future! No oil changes, no gearbox oil, no coolant - No Re-Fueling!
Fun and thought provoking episode Johnny! Loving the crate swap out concept. Would be great to see more classics on the road as reliable everyday options. Hoping for a converted Citroen traction avant myself one day!
In a few years time when costs have come down a lot, I'd like both of my 20 year old saabs (1 convertible and 1 saloon) converted. Unlike other makes of retro cars they came with galvanised steel bodies and high levels of safety and I've had them both waxoil undersealed. They'd be ideal for it.
Would love this setup in a mk1 golf
Junk VWs 79000 pounds ?.
Convert it your self or find a decent car and get some other company to do it as that mini in this video is way to expensive
@@antoniopalmero551 i was more thinking about the concept itself. selling a kit, but that would probably be hella expensive too
@@MegaNayton If i really wanted an electric mk1 someday, I would probably try to do it myself. But a market full of kits and cheap reps of those kits wouldn't hurt :D
Yes, a classic MG would be fun also!
I can appreciate the work and effort gone into the car but part of the appeal of my mini is the sound and smell of that A series engine.
I really want one of these!
Audi A2 are going to make good platforms for conversions, Aluminium space frame and panels.. that's why i got one and there cheap at the moment..
Me too! I'm surprised Audi haven't yet created a modern day A2 etron.
I am 70 and had my share of american muscle cars.however this may be a way to keep more classics on the road and more cheaply maintained. Show me some TRs and some Alpines.
Hi Jonny,
You didn't disappoint! You told me last week to 'watch this space' so I have and it's brilliant! I could never afford one, but it really is a bit of nostalgia. I had several minis back in the day (late 60's and early 70's). This car is so good. And who knew that there were electric minis in the mid-60's? I'm surprised that the London Smart Set at the time didn't champion them. If they had, electric car ubiquity could have and would have been with us for the last half century! Carnaby Street could have saved the planet. Instead, I spent most of my youth underneath old bangers covered in oil and grease - good times, eh?
Thanks for the memories.....
What a joy! But, you need all the Mini noises! :-) I WANT ONE!!!!!
Rather awesome, if they could do it with an MGB would be special. Good idea keeps them on the road.
Illegal plates and the 80k build price😲otherwise it’s great 😆
They are not illegal
@@zenbudhism They are not illegal on a car made before 1 January 1975 but they said the car in this video is a 1987 I think so they are definitely illegal in this case. It's an odd thing for a company to do, makes it hard to take them seriously, especially with the price tag too.
@@kieranjamieson first registered september 83 according to mot checker so black/silver should not be displayed. jan 79 is now the latest registration that qualifies for historic vehicles status. i had the same issue with my feb 74 innocenti until the regs changed last year.
Love it. I would happily drive this
Love this keeping classics going with the future in mind and every day use. Hoping in 10 years time the price comes down to reto fit my vw t25.
_"I haven't driven a Mini in yonks."_
Jonny, you OWN a classic Mini.
Used to. Sold it. Driven about 300 cars since then!
hahaha
Yeah I was thinking the same thing, but only cos I watched the video recently of the Mini 30 passing its MOT.
@@TheLateBrakeShow Damn, I was kinda hoping for more on the Mini. You should advertise Smiff and Sniff channel, that auction famryard was great.
@@tommy7837 We may - may - be putting some S&S episodes on this Carperv channel. Got some good ones coming up. The auction field of rot seemed to go down v well.
I'd love a classic car but the way the automotive climate is heading, keeping a combustion car just won't be sustainable for the future. So it kinda puts me off.
I'd have a restomod EV classic in an instant. Its brilliant.
I own a classic mini, its been on my mind to convert it to EV at some point. I have spoke to Swind about converting mine, but keeping the original A-series Motor for now. A few points made me smile like that these cars are tiny like Smaller than a Smart fourtwo, and the whine from the gearbox :P
Super cool! I remember visiting England when I was 15, seeing classic Mini, and thinking I want one of those for my first car. Unfortunately not achievable for a kid growing up in Texas.
as a casual classic mini fan (from the design perspective), i love the thought of a classic mini EV
Perfect car for a 1275 swap!
There's a local one with a 140bhp 1.0L fiesta ST turbo engine in that definitely cost less than 79k and I bet it's a hell of a lot more fun than this milk float.
Any idea when we can expect to see you in the new Fiat 500? Can't wait.
Later this year apparently
Great review, Jonny. “You gotta want it”. Which is one reason folks are DIY’ing. And some of those folks are going into business producing them for others who aren’t so keen on the Do-it-yourself idea. I myself have put money down on the goodies to convert an old VW bus. This crazy idea comes from pioneers like yourself, which, through your videos has influenced us greatly.
Furthermore, these Swind folks have realized what the general public is only now coming to grips with. What do I do with my not so classic ICE car, but which I like and is in too good a condition to let go or not use? Well you might purchase the kit and convert it yourself, or maybe even have that shop down the street do it for you. The prices for this will definitely come down as demand goes up. Kits will begin appearing for more and a wider variety of models as we go forward. The classic VW, quirky as it is, lends itself nicely to the early adopters of EV conversion, basically because of their architecture and the widespread love that folks have for them. This will,spread. And you are partially to blame....you perv.
@@tomsummers1137 True
I want one so badly. Great video!
“But maybe I like feeling vulnerable” oh
79k for a Mini , errrr ,no Jonny
Watched a few episodes and I'm happy to say I've found my new car guy show.
Love this concept. I've got a 67 mini. Originally a minimatic, now got 1275 manual, so already not original. When this motor dies I'd love to do an EV conversion.
I also like the idea of putting EV drive train into replicas of classic cars.
Great vid. Thanks
The silver on black plate annoyed me bizarrely. Not legal on a 1983 mini. Why not get an even older mini that's pre 1972?
Also, close to 80k is just mental.
Yes it is legal to have the silver on black plates. The rules were changed in 2014 so that historic cars over 40 years old can use them, so it is fine!
@@bigbadjohn10 yes but the point he was making was they don't look original on a post 72 vehicle. And in any case this is an 83 mini so illegal too
@@gs425 "they dont look original" Well only if you know that. There is barely a difference between a 59 to 2000 mini, never mind a 72 - 83.
Why oh why are these type of conversions so very expensive?! 3 times the price of a brand new mini E? That's seems utterly ridiculous.
Barry Morfill, just have a go at sourcing and assembling all the parts, not even building it yet...then you'll understand.
@@alexwilsonpottery3733 somebody somewhere is ripping us off.
Reversible classics are the future. When the next power system comes along our converted classics will be ready to serve again. New, New and more new will be our epitaph. And I know of no car more grin worthy to drive than a Mini.
That drive system in a old Mazda MX5... yes please