Today, all you have to do to buy an electric Mini is go to a store and make the purchase. If you want the advantages of electric drive and the look of a classic Mini Cooper, Gildred Racing has a new option for you. CarScoops says that the look of the Super Cooper EV is a mix of the best of the old and the new. It removes the small, weak, and famously unreliable Austin engines from the 1950s and replaces them with a Tesla drivetrain. If a Model S or X engine is used to power this little rocket, it can make 300 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of force. Putting that in the context of the Mini’s 34 horsepower in 1959 helps to put things in perspective. The EV conversion’s 31-kWh battery pack lets it drive 150 miles on a single charge. That’s enough to get around the city and quickly move through the country on a Sunday. Even though it’s not as cool as new electric cars, this old-car conversion happens often. It’s even more impressive considering how small the Mini is and how little room there is for batteries. People often say that making vintage cars more modern takes away from their charm, but Gildred Racing did this change carefully. Every Super Cooper EV starts with a standard Mini Cooper that has been carefully fixed. The prototype, a beautiful 1971 Leyland Mini painted Riviera Blue, is proof of this. The inside has a retro look and feel. In this case, the old dashboard and trimmings go well with the soft houndstooth upholstery. Gildred Racing is fearless in offering modern benefits. For example, the company plans to put air conditioning in future buildings to make them more comfortable and easier to live in. “It looks and feels like a classic Mini, but it has a lot more power, is easier to drive, and is much quieter for everyone inside,” says Nathan Hoagland, a mechanic and fabricator at Gildred Racing. Gildred Racing will sell you the first Super Cooper electric car ready to drive on U.S. roads for $120,000. According to the company’s website, you can build your own from scratch using a wholly fixed-source vehicle for about $130,000. You can, for example, choose the colors for the inside and outside. The company has a one-year waiting list for new structures, so if you want to go the custom way, you must be patient. Strangely, this updated old Mini Cooper has more power and range than a new electric Mini Cooper SE on the market. It costs more than three times as much, though. The Super Cooper EV looks like a lovely way to arrive at a classic car event with a quiet British flair.
