As a long time car nut, this is like blasphemy. You basically destroy everything about the car that made it what it was by doing this. It’d be like putting a 4 cylinder engine in an RX-7 - sure it looks the same, but it’s not an RX-7 at that point.

A bloke I know loves his Land Rovers but also loves tinkering. Electrifying is a great project for him. Personally I wouldn’t waste the time or money but people have their passions.

Electric conversions are usually recommended for vehicles that are pre CANbus era, which IIRC is pre 1996. This is so they can deal with all the other electric/mechanical systems, eg power steering, brakes AC etc. In some cars, your headlights, tail lights, wipers and windows run via CANbus. 1996 is 30 years ago.

The definition of a 'classic car' is 20 years and older. That rusted out old EA Falcon sitting on blocks in your neighbours front yard is a classic car. The hanged up Toyota Corolla from the 70s without a straight panel that has 800K on it and won't die is a classic car. The definition does not only apply to special or show cars.

So, the recommended car to convert by definition is a classic car.

I've looked (hoped?) for an electric conversion for my own car, and other cars, and from my perspective, it is functionally unregisterable, and financially stupid versus just buying an EV.

But, hey, if it's your property, you do what you want with it.

Depends if the car was known for its engine or not. I can imagine a mini cooper or a Datsun / Subaru it would be great, old Citreon or something.

But something that had a v8 in it, it's gonna be shocking.

Brilliant idea. Rebate for heritage vehicles would help

I feel like you'd have be a philistine to do this to a functional proper classic. If the original drivetrain was beyond repair it'd be more acceptable though and an electric swap would be no worse than trying to shoehorn an LS in or something else similarly non-original.