Electric conversions are increasingly gaining
traction in the classic car world, and the trend shows no signs of stopping
anytime soon. Especially in the case of popular but really slow classics like
the original Beetle or, in this case, the Fiat 500 in its cute Giardiniera
wagon bodystyle.
The electric powertrain conversion was a
collaboration between Icon and Stealth EV, giving the little Fiat around 100 hp
to play with, which is almost three times the power it originally had. The
increased performance is then combined with 190 km of driving
range, which is more than enough for city driving.
Icon also replaced all the weatherstripping and
glass seals, added insulation and generally eliminated all the rattles and
squeaks you’ve come to expect from a tiny Italian car of this era. Combined
with the simple but stylish and surprisingly roomy interior, Icon’s 500
Giardiniera is arguably one of the coolest cars they ever made.
It’s a win-win combo, as the classic design married
to a zero-emissions powertrain creates a car that’s much, much better than it
was before. Let Jonathan Ward take you for a tour around his latest creation on
the video that follows.
