Stellantis is charging full steam ahead with its electrification strategy, though internal combustion engines are still clinging on for next-gen models like the new 2024 Charger. And now, for those who believe a classic muscle car would be improved by gutting out the rumbling V8 and replacing it with a motor as quiet as a librarian’s cough, we present to you the 1967 Plymouth GTX Electromod Concept. Interestingly, we were supposed to see this Mopar concept at last year’s SEMA Show, but that wasn’t meant to be, as Stellantis withdrew from the event due to the UAW strike. But here we are, a year late, with this zero-emission reimagining finally in the spotlight. And it’s not just a concept to ogle at, as this is a working prototype meant to show how vintage Mopars could be resurrected as battery-electric vehicles using a Mopar e-Crate propulsion system.

Back in 1967, the Plymouth GTX was offered with either a standard 375 hp 7.2L (440 cu.in) eight-cylinder or an optional 7.0L Hemi V8. Today, Mopar is dabbling in a different kind of power, testing its electric conversion kit on classic cars with the help of a 400-volt, 335-hp electric drive module (EDM) borrowed from the the new Dodge Charger Daytona. For this project, the EDM is mounted on custom motor mounts (which aren’t planned for sale) and sends torque to the rear wheels through a 3:1 gear reducer paired with an 8.75-inch rear axle—complete with a cover that cheekily mimics the look of a Hellcat supercharger. Say what you will about the conversion, but that clean engine bay looks pretty sweet. Power comes from a 73-kWh battery system, split across four packs: three in the trunk and one under the hood, for a respectable range of around of 402 km. But here’s the thing; each of those battery packs weighs about 104 kg, which means you’re lugging around an extra 417 kg of silent bulk. Performance details remain under wraps, though Mopar reps hinted at a recent roundtable that the GTX has been pushed past 160 km/h in testing.

 

Depending on where you stand in the tuning debate, the GTX Electromod’s exterior is either a masterstroke or a lesson in “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” Drenched in Frostbite Blue with blacked-out trim and a stance low enough to scare speed bumps, it certainly makes an entrance. Mopar’s design team went all-in with the design details, widening the rear arches, shaving and color-matching the bumpers, and adding a carbon-fiber hood with functional air extractors. You’ll also find a carbon-fiber front splitter and low-profile rear spoiler that sharpen the car’s profile, while a retro flip-top fuel cap has been cleverly repurposed as a charge port. The coupe sits on a lowered three-link suspension with 18-inch BTG Vintage Bronze forged magnesium wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-ZERO tires. Wilwood disc brakes at all four corners promise to give it the stopping power to match its new electric performance. In the end, though, we can’t shake the feeling that it’s trying a bit too hard to look modern.

Step inside, however, and the story changes. Here, the interior surprisingly manages to find a genuine balance, merging classic style with modern functionality without looking like a design school experiment gone wrong. Even the flat-bottom steering wheel—usually the sort of tacky misfire that plagues classic American restomods—fits in perfectly. Custom gauges and blue leather seats with bronze and orange accents all come together to hit that rare sweet spot between old-school muscle car grit and contemporary finesse, giving the cabin a dose of character without coming off as desperate.

Of course, the idea of converting a classic ICE muscle car into an EV is a bit of a head-scratcher, to say the least. Unless you’re aiming for a flashy marketing gimmick or looking to show off some engineering prowess, it’s hard to see the appeal. Even more so if the horsepower tally is less than the gas-powered original, let alone modern ICE conversion kits like Mopar’s own Hellcat setups. It’s like taking a lion and putting it on a vegan diet—technically possible, but you’ve robbed it of the one thing that made it interesting in the first place. But hey, maybe that’s just us.