With Bentleys and Jaguars already under its belt, startup Lunaz Design, which refits classic cars with electric powertrains, has turned to Rolls-Royce to create the ultimate luxury volts-wagons.
The Silverstone-based company is offering 30 build slots for electrified classic Phantoms and Silver Clouds, and claims to be able to convert any body style from a four-door limousine, to a two-door coupe or drophead.
The first car to be completed is a massive eight-seater 1961 Phantom V. Like every commission the Phantom underwent a complete bare metal restoration before the electric powertrain was installed.
A 120-kWh battery pack gives the Phantom a claimed range of over 300 miles on a charge. Other upgrades include modern air conditioning, an infotainment system with screens for rear passengers, and a navigation system for the chauffeur.
Owner-drivers might prefer the Silver Cloud. The Lunaz conversion can be done on any model from 1955 to 1966 and uses a smaller, 80-kWh battery but still achieves a driving range in excess of 300 miles.
The accessories associated with electric powertrains, including battery chargers and DC converters, are integrated into the existing design of the car, utilising the fuel filler cap for charging and adapting dials to an appropriate read-out for the electrical powertrain. It’s just a shame that there’s no option, yet at least, for inductive charging. After all, what owner of a half-million-pound Rolls-Royce wants to get their hands dirty handling charging cables. Then again, that’s what staff are for, right?
New air conditioning and electronic heating systems are installed and the accelerator is converted to a throttle-by-wire system. Unsurprisingly, the brakes. suspension, steering and electronics systems also all require uprating.
Whatever your view on converting a rare classic car to be propelled by batteries and electric motors, David Lorenz, founder of Lunaz Design, believes the time is right for an electric Rolls-Royce. “We are answering the need to marry beautiful classic design with the usability, reliability, and sustainability of an electric powertrain. More than ever we are meeting demand for clean-air expressions of the most beautiful and luxurious cars in history. We are proud to make a classic Rolls-Royce relevant to a new generation.”
With Silver Clouds starting at £420,000 and Phantom prices from £600,000 – wind turbine not included – the cost of driving a classic with a clean conscience is considerably higher than that of its ICE equivalent. But when it comes to bragging rights, you’ll have a head start on your peers. And you can always have the car returned to original specification, should you choose, and should funds permit…
Its a MAD, MAD, MAD MAD World!