A near-silent SL is the latest project to emerge from Moment Motor Company, a specialist in EV-swapping classic cars.
The Austin, Texas firm has previously electrified icons such as the Porsche 911, BMW 2002 and Mini, as well as offering e-motor replicas of the Porsche 356 and 550 Spyder and will sell its Mercedes-Benz 280 SL as a turnkey car or offer conversions to existing owners.
A fully-built Moment 280SL Signature will set you back $250,000 (£200,000), or if you have a car already, fitting the electric powertrain is $135,000 (£106,500). In either case the SL’s 2.8-litre, 165 bhp straight-six is swapped out for a significantly more powerful 296 bhp three-phase permanent magnet motor, which also offers up 370 lbft of torque. There’s a 62 kWh battery which is claimed to provide 175 miles of driving range, and the SL’s braking system, power steering, heating, and air conditioning are all updated to electric systems.
Moment says that it “employs state-of-the-art CAD imaging to create 3D models of each vehicle in order to seamlessly integrate EV batteries and other powertrain components. Maintaining the weight balance and handling feel of the vehicle is just as important as the exhilarating rush of the EV powertrain so careful attention is paid to preserving as much of the driving character of the original as possible.”
“Our primary purpose is in thoughtfully reengineering iconic vehicles like the 280SL with electrification and modern components,” adds Founder Marc Davis. “While the passion for these vehicles has endured throughout the decades, their functionality hasn’t stood the test of time. Through our tried and true design process, we offer collectors the ability to take highly celebrated but seldomly used vehicles from their collections and convert them with electric drivetrains for everyday usage.”
Aside from the omission of emissions and the tailpipe from which they would emit, Moment leaves the exterior of the SL alone, although, for our money, we’d have preferred a more delicately integrated charge point than the one bolted to the rear. Inside the only visible changes are the fitment of a small central screen at the front of the transmission tunnel and the replacement of the gear selector with a trio of buttons.
“Our builds reverently retain the integrity and design of the original vehicle while safely applying the fun, smile-inducing exhilaration of EV power,” says Davis, but what do you say? Let us know in the comments.
