Superstar David Beckham Invests in Lunaz

Electrifying concours-grade iron like the XK120 is never going to change the world. So Lunaz is going another direction.

It’ll come as no surprise to regular Jaguar Forums readers that along with lumps, I’m a huge fan of old-school electric conversions. From factory efforts like Jaguar’s stunning E-Type Zero, to inspired shade-tree efforts like SuperfastMatt’s Tesla-swapped Mark V, I can’t get enough of them. That said, when it comes to marrying old-school cool and cutting edge green technology, I think the artisan wizards at Lunaz Design are the cream of the crop, and the electric XK120 I posted about last summer is one of my absolute dream cars. So it was awesome to learn that the company is getting a big cash injection — courtesy of David Beckham.

The superstar English soccer player has just announced a purchase of a ten percent stake in the company, which means a massive expansion of its corporate vision. Fortunately, Lunaz will still be available to do conversions of classic Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley for exceptionally well-heeled clientele. But the big financial boost means the operation will transform from a boutique upcycler into a provider of electric powertrains for a variety of companies and applications.

Because while it’s all well and good to bring the gorgeous sheetmetal of yesteryear into the 21st century, electrifying the concours-grade iron is never going to change the world. On the other hand, large-scale commercial-targeted projects, like the electric garbage truck seen in the picture above, have the potential to make real progress in the global pivot toward a greener future. And that’s when Lunaz will be putting the lion’s share of its focus going forward.

At this point, that segment of the industry is still in its infancy, so there’s tremendous potential to scale up, and become a major player.

Now, as cool as saving the world is, I’m really excited by the prospect of off-the-shelf electrical conversions for classic cars. I’m thinking something like the LS-based Connect and Cruise packages Chevrolet currently offers, except with a electric powertrain. Wide availability of that tech would mean a breath of fresh air for the hobby, and the more mainstream the technology gets, the better. For an in depth look at how Lunaz started and where it’s going, check out this killer article from our friends over at Forbes, and stay tuned for more news on the wide-range of green endeavors Lunaz is championing!

Photos: Lunaz

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