Great Defense: Why Electrifying an Old Car Isn’t ‘Ruining’ It
SuperfastMatt is electrifying a Jaguar Mark V, and that has brought the haters to his virtual door.
There are lots of camps in the automotive hobby. From the drag racers, to the road race folks, to the low rider community, there’s a whole menagerie of car scenes out there. And while I can’t say I understand all of them, especially when it comes to idiotic stuff like this, I will say that I respect whatever you want to do to your own ride, unless it’s stupid unsafe. Of course, given my bias toward lumps, I’ve had a few words with purists over the years. But it’s safe to say I’ve never dealt with the kind of hate SuperfastMatt is currently enduring.
To refresh your memory, the electric car enthusiast and self depreciating mechanical wizard is currently swapping the drivetrain of a Jaguar Mark V with an electric motor plucked from a Tesla, and his series on the swap has been fascinating to watch. At the end of the day, this machine is going to be faster, handle better, and be far more reliable that it was when it rolled out of Coventry more than half a century ago. That’s progress, in my book, but as they say, haters gonna hate.
In his latest video, SFM chronicles some of the feedback he’s gotten from know-it-alls who believe he’s ruining this classic kitty, and watching his quick-witted takedown of people who want to tell him what to do with his time and money is deliriously fun to watch. For the record, I’m really not sure whether I like the addition of the modern Tesla wheels to the old Jag. In the render, the juxtaposition is a little too much. That said, I think it looks better in the video, and chopping the top is going to improve the car’s overall lines.
One thing I don’t agree with is our hero’s opinion of the E-Type. Entertaining as it is, and despite his excellent point about how Enzo Ferrari’s opinion — hallowed as it might be — is still an opinion, I believe that car is one of the most beautiful things ever crafted by human hands. But what do you think about SFM’s project? Is this car being ruined? Or is his DIY take on the upcycling being done by shops like Lunaz a boon to car culture? Watch the video and let me know!
Photos: YouTube