The Engineer drives: SWIND E Classic - The power of retro

 The internal combustion engine’s days may soon be numbered. At least that’s the stark warning given by politicians who are seeking to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars in the UK by 2040 (or possibly as early as 2030 under new proposals). It’s a sentiment that’s been steadily growing for a number of years, with car manufacturers ploughing vast amounts of money into developing new electric models. But recently, another trend has started to appear: electric conversions for classic cars.

At present, cars over 40 years old are protected against the ever-tightening emissions requirements directed at newer models. You can, for instance, drive through the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone in a 1948 Series 1 Land Rover, yet you can’t do so in a 10-year-old Ford Fiesta. Whether or not that will still be the case in the future, though, remains to be seen. And there are also people out there who specifically want the retro style of a classic car combined with the guilt-free image of a modern electric drivetrain.