Mitsubishi engine swap: Ford Model T gets plug-in hybrid drivetrain

[MetroMPG]

1917 Mitsubishi Model A

Are hybridized antiques becoming a thing?

Mitsubishi is marking 100 years of auto production by recreating its first car, with a twist.

There aren't any 1917 Mitsu Model A's around anymore, so they're using a Model T as the basis for the reconstruction, into which they're sticking the plug-in drivetrain from the Outlander hybrid.

The project is being done in California, and will be televised:

The vehicle is being built at the West Coast Customs facility in Burbank, CA and will be completed this summer. The build will be featured on an episode of Inside West Coast Customs, which airs on the Velocity network, Tuesdays, 9 PM PDT/EDT.

Source: Mitsubishi Motors Partners with West Coast Customs to Re-Create the Car that Started It All 100 Years Ago - Mitsubishi Newsroom

Jalopnik is covering it too:

At this point, the Outlander has been stripped down to a skateboard and the “Model A” has pretty much been gutted to have its wooden structural components replaced with metal ones and receive some more reinforcement.

Source: West Coast Customs And Mitsubishi Are Doing The Engine Swap Of The Century

[Daox]

Sounds like a fun project.

[Fingie]

my inner purist is screaming.

But a cool idea

[Stubby79]

It's not even a Front-engined, RWD setup...

Does anyone make a hybrid drivetrain that is?

[MetroMPG]

Yeah, I'm wondering whether they're going to just drop the T body on the modified Outlander chassis, or actually move the running gear into the T.

The donor SUV is AWD, by the way.

I think Toyota has a couple of RWD front engine hybrids. Their flagship Lexus sedan is, and I think there's a Lexus RWD hybrid coupe.

BMW & Merc also do PHEV RWD hybrids.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Yeah, I'm wondering whether they're going to just drop the T body on the modified Outlander chassis, or actually move the running gear into the T.

The donor SUV is AWD, by the way.

Since the Outlander has a transversely-oriented engine, it might be even more challenging to keep the proportions close to stock with that narrow cowl from the Model T.

I think Toyota has a couple of RWD front engine hybrids. Their flagship Lexus sedan is, and I think there's a Lexus RWD hybrid coupe.

Nowadays almost every Lexus has at least one hybrid version, and in some markets (mostly in Europe) it now follows a hybrid-only approach.

BMW & Merc also do PHEV RWD hybrids.

Though I've never seen a hybrid Mercedes-Benz, recently I've seen those BMW i hybrids quite frequently...

[Stubby79]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Since the Outlander has a transversely-oriented engine, it might be even more challenging to keep the proportions close to stock with that narrow cowl from the Model T.

Exactly!

[Fingie]

Coupling the hybrid driveline with a T-model pedal-operated "3-speeder"

[MetroMPG]

I've never driven a T, but it would be an interesting experience, from videos I've seen.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Fingie

Coupling the hybrid driveline with a T-model pedal-operated "3-speeder"

IIRC the Model T had only 2-speed.