Video: Tesla-powered 1949 Mercury coupe - ICON / Stealth EV

[MetroMPG]

This is super-impressive.

ICON worked with Stealth EV to convert a '49 Merc using a Tesla model S battery pack. If you've seen ICON's work, you won't be surprised by the amazing attention to detail.

EG: I've never seen a conversion look like this under the hood:



Here's a brief article, with more pics:


https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...-by-tesla-tech


And here's a more in-depth video, but full of interesting info. (Excuse the part mid-way through where the engineer discusses the conversion of his own Firebird using Tesla components!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMlfBKd_hz8

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

This is super-impressive.

ICON worked with Stealth EV to convert a '49 Merc using a Tesla model S battery pack.

Very cool, matches up closely with one of my fantasies.

My dream project involves using aftermarket early classic Ford Bronco fiberglass body parts and repackaging it using Tesla components.

The thing that shatters my dreaming is trying to use parts from a wrecked Tesla, even slightly damaged parts would be dangerous to use. Anyone remember the Volt used in crash testing that later spontaneously combusted in a storage lot?

The idea of dismantling a perfectly good Tesla as a donor is equally objectionable in my mind.

I'd like to know how Icon procured their parts and the vetting process they used to verify usability.

I'm sure one day electric cars including Tesla's will be the dominate vehicles in auto-salvage yards, right now they are such a rarity, such a specialty.

My best guess is they sourced parts at auction once the insurance company gave the cars up.

[MetroMPG]

Good question on the donor Tesla.


My guess is that they bought a wrecked car, based on the fact that the Rich, the guy who made the above video, specializes in rebuilding wrecked Teslas. And in the video, the Stealth EV builder of the '49 Merc mentions he'd been trying to contact Rich while doing the build.

[ModNewb]

Cool project!
I've been following this elsewhere, like on Autoblog and InsideEV;

Replacing the transmission with Siamese motors is a great idea IMO!
The V8 shaped battery is a nice touch too.

[ModNewb]

https://www.autoblog.com//2018/10/30...cury-coupe-ev/

https://insideevs.com/this-electric-...out-a-mercury/

[Piotrsko]

Anyone remember the Volt used in crash testing that later spontaneously combusted .[/QUOTE]

Pretty much every Volt that combusted had a physically damaged battery such that electrolyte or coolant escaped. The electrolyte is a very volital material with a low ignition temperature, the coolant tends to rapid discharge the battery.

[samwichse]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

Anyone remember the Volt used in crash testing that later spontaneously combusted .

Pretty much every Volt that combusted had a physically damaged battery such that electrolyte or coolant escaped. The electrolyte is a very volital material with a low ignition temperature, the coolant tends to rapid discharge the battery.[/QUOTE]

IIRC after an accident, the car is supposed to be drained of coolant to prevent fires. This wasn't done and the fire happened a couple weeks later due to your aforementioned discharge.

https://www.plugincars.com/chevy-vol...re-110154.html

[euromodder]

Other crashed electric cars beside the Volt also have this fiery tendency - recently one was completely submerged in water after it caught fire (again) while standing in a crashed car lot.

[Piotrsko]

No, my comment was: Volts are not normally known to have battery fires, unlike teslas, leafs, etc.

[freebeard]

Teslas burn too if you crash them hard enough. I'm glad (for once) Google's ads pointed me to the thread.

Icon's Derelict series is legendary, but Jack Rikard does better Tesla conversions. Compare Icon's Thing with EVTV's Doka. Icon uses non-Tesla drivetrain. EVTV have North American distribution of the Quaiffe limited slip conversion for the Tesla.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omft20Uro-s