The Guy Putting Tesla Power Into Classic Cars
In a Nutshell
Mark Davis runs Moment Motor in Austin, converting classic cars like a 1968 Mustang and Lotus Esprit to electric power using 80 kWh VW battery packs and high-output motors delivering 300 hp and 370 lb-ft. Conversions cost $75,000–$175,000 and take 2–4+ months, often doubling or tripling original performance while preserving vintage looks. Clients, many from tech backgrounds, seek modern drivability and efficiency without sacrificing the character of their restored classics.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Mark Davis operates Moment Motor in Austin, converting classic cars from internal combustion engines to all-electric powertrains for nearly a decade. The shop transforms vintage vehicles into modern electric vehicles while preserving their original aesthetics.
The conversion begins by removing the original engine, such as the modern 48 from a 1968 Ford Mustang fastback replica of the Bullet car. Technicians 3D scan the entire vehicle to determine optimal placement for battery packs and components, since 1968 designs did not account for large battery modules. The 3D scan enables precise positioning of battery boxes in the space originally occupied by the V8 engine.
Battery modules used are identical to those found in the Volkswagen ID series. An 80 kWh battery pack is installed in the Mustang, expected to deliver approximately 200 miles of range despite the vehicle's poor aerodynamics, higher weight compared to modern EVs, and less efficient drivetrain. DC fast charging capability extends practical range.
A Series One Lotus Esprit, the same model driven by James Bond, receives an electric conversion. The original engine produced 180 horsepower and approximately 150 foot-pounds of torque. The replacement electric motor measures roughly the size of a small unit and delivers 370 foot-pounds of torque and 300 horsepower when paired with the appropriate inverter. The converted vehicle will have double or triple the original power output.
Original gas tanks located in side pockets are repurposed to house electrical componentry. The confined space presents packaging challenges but represents the available volume for the conversion.
Moment Motor typically works on about a dozen vehicles simultaneously. Simpler conversions require a couple of months to complete, while more complex projects take four months or longer. Conversion costs range from $75,000 to $175,000.
A client had a fully restored 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL shipped from Germany. The owner found the original engine underpowered and noisy on the highway. After driving a previously converted example, the client immediately commissioned the sixth 280SL conversion at the shop. Mark Davis argues that if Mercedes had access to modern electric drivetrains in 1970, the company would have adopted the technology immediately.
A 1964 F-250 pickup receives an electric conversion. The project references the film Dazed and Confused, set in Texas.
Austin serves as Texas's capital and preserves reminders of the state's brief period as an independent nation following the 1836 war with Mexico. The University of Texas Longhorns football team is based in the city. Austin historically functioned as a liberal enclave within Texas, but has undergone rapid transformation with an influx of technology professionals, including Elon Musk, along with podcasters and comedians.
Mark Davis participated in Austin's first technology wave driven by Dell, AMD, and Motorola during the 1990s and early 2000s. A subsequent wave brought software companies, Oracle's headquarters, and Tesla's presence. The original "Keep Austin Weird" ethos has diminished as the city became more expensive and attracted larger populations.
Davis has been a car enthusiast since childhood but entered the electric conversion business after a midlife crisis prompted interest in electrifying classic cars. His technology industry background provided relationships with wealthy clients who became his initial customers. These clients valued both the technological innovation and the nostalgic appeal of classic vehicles updated with modern electric powertrains.
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