Electric conversions are increasingly gaining traction in the classic car world, and the trend shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Especially in the case of popular but really slow classics like the original Beetle or, in this case, the Fiat 500 in its cute Giardiniera wagon bodystyle.
The electric powertrain conversion was a collaboration between Icon and Stealth EV, giving the little Fiat around 100hp to play with, which is almost three times the power it originally had. The increased performance is then combined with 120 miles (190 km) of driving range, which is more than enough for city driving.
Icon also replaced all the weatherstripping and glass seals, added insulation and generally eliminated all the rattles and squeaks you’ve come to expect from a tiny Italian car of this era. Combined with the simple but stylish and surprisingly roomy interior, Icon’s 500 Giardiniera is arguably one of the coolest cars they ever made.
It’s a win-win combo, as the classic design married to a zero-emissions powertrain creates a car that’s much, much better than it was before. Let Jonathan Ward take you for a tour around his latest creation on the video that follows.