E.C.D. IS RETROFITTING VINTAGE LAND ROVER DEFENDERS WITH TESLA MOTORS, CREATING A MORE EARTH-FRIENDLY MOUNTAINWORTHY SUV.
With its bespoke restorations built to a client’s exact specifications, E.C.D. brings classic cars into the 21st century. PHOTOS COURTESY OF E.C.D. AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN
“WITH THIS CAR, you could get deep into the wilderness and live totally off the grid for a week if you wanted,” says Elliot Humble, co-founder of E.C.D. Automotive Design, which recently began retrofitting Land Rover Defenders with electric Tesla motors. “And you can do it with style and in comfort.” The vintage Land Rovers that come out of E.C.D.’s “Rover Dome” production facility in Kissimmee, Fla., are completely custom, from console components to interior upholstery. Clients can choose interiors that mirror their character.
The restored Defenders make for the ultimate outdoor lifestyle vehicle. “We can add roof racks to store gear, from kayaks to bikes, even a rooftop tent and solar chargers,” Humble says. “You’ll be ready for anything.”
Currently E.C.D., which has been restoring Land Rover Defenders in the U.S. since 2013, offers nine drive train options, including the Tesla motor. The company has two electric Defenders in production and orders for at least a dozen more. One of these will be headed to Colorado, where Humble says the terrain and climate are perfect: “The colder, the better for electric motors.” 5286 Giron Circle Kissimmee, Fla., ecdautodesign.com
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