It’s 2024, and the time period EV is rolling off the tongue of each automaker on earth; however sometimes, the time period isn’t mixed with the mannequin 12 months of any automobile that got here to life within the ‘60s. This fully electric 1966 Cadillac DeVille is one of the electro-mods at the forefront of changing that, and what’s below the hood might shock you.

It is sort of arduous to think about again when this ‘66 droptop DeVille originally rolled off the line, humans hadn’t even witnessed a person on the moon. Now, almost 70 years later, that very same luxurious Coupe has made earthshaking, motor-quaking information of its personal as a one-of-a-kind, electrified disruptor of the customized automotive tradition, forging an entire new phase, morphing the modded class, changing into what we are able to name a 1966 “electro-lux” conversion. So, love EVs or hate ‘em, the internal combustion engine evolution into a modern-day EV, for this ‘60s-era Caddy often called dEVille, produced by LegacyEV, embodies the increasing electro-mod motion.

Sparking The ’66 Cadillac’s Electric Conversion

It all began with the imaginative and prescient of Rob Ward, CEO and Founder of LegacyEV from Tempe, Ariz. Touted as a one-stop store for EV kits, elements, training, and build-support, LegacyEV is answerable for the Twenty first-century twist on this traditional Cadillac.

“I love Cadillacs,” shared Rob. “My first car was a 1978 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, and I’ve owned a lot of them since them. I purchased this ’66 in 2016 and drove it stock for a couple of years.”

The electrical re-power of Ward’s Deville kicked off in March 2021 and was an eight-month construct. It was a real mechanical transformation.

V-8 Mill Made Way For Three Electric Motors

Seven many years in the past, the DeVille Series was in its infancy. Rolling on a 129.5-inch wheelbase, with an expansive stretch of 224 inches in bumper-to-bumper size, it was supplied as a convertible and a coupe with two or four-door choices. It was powered by a 429 cubic-inch, 7.0-liter V-8, topped with a Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor, and was paired to a three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission. The setup created 340 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. With an MSRP hovering round $5,500, the DeVille was undoubtedly Cadillac’s hottest mannequin for the 12 months, accounting for over 142,000 of the 195,685 Cadillacs bought.

Standard ’66 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Specs

(Specs given by AutomobileCatalog)

Ditching its unique gas-powered engine, Ward’s electrical Caddy homes three inline NetGain HyPer 9 Synchronous Reluctance Internal Permanent Magnet (SRIPM) motors which are linked in sequence. “The motors basically sit in the transmission tunnel and are tied in tandem to the driveline, and to the rear end, Rob explained. “There is a torque gear reduction box that sits between the motors and the driveline. The rear end is stock.”

Legacy EV’s ’66 Cadillac dEVille Specs

(Specs given by LegacyEV)

The whole system creates 1,000 pound-feet of torque on the rear differential from zero to five,000 RPM. Yes, for many who haven’t skilled an EV but, a part of the driving enjoyable is the instantaneous out there peak torque at zero RPM. “Horsepower is 400,” confirmed Rob. “The battery system is a 55-kWh pack with (lithium-ion) NMC cells.” The EV’s vary is roughly 100 miles. Probably not excellent for a road-tripper; however that wasn’t the intention of this Caddy. “I wanted to get around town,” Rob added. “I wanted it to be a cool car to go out to dinner or pick up the kids from school in.”

The Electric Caddy Also Comes With Some Other Tasteful Mods

The standout aesthetics crafted into the Cadillac are arduous to overlook. There is the white pearl steering wheel from PearlCraft and the low-profile white partitions wrapped round 20-inch, one-off billet wheels created by EVOD within the likeness of a classic 15-inch inventory Cadillac hubcap. But the artistry doesn’t finish there, and the hood hides one other fabricated improve. Notably, this newly added little bit of taste doesn’t seem in most up-to-date pictures being circulated.

Many photos of the automotive have surfaced with a pink motor compartment cowl emblazoned with the Cadillac emblem. These outdated photos of the pink piece defend a lot of the seen electrical powerplant; nonetheless, the pink cap doesn’t stretch the total width or all the size of the engine bay. In actuality, the latest look isn’t seen in a lot of the protection being blasted off the automotive. As seen right here, it now reveals out its Bright White paint spreading into the bay, blanketing a backdrop for a large Cadillac emblem.

“The sheet metal under the hood was redone to improve the look,” stated Rob on the variations in of the compartment. “Other cars showcase the electric motors or the batteries, but for this, you pop the hood, and you get art instead of mechanical components.” This was only one extra difference-maker on this mixture of an iconic physique model, housing fashionable electrical energy.

More of the EV Caddy’s Mods

• Air Lift Performance Air Management System
• Heated Seats
• Classic Car Stereo Audio System
• Custom Interior with Original Vintage Styling
• Front Disc Brakes
• Custom LED Heads and Tails
• Caddy Daddy Rubber Moldings
• Dakota Digital Gauges