Classic Reborn: Electric Mustang by Charge Cars

By John Coyle - March 19, 2022

Don’t worry purists, no classic Mustangs were harmed in the creation of this gorgeous green machine.

At first glance, this classic Mustang looks like an extremely well-executed restomod. But a closer examination reveals that the front fascia no longer has a grille — because the folks at England’s Charge Cars have swapped the original drivetrain for an electric set up. And actually? It’s a bit of a mistake to say this gorgeous machine even had an “original” drivetrain, as it’s built from an officially licensed shell. So Mustang purists can rest easy, as no original Pony was harmed in the production of this beauty.

While it’s not clear from the Charge Cars website, it’s a safe bet the sheet metal comes from Dynacorn, which has been the source for classic Mustang bodies for well over a decade. In recent years, Dynacorn has also branched out to provide bodies from other iconic Detroit iron, and now offers brand-new versions of Chevy’s Camaro, Chevelle, and Nova, along with Ma Mopar’s 1970 Dodge Challenger. So I’m a little surprised we haven’t seen these shells utilized to make modern EVs before.

All the electric components come from the folks at Arrival, which is on a mission to replace the world’s delivery vans, ride-share vehicles, and busses with green alternatives. But with the Charge Mustang, all that know-how has been optimized for performance — and the specs sound fantastic. First off, there’s 400kW of power and a tire-destroying 1,100 lb-ft of twist on tap, which means that the sprint from zero to 60 mph takes just 3.9 seconds.

Plus, to help keep the Mustangs stuck to the pavement, there’s power at all four corners, and a 64kW battery allows for a respectable 200 miles of range. While it’s undeniably pretty, I think the interior is a bit of a letdown, as it’s very modern EV. By that, I mean that the dash is dominated by a giant touchscreen, which seems incongruous with the classic lines of the exterior. Personally, I think Charge should take a page from the Lunaz Motors playbook, which has updated the drivetrains of cars like the Jaguar XK120, but just made subtle updates to the cabins.

At this point, plans are for Charge Cars to make 499 examples of its Mustang, and if you’re one of those people who don’t have to ask how much things cost, you can pre-order one right now. If you aren’t one of those well-heeled folks, prices start at $460,000 and change — before any options. When deliveries will start is anyone’s guess, but here’s hoping the run sells outs fast, and Charge makes enough money that it can give more iconic machines the EV treatment.

Photos: Charge Cars