Alan Mann Racing Presents ePower Mustang
World-renowned UK-based classic racing car team Alan Mann Racing (AMR) is launching an electric powered restomod of a classic 1960s Ford Mustang.
Founded, of course, by Alan Mann, AMR put its name on the map with a series of race and championship winning cars in the 1960s - most notably the 1964 Tour de France Automobile, 1965 European Touring Car Challenge and winning two successive years of the British Saloon Car Championship in 1967 and 1968. Known for its ability to construct a car for a wide range of events, the team also ran cars in the Monte Carlo Rally and 24 Hours of Le Man.
It wasn’t only racing that AMR had an interest in, with the company becoming involved in film and TV work, building the original car for ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ and assisting on ‘Goldfinger’, as well as Steve McQueen’s ‘Le Mans’.
Now the company, based in Surrey and with Alan’s son Henry as director, is expanding its business by taking a famous car from its glory years and bringing it into the modern day. The development and integration of electric powertrains will be tailored to suit the specifications of the 1960s Ford Mustang - in both coupe and fastback styles.
How the process is achieved is up to the customer, as any 1960s Mustang can be provided by the owner or sourced by AMR themselves. The car is then stripped and the powertrain removed, with the remaining mechanical parts and body either replaced or refurbished to a high standard. The compact electric motor, the main ingredient in the build, is the centrepiece that the rest of the vehicle is built around including a modern, racing standard chassis. The process, on average, takes around 1,000 hours to complete for each Mustang.
The whole operation is taking place near Philadelphia, USA where AMR’s new business partner, Mann ePower Cars is located and headed by Henry Mann (no relation). The two met at the launch of the Alan Mann Heritage Edition Ford GT at the Chicago Auto Show and formed a friendship and subsequent partnership driven by a shared automotive passion.
“We not only share an automotive passion with our business partners, but we also share a name!” said Henry Mann.
“Mann ePower Cars is owned by another Mann family, but based in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, USA. Coincidentally the CEO is also called Henry Mann, but we are not related. Henry and his family have a 50-year history of manufacture, sales and service in the precision electronics and hi-tech lighting sector and have independently curated an extraordinary collection of modern and classic automobiles”, he added.
Priced from £200,000 (depending on final spec), the ePower Mustang will produce 300bhp and 310 Nm of torque. In launch mode, 0-60mph will take 5.2 seconds and the top speed is limited to 97mph. The maximum range is around 220 miles from its 72kw/h battery and a 20% to 80% change can take just 40 minutes. AMR has worked hard to balance the need for a useable range with an acceptable overall weight which keeps the car’s dynamism and enjoyability to drive.
Inside the car, the feeling of the original 60s interior has been retained and recreated as much as possible although there is the addition of climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, video display and more comfortable seats.
“We have been watching the incredible growth of so-called resto-mods with interest,” said Henry Mann. “We’ve seen cherished cars that owners want to improve, and we’ve seen those that owners want to future-proof, and we believe our new 1960s Mustang Coupe meets both needs.”
Over a million Mustangs of this type were built by Ford so there are plenty of suitable donor vehicles for those wishing to bring their cars into the modern era and AMR say they expect strong interest from existing owners for this service.
The ePower Mustang is the first in a series of Alan Mann Legacy Edition cars to be produced and others are likely to follow in the future.
Words: Mike Booth
Pictures & Video: Alan Mann Racing Ltd