Teslarossa Ep1 - The plan 

Much prefer this format to the Quest programmes. TV companies always seem to want some type of tension / confrontation. None of that here - just the facts. Thank you.

Teslarossa? Love it !! A friend of mine had one of these back in the day (1985 !) and it had quite a few problems, notably dodgy air-conditioning. So it got nicknamed the *Testicleroaster* !

Mate had a Black Testarossa and a Red Mondial (not from new both about 20yo). Both cars had awful electrics and the clutches at £3k a pop were very easy to burn out. He installed an alarm (required by insurers) in the Mondial and from then on in it was a nightmare. Whole group of us went on a french driving holiday, all the other cars were like BMWs and Range Rovers etc. Got to drove both cars (I was mainly in the Mondial) to and from the Cote D'Azur. The new alarm had to be disabled as it interfered with everything and the speedo then decided to give up the ghost during the drive down. I could only judge my speed by other road users and the satnav indication. Both were fantastic cars and drank fuel like a nervous father of the bride at a wedding. The French and Italians were all over them wherever we parked up for lunch etc. Seeing the video brought back lovely memories. They would both make lovely BEVs. Be interested to know the cost of the conversions? Great work BTW.

I love how naturally you convey the philosophy behind these conversions. I see a true "former" petrolhead who just transcended to a different state-of-mind, posing very well thought of arguments. Much respect to you sir.

Just found this channel today and I'm hooked already.

Excellent as always. Very much appreciated. Thank you.

Excellent video, going to enjoy this conversion and respect to your seat comparison.

Thanks man for these videos! you're really a good presenter

Fascinating video series. Cheers 🥂

Great video mate 👌

Damn, this is brilliant, really great following this along. Love your style.

I started driving 1965. Also, I'm in the US so as far as the sound, there's an old saying here. "There's no substitute for cubic inches." I love the sound of a big block V-8. That being said, I believe the handwriting is on the wall for gasoline engines. Hopefully, we will catch up with you guys. I'm in Kansas and charging stations are few and far between. I also live in an apartment. So I don't think I'll live to see them anywhere I could conveniently use them. Maybe shops like yours and the charging systems will show up here. By the way I really like what you do to keep the esthetic of the vehicles you convert to electric. Very high quality work 👍

I bet Ratarossa would love to buy all the parts you remove to do your conversion.

My kind of "TV" watching. I'm already watching your race car build; I do like these 'build' from the start..... a throw back to vintage voltage . More if the same please...

Those switches control the direction of air from the foot air vents (I googled it haha). Look forward to seeing (and hearing) the finished article.

What a beautiful car.

Without the fart noise at the end! 👍 Much better. I really enjoyed (particularly) the last couple of video's.

Great viewing just started watching in New Zealand

WD 40 on that hinge

Great info to think about thanks

beautiful car! but watching you having to deal with all these hassles makes me appreciate my flawless RX7 even more.

looking forward to the next video.

This Ferrari was an iconic car for sure. Although I never realized that the interior was that simple and cheap looking. I mean for a car with that kind of status that it used to have back in the days. For starters a digital speedometer upgrade would do a lot of good in this car. And I think that the mystery button is for the rear window heating. I am looking forward to see this project evolve. I am convinced that it will be a very pleasurable experience to drive it once it is electrified. 🙂👍

So jealous, would love to drive this ICE or EV, and you Richard get to do both

I don't understand why you call it a V when it's clearly a flat engine. I don't think the firing order has anything to do with whether it's a V or a flat engine. If the pistons are horizontally opposed, then it's a flat 12, with all due respect. Love the work you do on these cars.

An English bloke filling an Italian car at a Texas Oil Company 'gas' station. Cool! In the early '90s, I ended up in south Miami-Dade County, helping out with the Hurricane Andrew rebuild. There were a few Testarossas running around Miami popularized by Miami Vice.

“We’ve had a few minor reliability issues today” - ironically with the battery. 🤣😂

Thank you for largest vanity mirror ever put on car

Great video. Going to fun watching the conversion. I'm in Newfoundland and little to no access to any scrapped Tesla's... I have an electronic engineering background and have been wanting to convert a car for 35 years... Just too damn expensive.... With current gas prices might now be viable... I'd do a TR7 or Fiat X1/9

Apparently a TVR is all about the engine and noise.....Opps! Great video, looking forward to the progress! 🤟⚡🌿

Word Up by Cameo. I'd completely forgotten that song so I had to find it on YT. I really wish it had remained forgotten.

Love your videos sir. I was introduced to your business on your Motortrend show "Vintage Voltage". Love that show! I appreciate all the time and effort you and your crew put in to bringing back classic vehicles in a more eco friendly way, as well as all the hard work you all put in to making these videos. Thank you!

A true petrolhead’s biggest nightmare 😡🤬

Great Video, just one comment: Sunny from Miami Vice never complained about clutch and power steering…. 😂

Bring it, Richard. I am very curious how is it going to end up.

It would be interesting to see you do an EV conversion of one of the two Lancia Stratos replicas out there (Hawk HF or Lister Bell STR). Perhaps a collaboration with the company that makes the chassis. Since they already design the chassis to take a donor engine it might be a good business move for them to develop a model to take a donor EV drivetrain to future-proof their car.

Curious that you filled the tank just before you remove it. To make the Testarossa usable, it needs height adjustable suspension. This car cannot be used on any ramp or driveway with a slope. The front skirt has to be replaced continually.

A Cameo's "Word Up" reference? Love it.

Richard is a legend! Keeping classic cars alive and making them even better with electric power! I wish I kept my stag now and had these guys do a conversion 😩

Great show, like your simple explanation of complicated subjects, you talk about a Mini kit that will go to the US and was wondering if you would have a Vanagon kit for a 2 wheel drive Carat. Best regards J-C

I'd like to see the conversion of a Lotus Esprit to electric!

I miss my small holding in Carmarthen which was not far from Pembrey Circuit where at certain times of the year you could hear from a considerable distance formula one cars being tested also the 2 vent rocker switches in the center console of the Testarossa should control air direction.

Really enjoyed this. All the technology you've mastered will certainly be put to best use here. Looking forward to your solutions. Cheers!

I'm torn over the project

The Testarossa has a 115L fuel tank, so you were pretty close to empty there.Then again, if they are delivering a car for EV conversion, it sort of makes sense for the tank to be pretty empty.

I'm guessing the battery problem is the Alternator. But as that is coming out with the engine it's not a problem. :)

Dinojuice wallahs talk about ‘range anxiety’ for electric wallahs. As an electric wallah, I’d get pump anxiety facing a £140 bill for every fill up! I’m in your dad’s Plug Pirate crew, and enjoy discovering free recharges at supermarkets and car parks. 🏴‍☠️⚡️🔋

£140 for a tank of petrol is a pretty good reason for you to have FOUR of these to convert. However, it would cost twice as much to fill it this week!

This is my favorite Ferrari. When I first started hearing ppl doing conversions the testarosa was the first car I thought of.😎😍😍👍👍

Heated seats buttons on the centre console?

@5:47 Somebody call Tyrrell's Classic Workshop!

you had me right up to 'better than the Countach". lol

Is this one customer with four Testarossas? Or four owners with a Testarossa each? Anyway, impressive!

If the gated manual is staying, is there a plan for an electric gearbox oil heater?

You Should try and get a 47/53 weight distribution that is the best handling set up according to Ferrari. Love the video looking forwards to the next.

Another example why I don’t waste my time with regular TV. This is so much more fascinating. Going to love this project.

Another thing Richard, about those beautiful nostalgic Ferrari, is that as they old, the parts will be rarer, harder to get and also that accumulates the cost. Then, comes another question... when it will be possible to service those old Ferraris with original parts? Will Ferrari have all spare parts forever?

Matt from carwow sends his regards.

Great video. 95 RON in a Ferrari?! 😱 Looking forward to see the conversion Word Up! Brilliant.

I would love to see a Ferrari Dino 246 spider converted.

Great videos like normal, to bad you couldn’t take it on a track. Are you going to have to upgrade the breaks on these like the other ones you’ve had? Your guys are going to love draining the fuel out of it with 3/4 tank full.

great video+explanation+presentation! well done presenter and cameraman! Totally with you on the back view looking sideways - a thing of real beauty! Although some would say a Ferrari is all about the engine, i think like you, the feel and style of the interior and body is part of the appeal as well. I'll have my interior leather Ferrari seats looking like an MJ/Cameo video, s'il vous plait - too funny mate! Looking forward to the conversion! Pump up the volume on that WORD UP video, por favor! 🙏🏻

Handling must change re. full v empty, as the Testarossa fuel tank capacity is 115litres. Having +/- 100kg over the rear wheels must mean spirited driving is 'interesting'.

Do a Miami vice version in White 👍

I'm David from Western Australia and have been a Ferrari fan since 1958. But no more. Nowadays, Ferrari is more like Prada on petrol. The testarossa flat 12 was a cul-de-Sac in Ferrari design, with a monstrous motor in the back. Nowadays, I'm a solid Tesla fan, and your Teslarossa conversion seems the right path for this car.

Pininfarina 😘👌

It’s great you do this. Every time one of these valuable cars gets destroyed by people who have no idea about preserving history, the more valuable mine gets!

£112 YESTERDAY- £150 TODAY !

Keeping the gated shifter for forward/reverse/neutral?

Quite a few Kia EV owners have had problems with the 12v battery being flat... ( locked out of the car etc...) Not had an issue with mine so far !

Do a Ford Rs cosworth Sierra 3dr, obviously a Shell and Electric Motor replica. 😁

Tapes have made a bit of a comeback in the states. At least with small independent record labels in the underground/diy scene.

I did see you in the garage filling up, didn't realise it was you, went past on a suzuki,on the way back from aber, it was chilly out on the bike

Larry Blackmon IIRC (Cameo). I bought the CD. You going to model a red codpiece, Rich? 🤣🔻

According to Harry's videos, the TR is a GT that covers long distances easily and the Lambo is not. More of a day trip car. When you put more weight on the front you may have to change the springs to adjust. Also, older cars like this need to be plugged in when not driven. But I suppose you know that since that sort of is your business. You said you are doing 4 conversions so you must have a kit to bolt in the components. Or is this kind of a prototype? Curious to see how the weight and distribution compares when you are finished.

You could keep the gated selector but with that, you could have selectable regenerative braking positions. By the way, how would you go about electrifying convertibles? The hard tops take a fair bit of juice from the 12v battery. Its usually best to operate them with the alternator operating. How would you do it?

Rear quarter angle is the best because that's the one most drivers will get a view of for longest XD

Just thought of something, on Android there is or rather was, an app that you installed on your phone that once calibrated you could select the car manufacturer/engine sound and play it through the car audio system (maybe you can add external waterproof speakers at the back?). It's calibrated using the phones gyroscopic sensors and as the Gforce increases, the app accelerates the cars engine reproduction in return. The app was called XLR8. Now if you add that ability to your classic electric sports cars, you won't lose any of that amazing V6, V8, V10, V12 rumble engine sound that makes these classics so desirable.

I hope in the post-conversion test drive you redeem yourself wearing by a Bennetton suit & no socks! 😹

Converting a Lamborghini countach would be interesting to see! That is my teenage poster kind of car too 🙂

You’re not only living the dream, but making a living and a great show while at it. You should record the last run of the engine so that the owner can play it over the soundsystem when you’re fiņished with the conversion.

Testarossa ... my dream car to own which sadly has been climbing in price as of late. Really excited to see and EV conversion! More HP, more Torque and punch and definitely an even lower center of gravity. Might offset costs by selling the engine and drivetrain if it was a life long vehicle to keep.

Beauty of a car. Curious though as to why you filled the tank knowing it is going to be converted anyway?

I noticed that VW T25 Westfalia in the corner. I'd be very interested in seeing that one done, as I have one myself I'd like to electrify one day.

Woww awesome..first!

Darn google algorithm brought me here, wow I feel binge watching feeling coming up 😅

11:30 I have a Peugeot Boxer based motorhome. When I picked it up it was low on petrol, and I put 20 miles on it going home, so filled up at the local Tesco. And filled up. And filled up. I actually stopped and looked all around underneath for a leak. It has an 80 litre tank :-(. Does about 20 mpg :-(( I was putting in £100 + YEARS ago. Now that would be about £150 for a full tank. (Off the road, waiting to convert it to EV now). When you said "Let's see how much it costs," I thought at LEAST £100 quid.

Any thoughts of developing a sound system perhaps in place of the mufflers/tailpipes that can reproduce various gasoline engine sounds linked to the accelerator?

Oh, I see what you did! You changed the _T_ in Testarossa to the _L_ in Teslarossa. So clever, so very clever. _T_-oo _L_-ate for the Ferrari, though.

I've been seeing that some new EVs have issues with their 12v battery being flat as well. The Ioniq5 has a battery management but there are still issues being reported. How do you in your conversions fix this? As I assume you keep the 12v battery.

I have a dream to do this to an f40, mostly to watch people lose their minds.

W O R D Up! LeVar Burton of Star Trek fame played the detective in the music video. It's good to make sure that there is a good base to start with. What are the plans for the power steering? For brakes, are you using the iBooster?

What are Tesla wheels, if not connected to the engine ? Won't this front suspension be completely new to suit ? The rear likewise ?

£1.52 per litre .... how fast things change :-)

I'm just waiting for your "electrification" service :). I will buy a 1980s Camaro or a DeLorean and make my dream car out of it with your help.

What do you do with the tank full of petrol once you start with the stripe down. Worth a forture

So true. Always a battery, fuel or clutch issue after some weeks stationary. I just took my EV motorcycle or after 2 months and off you go. With my ice I would had fuel issues with blocked carburettor first.

Is it possible to organize a drag race between the two Ferraris after converting one of them to electric, I think it will be fun.

So Testarossa 1, getting Converted for Differed maintenance of the battery and the fuel metering unit that after sitting needs a rebuild, given how it kept surging and stopping right on the start of the cold start. Also word of warning if you get a ferrari 360 in for this conversion, do NOT jump the battery, it fries the computer, it happened to samcrac who was rebuilding one, your better off just flat out replacing the battery, and I think the same rule applies to some of the earlier BMW's too and the general rule with italian cars is take it out once a week for a run, anything beyond that and they get angry also if you want a personal one for yourself that kinda combines the best of both worlds like testarossa styling without the drawbacks of its size, look at a late model 348, after they started modernizing them, their kind of the sweetspot of the V8 range also when he comes to his senses, tell him to put a 512TR motor in it, or put some headers on it and actually drive it, its like an italian woman, you ignore it enough and then one day you get a pasta bowl thrown at you as you walk in the door also the footpedals might be offset because its backwards from how it might have been designed in italy, as I dont think the UK market was really its intended market so what your seeing is basically the gas pedal where the clutch and brake pedal would normally be on the american one, also 32 gallon tank, its a grand touring car after all also the testarossa book I have says it has an option of either 225's or 245's in the front, and normally I have never heard anyone say its light in the front, not once, so you must have an 88 with the 225's and with the new rim size as they changed the rims from the center knock 16.5's to something abit easier to find tires for so when you fiddle with it if I am right, try 235's, either that or it just has old tires on it, that would do it. also personally the major failing on the testarossa was the front bumper, like it needs to be reangled and flipped around so the bottom thinner strip is on the top, so it matches the front better still glad to see your not thrashing it and you like it but I'm not blind it is italian and somethings can very much be improved lol and also as much as I hate to say it, with the way the car is designed, the engine out service, it would apply itself well to this conversion, they designed the entire rear subframe to just come out and drop out with a few bolts. also your seats been retrimmed, testarossa's dont have those, someones retrimmed the thing in the center to have those daytona lines put on it. and I think those two switches in the middle are for the windows, and one of those is the defroster for the rear, and theirs controls for the air con in there too, which is controled by one of the knobs. hence the red to blue thing also that's kind of incredible really, so its within 11 to 12 KG on either tire for an even balance at the front or the rear

It's cool what you're doing to that Ferrari but also kinda sad 😁