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Ford turns 1978 F-100 pickup into all-electric showpiece

We've seen some pretty impressive restomods in the past couple of years, where vintage gasoline vehicles are outfitted with state-of-the-art all-electric propulsion systems. There was the 1968 Jaguar electrified E-type classic driven by Prince Harry after his wedding in 2018, and a 1977 K5 Blazer converted to all-electric by Chevy in 2020.

Ford showed off its latest conversion at the 2021 SEMA show in the form of the unassuming-but-powerful 480-hp 1978 all-electric F-100 Eluminator concept truck, which features twin front and rear electric traction motors from the Mustang Mach-E. The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show was held at the beginning of November in Las Vegas.

One of the main reasons for the conversion was to show off Ford's new e-crate motor, which is available for electrification enthusiasts. The motor, Eluminator Part No. M-9000-MACH-E, retails for $4,095 at authorized Ford parts warehouse dealers or online at Ford Performance Parts.

Ford says the stock motor "is targeted for builders looking for a transverse-oriented powertrain to electrify a range of vehicles from modern to vintage cars, trucks, and SUVs. Each Eluminator e-crate motor produces 281 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque and is street legal in all 50 states." The max speed for the motor is listed as 13,800 rpm, the gear ratio is 9.05:1, and the weight is 205 lb.

The Eluminator stock motor kit includes one HV motor-to-traction inverter harness, LV harness/connector, and a vent tube assembly. It does not include a traction inverter, control system, or battery pack.

The converted F-100 Eluminator concept includes two of the motors that are shared with the 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition; one to drive the front wheels, and one to drive the back. This makes the truck an all-wheel drive vehicle -- and provides a lot of quick power with a total 480 hp and 634 lb-ft of torque. In most real-world conversion projects of this type, a single motor would likely suffice.

Something tells me the all-electric F-100 Eluminator is going to be a popular display at the @LAAutoShow. #LAAutoShow pic.twitter.com/LMOFmL96MX

�" Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) November 17, 2021

The all-electric F-100 Eluminator concept was designed and created by Ford Performance, was built in collaboration with MLe Racecars, and sits on a custom chassis by the Roadster Shop. It is painted in Avalanche Gray with Cerakote Copper accents applied by Brand X Customs, while the interior features a billet aluminum dash by JJR Fabrication and avocado-tanned leather upholstery by MDM Upholstery. It's fitted with custom 19 x 10-in. billet aluminum three-piece wheels by Forgeline wrapped in Michelin Latitude Sport 275/45-19 high-performance tires. The removal of the original truck engine provided plenty of room to build in a little "frunk."

How far does the truck go on a charge? Well, Ford is keeping mum on that. It all depends on the battery pack chosen, and they are not providing that info right now. Yes, we too are disappointed, because time to convert and challenges along the way would also be really good to know.

On the positive side, though, Ford Performance plans to develop a wider list of components for the Eluminator powertrain with some of the leading performance manufacturers, including battery systems, controllers, and traction inverters to close the loop on full turnkey aftermarket electrification solutions. One-stop shopping for the major conversion components would be a breakthrough. We think that if a full system could come in at under $10,000 or so in the future, there could be some real interest from more mainstream electric-conversion enthusiasts.

Source: Ford Motor Co.

Published December 2021

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