A Nissan Bluebird, the popular family car of the 1980s that was the first model to be built at the manufacturer's then new UK factory in Sunderland, has been given a new lease of life as an electric car powered by the battery and motor from a Nissan Leaf.
Conceived to celebrate 35 years of car production at the plant, the Newbird, as it has been pun-ishly christened, combines the old with the new in a unique but thoroughly appealing package, and Move Electric has driven it.
The Newbird is the work of Kinghorn Electric Vehicles, based in Durham. Nissan sourced the donor car, a Bluebird 1.8 GS Liftback registered in 1989, from a dealer and entrusted the conversion to company founder George Kinghorn, giving him just eight weeks to complete it.
"It was hard work – a conversion usually takes us up to twice as long," he says. "Fortunately, much of the work is quite straightforward on older cars like this with simple electrical systems that don't conflict with those required by EVs."
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To make space for the Newbird's motor, inverter and reduction transmission, all three sourced from a crash-damaged, first-generation Nissan Leaf, as well as eight of the 24 modules taken from the 40kWh battery of a second-generation Leaf, George had, of course, to remove the Bluebird's engine, manual gearbox and associated mechanicals.
However, short of fabricating new battery cases and mounts for the electric motor, no structural changes to the car's engine bay were necessary.
Instead, George's biggest challenge lay at the back of the Newbird where he had to strengthen the rear suspension sufficiently enough to support the remaining 16 modules located in the boot which, together with their tough metal case, weigh 200kg.
It's why the Newbird rides on adjustable springs at the rear and sporty Bilstein dampers all-round. Remarkably, all up the car is only 35kg heavier than the original Bluebird, which only goes to show how heavy an engine and a gearbox are.
Inverter and motor are stacked one above the other in the Newbird's former engine bay. They are liquid cooled using an uprated and modified version of the Bluebird's cooling system. The old car's heater matrix has been removed, though, so now cabin heating is provided by a 3kW PTC heater element.
Alongside the motor and inverter there's just space for the front battery pack. On the opposite side, looking slightly awkward, is a traditional 12-volt battery. The steering is powered by an electro-hydraulic pump. Despite the combination of old and new tech, it's a neat and tidy installation.
Ignoring the car's psychedelic colour scheme inspired by 1980 consumer technology and dreamed up by Nissan's London-based design team, outwardly, the Newbird appears to be no different from its Bluebird forebear. It sits no higher or lower and its wheels and wheel covers are the original size.
Even the Type 1 charger port is discreetly hidden behind what was previously the fuel flap. It's inside the car that the conversion is more apparent. For example, in place of the Bluebird's manual gearstick is a metal plinth incorporating a small rotary drive knob and two buttons controlling the PTC heater and the badge light. Press the latter and, when parked, the Nissan badge on the grille glows blue. Very EV.
Happily, the dashboard and instruments are pure Bluebird and very clear, too. The one exception is the fuel gauge. It's still the original one but it now displays the remaining battery charge rather than fuel level. The same things, really.
To start the Newbird's motor you simply turn the ignition key. Of course, EVs never make a sound at 'tickover' but the fact that you're in an otherwise conventional-looking car that is also eerily silent is unsettling at first. Once over that, you turn the rotary knob to Drive, press the accelerator pedal (from that same crashed Leaf) and the Newbird pulls smoothly away.
Acceleration builds only slowly but that's because George has calibrated the motor controls to avoid overwhelming the original Bluebird's brakes and handling. I'm grateful for that when the first proper corner approaches.
Otherwise, despite a slightly pattery ride (George says he may need to swap out the Bilsteins) the car feels comfortable and composed, no doubt thanks to its good front and rear weight distribution and lowish centre of gravity. Wafting around Durham's busy roads it attracts covetous glances from onlookers of a certain age.
Settled into the soft velour seats and With Now That's What I Call Music 15, released in 1989, playing on the cassette deck, I could see myself getting on very well with this electrified Bluebird. If only it didn't cost £30,000 I'd make George an offer for it right now.
Nissan Newbird specification
Based on: 1989 Nissan Bluebird 1.8 GS Liftback
Motor: 30kWh (from a crashed Leaf Mk1)
Battery: New 40kWh pack from a Leaf Mk2
Power: 107bhp (Bluebird 90bhp)
Torque: 210lb ft (Bluebird 106lb ft)
0-60mph: 15.0sec approx (Bluebird 12.6sec)
Kerbweight: 1190kg (Bluebird 1155kg)
Range: 130 miles approx
Price: donor car plus £30,000 approx
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