Jason Momoa's Latest Restomods Prove The Definition Of "Modern" Never Stops ChangingFrom electric Land Rovers to hybrid Harley-Davidsons, Momoa's latest custom builds hint at the future of classic vehicle restoration.For decades, the restomod formula was pretty straightforward. Take an old vehicle, restore it, then sneak in a few modern upgrades so it's nicer to live with. Maybe that meant fuel injection instead of carburetors. Maybe it meant disc brakes, electronic ignition, air conditioning, or a better stereo.But "modern" is a moving target.What counted as cutting-edge in 1995 feels ancient today. And if a new project from Jason Momoa and British EV specialist Electrogenic is any indication, the next chapter of restomodding might involve a lot more batteries. And that's because the latest season of On The Roam follows Momoa as he transforms some of his favorite vintage machines, and the results are exactly as ambitious as you'd expect from a guy who previously had a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II converted to electric power.Jason Momoa's Latest Restomods Prove The Definition OfThis time around, the lineup includes two rare classic Land Rovers, three vintage Harley-Davidsons, and an off-road camping trailer that somehow ended up with enough battery capacity to embarrass some modern EVs.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Land Rovers are perhaps the easiest builds to understand. Electrogenic converted a 1949 Series I and a rare 1961 Series IIA Dormobile camper to fully electric power while retaining their original transfer cases and four-wheel-drive systems. The goal wasn't to reinvent them. It was to preserve everything that made them special while removing some of the compromises that came with mid-century engineering.The result is a pair of silent, torque-rich classics that can still crawl through the woods and wander off-road, only now without exhaust fumes finding their way into the cabin. The Dormobile even gets an induction cooktop, turning it into a genuinely modern electric camper.Jason Momoa's Latest Restomods Prove The Definition OfJason Momoa's Latest Restomods Prove The Definition OfPhotos by: ElectrogenicArt Or Sacrilege?Yoshimura's Badass Restomod Suzuki Motorcycle Can Actually Be YoursCan This Seized Vintage Honda Run Again For Next To Zero Dollars?AdvertisementAdvertisementThen things get a bit more unhinged. Electrogenic also converted three of Momoa's vintage Harley-Davidsons. One became fully electric, but the real stars are two 1920s Harley-Davidson Model JDs that now function as plug-in hybrids.Yes, plug-in hybrid motorcycles from the 1920s.The original V-twin engines remain intact, but an electric hub motor in the rear wheel allows the bikes to run on gasoline, electricity, or both at the same time. That means you can switch between modes on the fly. The electric motor can even start the gasoline engine, eliminating the kick-starting ritual that has humbled riders for more than a century.It's one of those ideas that sounds completely ridiculous until you realize it makes perfect sense. The bikes still look, sound, and behave like vintage Harleys when you want them to. But they can also glide silently through a neighborhood, cruise on electric power alone, or combine both power sources for extra oomph.Jason Momoa's Latest Restomods Prove The Definition OfThat philosophy might be the most interesting part of the entire project. For years, enthusiasts have argued about whether EV conversions destroy classic vehicles or save them. The answer increasingly seems to depend on how they're done. Electrogenic isn't cutting these machines apart or erasing their identities. In fact, every conversion is designed to be reversible.AdvertisementAdvertisementInstead, the company is asking a different question: If builders in the 1960s, 1980s, or early 2000s used the best technology available to modernize old vehicles, why should today's builders stop at fuel injection and Bluetooth stereos? Technology moves forward. And restomods, understandably, move with it.Whether enthusiasts embrace electrification or not, projects like Momoa's collection suggest that batteries, motors, and hybrid systems are becoming just another tool in the custom builder's toolbox. Not a replacement for classic machinery, but another way to keep it relevant, usable, and enjoyable for the next generation.Source: Electrogenic
+17 others
