Are Friends Electric? Future Past EV’s Datsun 1200 Ute

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If we’re talking friends of classic cars, I’d happily vouch that visionaries like Ken Macken are very, very electric indeed!   Or electric-minded, at least.  Ken’s company, Future Past EV (http://www.futurepastev.com/), is based in the laid-back resort town of Noosa, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, and is responsible for transforming this immaculate Datto 1200 ute - or Dasla, as it’s now known - from an anaemic fossil wheezer into the fabulous EV that you see here.

Or perhaps you don’t see?   The conversion is extremely subtle, after all; it took me a while to sus it and, had Ken - who was loitering nearby, enjoying the late arvo Noosa River sun - not volunteered the info, I’d still be a little unsure.

There aren’t any real clues to the Dasla’s electrification; it turns out that the charger plug’s in the grille (I missed that one, thinking it was behind the petrol flap) and - the grille badge and Future Past EV sticker in the rear window aside - it appears completely stock.  Even the aftermarket alloy wheels and sports steering wheel are era-appropriate, helping to preserve its classic look 

This piece is by no means a scoop, the Dasla having already been splashed all over the mainstream media and also enjoying a strong internet following.  However, for those not intimate with the details, Future Past swapped the original 1.2 litre four pot ICE for a brand new NetGain HyPer 9HV power train and five 5.6 kWh Tesla batteries, which were mounted below the ute bed, between the chassis rails, keeping the weight low and making for a slight weight bias towards the rear wheels.  The original four speed gearbox remains.

All up, the Dasla comes in at a minuscule plus 15kg over the stock petrol powered 1200 ute (730 kg -v- the original 715 kg).  And 15kg really, truly is nothing!  Ken reckons that even with a motor that doesn’t pack quite the same punch as a Tesla-derived unit, his tiny workhorse is quicker than any of Mr Musk’s standard offerings.   That explains the rearward weight distribution; all that tyre-shredding electric grunt needs all the traction advantages it can get!




Sincere thanks to Ken for having generously shared his time with me, discussing the Dasla’s finer points.  It was very much appreciated.  

Did you enjoy this post?   If so, why not check out the rest of the Upper Middle Petrol Head site?  There are quite literally hundreds and hundreds of classic, sports and performance cars from Tasmania and all around Australia, plus car shows, motorsports events and other auto-related content. 




U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

iPhone images.



Comments

  1. Anonymous24 July 2022 at 21:27

    These were a great little ute back in the day. It's good to see them being upgraded like this!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous25 July 2022 at 18:38

    They certainly were! I like the fastback coupe version, too; a great mini muscle car, in looks at least.

    ReplyDelete

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