Some cars are born with a soul. A few are rowdy and unhinged, some are elegant and composed, and others feel tough and utilitarian—tools of purpose rather than expression. Then there are the blank slates: the cars that serve a purpose but never quite connect. That doesn’t mean they aren’t great machines. A car doesn’t need a soul to be a brilliant piece of engineering.

But somewhere between the soulful and the soulless lies a third category—vehicles that almost had something to say. Cars that were close. And often, what held them back was the powertrain. In these cases, an EV conversion isn’t just a performance upgrade—it’s a second chance at identity.

In this article, I want to share five vehicles that I believe would benefit immensely from going electric—not because of speed, torque, or efficiency, but because an EV swap would finally bring their original design ethos to life. We’ve talked before about how EV conversions can be emotional, not just logical. This is that idea, taken to the next level. NOTE: this list is not in any particular order, so this is not a “top 5” list. Just a list.

1. Geo Tracker

The Geo Tracker was, in my opinion, one of those vehicles that just looks cool. Its cartoon-y looks, relatively decent (for the price) off-road capability, and its low price point made for a very interesting value proposition back in the 80s and 90s. However, its powertrain was just there, existing. Serving a purpose, sure, and getting the job done, but it was just not something that takes your breath away, nor something you wake up thinking about. With a modest EV powertrain, and a combined range of around 80 miles this would be a very interesting thing to drive around town, or maybe take to trails nearby. Immediate pedal response, loads of torque and a quiet ride with the top down would make this a very interesting weekend cruiser.

2. Chrysler 300

Many iterations of this vehicle have won the hearts and minds of a lot of people. Since its reintroduction in the 2000s, we’ve seen this affordable luxury sedan boast a decent V6, a brawny 5.7L V8 and even a delightful 6.4L V8. Though the V6 was a decent powerplant, with its latest iteration producing close to 300 hp, I personally believe an EV powertrain would complement this vehicle’s luxurious aura perfectly. Smooth suspension, comfortable interior and an exterior design that sets it apart from the “lesser” sedans of its class, an EV powertrain would give a base model Chrysler 300 what it lacked from the factory: torque, unparalleled smoothness and a technological touch that the V6 just couldn’t provide.

3. Ford Escort ZX2

This, to me, was a very interesting product proposition in the 90s and 2000s. The reason is simple: a compact, 2 door coupe, that was not trying too hard to be sporty, luxurious nor aggressive, that delivered decent fuel economy, interior space, and features for every day commuting. I just love cars like this because of their uninteresting nature, yet quirky design, that delivered nothing more than what they promised, but seemed to have something more. Though very far from a sportscar, I believe the torquey nature of an EV powertrain would elevate the experience of this “sporty economy coupe” to a very decent autocross platform. Make no mistake, though: a ton of power on this platform would, in my humble opinion, ruin the experience. But with a decent amount of power, immediate and smooth torque delivery, and probably a realistic range of 20 to 30 miles to keep battery mass on the lower side, this would become a VERY interesting autocross rig. You would definitely have to tow it to the event and back, and maybe keep a generator handy for charging it between sessions, but fun isn’t always simple!

4. Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo

I think this is my favorite proposition of this list because of a very simple reason: its futuristic design. Now, think of this vehicle in terms of the design ethos of the era, and what the vehicle was supposed to represent to General Motors in their product portfolio at the time: the luxury coupe class was booming, and luxury has many different meanings. For some brands it was chrome and leather, for others it was size, presence and power, but Oldsmobile chose a different route: technology. With its CRT Graphic Control Center to control everything from audio, HVAC and trip computer, its plush interior, and its aerodynamic design with American presence, the Toronado Trofeo was appealing to people interested in “the future”. I love this idea, but I do not love its 3.8L V6. Not from its specs on paper, not from how it drives, and not from how it fits into this idea of “the future”. Plus, its Front Wheel Drive configuration was definitely not adding to the experience of a driver’s car. So what about this beautiful futuristic car, reimagined with a decent amount of power (not too much since it’s FWD… we can talk about why in a different article), a range of about 100 miles, and the smooth pedal experience only an electric machine can provide?

5. Chevrolet Astro Van

The utilitarian addition to give this list a solid foundation. “Why would you want an electric Astro Van?” you ask. Because why the fuck not. Tons of space for batteries and cargo, enough space for a powerful DC motor, and a platform that can take a beating, this would be a great EV conversion to either haul things around town, or do crazy burnouts, or maybe take to the drag strip, or maybe even off-road. I think this conversion can do it all, other than a road course or autocross… unless…?

Look, after all, EV conversions don’t make a lot of sense for the everyday enthusiast, nor should they. Human beings have something driving us to create. We create life, we create poetry, we create visual and auditive art that fills our hearts. This right here is creating. Using our hands and brains to meditatively put things together to create something. It can be abstract art, it can be building a table no one needed, crafting the most useless coffee mug from mud… or slapping a Tesla rear drive unit onto a 90s Astro Van, but creating something is part of our nature. Try creating something every time you can!