LA Classic Modern Electrics
The LA Classic
Modern Electric
Is Here
We reimagined the Morgan classic sports car — its sweeping fenders, exposed wood panels, and timeless silhouette — and married it to Tesla Model S power. The result is a four-seat electric grand tourer unlike anything the world has seen.
Where Morgan's Soul Meets Tesla's Heart
The LA Classic Modern Electric is not a restoration. It is not a tribute car. It is something entirely new — a hand-crafted, bamboo-and-oak panelled four-seat grand tourer powered by Tesla Model S drivetrain technology, styled with reverence for the legendary Morgan Sports Car's long bonnet, swooping fenders, and exposed natural material body construction.
Morgan has always built cars with wooden frames. We take that heritage further: every exterior panel is visible, unvarnished bamboo and select oak — celebrating the grain, the joints, and the craft. Raw. Honest. Irreplaceable.
Four seats. Four-wheel electric drive. 0–60 in under 4 seconds. 396-mile range. And the most beautiful dashboard this side of 1965.
✦ Key Design Principles
Exposed natural bamboo and white oak panels with hand-fitted brass joinery. Long traditional bonnet with louvred vents. Running boards and swept fenders recalling Morgan's 1950s roadsters. Four-seat layout with 2+2 rear. Tesla Model S Performance dual-motor drivetrain. Morgan-style leather and walnut dashboard with a 15.4" portrait touchscreen. No paint — the material is the finish.
Panel by Panel — The Natural Structure
The LA Classic is assembled from 14 primary structural panels, each CNC-routed from laminated bamboo composites (12-ply, 18mm) or solid white oak (30mm), bonded with aerospace-grade structural epoxy and hand-finished with linseed oil.
Bonnet / Hood Panel
12-ply cross-laminated bamboo composite, 22mm. CNC-routed louvre slots for thermal venting. Stainless hinge pins with leather strap restraints, Morgan-style. Brass edge trim at leading edge. Linseed oil finish.
Front Swept Fenders (×2)
Solid white oak, 30mm. Hand-carved compound curves following Morgan's wing geometry. Brass mounting bolts exposed as a design feature. Wheel arch lined with brushed aluminium. Separate from the body for traditional serviceability.
Front & Rear Doors (×4)
18mm bamboo skinned over aluminium inner frame. Morgan-style pull-handle with polished brass fittings. Electric window motors retained from bespoke supply. Weather seal: traditional Morgan rubber channel. No steel outer skin.
Roof Panel
10mm carbon fibre–bamboo sandwich. Lightweight: 4.8kg total. Teak-strip finish on inside visible surface. Two canvas sunroof panels in the style of Morgan's classic drophead. Optional: full hard bamboo top with brass fittings.
Running Boards (×2)
Solid white oak planks, 30mm. Anti-slip grooves cut in a herringbone pattern. Brass end-caps. Morgan used ash; we choose oak for greater density and moisture resistance. Structural support via hidden aluminium box section.
Rear Quarter & Boot
Hybrid bamboo/oak 20mm on aluminium armature. Sweeping tail fin rises naturally from the wheel arch curve. Boot lid in 18mm bamboo with piano hinges. Traditional leather strap bonnet-pin style on the boot release. Rear lights integrated flush without a plastic housing.
Tesla Model S Power — The Spine of the Machine
The LA Classic Modern Electric borrows its entire drivetrain from the Tesla Model S Performance: dual permanent magnet motors (front and rear axle), the 100 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and the Tesla-derived thermal management system. These are sourced as complete certified rebuild units and re-engineered into a bespoke aluminium chassis.
The battery pack sits flat in a purpose-designed aluminium tray that doubles as the structural floor — a method perfected by Tesla and now fitted beneath hand-crafted bamboo floor inlays. The result is an ultra-low centre of gravity inside a body that looks like it belongs in 1958.
Morgan Soul. Tesla Brain. One Cockpit.
The interior of the LA Classic presents one of the most ambitious design challenges: marrying the analogue warmth of a Morgan cockpit — aged leather, polished walnut, toggle switches, round dials — with the raw computational power of Tesla's software ecosystem.
Our solution: a full-width hand-turned walnut dashboard fascia, with recessed analogue gauges for speed and power reserve flanking a central 15.4" portrait touchscreen running a bespoke Morgan-skinned Tesla UI. All HVAC, navigation, and media is on-screen. Classic toggle switches control lights, drive mode, and window functions.
Assembly Instructions — Step by Step
The LA Classic Modern Electric is a hand-build project intended for a small-batch specialist workshop. Below are the primary assembly phases. Each stage requires qualified tradespeople — structural engineers, certified EV technicians, and master woodworkers working in parallel across a 14–18 week build timeline.
Chassis Construction
Fabricate the bespoke aluminium box-section ladder chassis (6061-T6 alloy, TIG welded) to a length of 4,200mm. The central battery tray is welded as an integral part of the chassis floor. All mounts — suspension, motor, subframe — are CNC-machined and bolted in at this stage. Hot-dip galvanised. Inspected and load-tested to 3g lateral, 5g frontal impact before any further assembly.
Tesla Drivetrain Integration
Mount the Tesla Model S Performance battery pack (100 kWh) into the chassis tray and torque all high-voltage connections to specification. Install front and rear drive units (permanent magnet motors) onto their bespoke subframe mounts. Connect high-voltage harness, BMS (battery management system), and 12V auxiliary system. Full EV certification at this stage. All work by certified EV technicians only — high voltage protocols apply.
Suspension & Brakes
Install double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension — designed to mirror Morgan geometry while accommodating Tesla drive units. Fit 4-pot Brembo callipers (front) and 2-pot (rear). Mount 18" wire-spoke wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres. Align and corner-weight the rolling chassis before body work begins.
Bamboo & Oak Panel Fabrication
In the woodworking bay: CNC-rout all 14 primary panels from pre-cured bamboo composite sheets and solid white oak billets using 5-axis tooling. Each panel is then hand-finished by a master woodworker — edges chamfered and sanded to 320 grit, grain direction matched across the body, panels labelled and matched to the vehicle. Three coats of raw linseed oil applied, rubbing between each coat. No lacquer, no paint — the natural finish is the intended surface.
Body Panel Mounting
Mount bonded aluminium inner body structure (door frames, A/B/C pillars) to the chassis using structural epoxy and bolts. Fit all bamboo exterior panels onto their aluminium armatures using stainless M8 machine screws with brass cap covers. Bonnet attached via traditional Morgan-style straps and polished pins. Running boards bolted directly to sill structure with exposed brass hardware. All panel seams sealed with natural beeswax compound rather than mastic. Gaps set to 4mm tolerance throughout.
Dashboard & Interior Fit
Install hand-turned walnut dashboard fascia onto its aluminium mounting frame. Fit the 15.4" portrait touchscreen (Tesla hardware, Morgan UI skin) into its bespoke walnut surround. Install analogue gauges, toggle switch panel, HVAC ducting, and leather-wrapped steering wheel (Morgan 3-spoke with electric power assist). Fit bucket seats upholstered in full-grain Connolly leather. Install bamboo floor inlays over battery cover. Four-point harness anchorage points for optional track use.
Electrical, Lighting & Glass
Route 12V auxiliary harness for all lighting, switchgear, heated seats, and audio. Fit hand-formed headlight nacelles with LED units in a round classic housing. Fit rear clusters integrated flush into the bamboo tail. Install windscreen and rear glass (Pilkington bespoke curved glass, laminated). Fit polished brass exterior mirrors. Final check of all lights, indicators, DRLs, and charging port illumination.
Commissioning, QC & Handover
Full rolling road dynamometer test (power, torque, regen curves). Wheel alignment and geometry set. OTA software update to latest Tesla firmware. Road test 100 miles minimum by qualified test driver. Natural panel inspection — any raised grain re-oiled and buffed. Brass hardware polished. Build book completed with every panel's timber source, grain certificate, and craftsperson's signature. Delivered with charging cable, full build documentation, and 2-year workshop warranty.
The Burgundy Metallic Edition
Parked beneath the charging canopy — plugged in, ready to go
LA Classic Modern Electric — Burgundy Metallic · 4-Seat Open Tourer · Morgan-Inspired
Full Production Cost Breakdown — Per Vehicle
This is a detailed, realistic cost model for a single hand-built production unit of the LA Classic Modern Electric in a small-batch workshop environment (10–25 cars per year). Costs are in USD and represent 2026 sourcing estimates.
| Component / Category | Description | Est. Unit Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model S Drivetrain Pack | Certified rebuild dual-motor unit + inverter, sourced from specialist EV rebuilders (Gruber, EV West, etc.). Includes front & rear motor, power electronics. | $28,000 – $35,000 |
| Tesla 100 kWh Battery Pack | Reconditioned Model S 100D pack, full BMS, thermal management. Capacity warranted at 95%+. DC fast charge (CCS/SC) compatible harness. | $22,000 – $28,000 |
| Aluminium Chassis Fabrication | Bespoke 6061-T6 ladder frame with battery tray, CNC machined mounts, TIG welded by structural certified fabricator. Includes hot-dip galvanising and load testing. | $14,000 – $18,000 |
| Bamboo Composite Panels (14 panels) | 12-ply and 18-ply cross-laminated bamboo sheets — CNC-routed, hand-finished, triple linseed oil treatment. Premium sustainable-sourced from certified Moso suppliers. | $6,500 – $9,000 |
| White Oak Structural Timber | Solid white oak billets for fenders, running boards, dashboard fascia. Quarter-sawn premium grade. Kiln dried, machined, hand carved. | $3,800 – $5,500 |
| Suspension System | Bespoke double-wishbone front (CNC billets), multi-link rear. Bilstein adaptive dampers. Custom geometry to Morgan proportions. Brembo 4-pot front brakes. | $9,500 – $13,000 |
| Wheels & Tyres (×4 + spare) | Hand-built 18" wire-spoke alloy wheels (gold finish), 5 off. Michelin Pilot Sport EV 245/45 R18 front, 275/40 R18 rear. | $6,800 – $8,500 |
| Interior — Leather & Fittings | Full Connolly hide upholstery (4 seats + trim), hand-stitched. Walnut dashboard fascia, hand-turned. Analogue gauges ×2 (Smiths/Classic). Toggle switch panel. Carpet (wool). | $12,000 – $16,000 |
| Touchscreen & Tesla UI | 15.4" portrait display, Tesla hardware with bespoke Morgan UI skin. Integration harness. OTA update module. | $4,500 – $6,500 |
| Electrical System (12V & HV) | Full wiring harness (12V), LED lighting all round, HVAC electric system, EV charge port (CCS), PDM, fuse box. All work by certified EV technician. | $5,500 – $7,500 |
| Glass (Windscreen + Rear + Windows) | Bespoke curved laminated windscreen (Pilkington), rear glass, 4 door glass panels. All custom profiled to Morgan-style geometry. | $4,200 – $6,000 |
| Brass / Chrome Hardware | All exterior brass fittings: grille bars, bonnet pins, door pulls, wheel arch trim, running board end caps, mirror housings, bumperettes. Polished and lacquered. | $3,200 – $4,800 |
| Paint (Finished versions) | For painted variants (e.g. Burgundy Metallic): 3-stage basecoat / clearcoat with metallic flake. Raw wood versions: linseed oil only (included in panel cost). | $5,000 – $8,000 |
| Skilled Labour — Build | 14–18 weeks of skilled artisan time: master woodworker (6 wks), EV technician (4 wks), chassis fabricator (3 wks), trimmer (3 wks), assembly tech (4 wks). Lagos / UK hybrid build rates. | $38,000 – $52,000 |
| Engineering, Design & Certification | Structural engineering sign-off, EV homologation (IVA / NHTSA prep), crash compliance engineering, build documentation. Per-vehicle amortised from programme cost. | $8,000 – $12,000 |
| Workshop Overheads (per vehicle) | Facility cost, tooling, CNC machine time, consumables, quality control inspections, delivery logistics. Amortised over 10-unit batch. | $6,000 – $9,000 |
| TOTAL ESTIMATED PRODUCTION COST (per vehicle) | $177,000 – $238,000 | |
* Costs above represent workshop build cost per vehicle, not retail price. Suggested retail price for a bespoke hand-built vehicle of this specification would be in the range of $285,000–$380,000 to account for business overheads, warranty provision, profit margin, and low-volume premium. Comparable bespoke handbuilt EVs (Silk EV, Tourer Electric, Munsterhuis) retail from $250K–$650K.
Are You Interested in
Making This a Reality?
The LA Classic Modern Electric exists right now as a fully developed concept — engineering layouts, panel designs, drivetrain specification, and build costings are in place. We are looking for co-founders, specialist builders, investors, and passionate individuals who want to bring this extraordinary car to life.
Whether you are a coachbuilder, an EV engineer, a craftsperson, a backer, or simply someone who would buy one: we want to hear from you.
Leave a Comment — Are You Interested?
If this project excites you — as a builder, investor, buyer, engineer, woodworker, or simply a lover of beautiful machines — tell us below. This post is actively monitored by the TWN design desk. Every serious enquiry will receive a reply.
This is absolutely stunning. I've been looking for a classic-styled electric car that isn't just a Range Rover with wood trim. The Morgan proportions on this are perfect. If this reaches production, I want number one off the line. Please make it happen.
I spent 12 years at Morgan Motor Company and the idea of bamboo panels over a Tesla drivetrain is genuinely feasible. The panel work described here is exactly how we built the Aero 8 wings. Happy to consult on the timber construction methodology. Get in touch.
A truly African-inspired luxury EV using natural African bamboo and timber. If the production facility can be based in Nigeria or Ghana, this becomes a statement for African manufacturing excellence. I'd like to discuss investment terms seriously. Please share a pitch deck.