Icon Revives A 500 Giardinetta With An Electric Heart
The Icon 500 Giardinetta electric restomod is proof that small and iconic can also be modern and emission-free. Built by Icon, the California workshop famous for its painstaking restorations of classic 4x4s, this 1966 Fiat 500 Giardinetta Derelict swaps its original engine for a six-module battery stack, Tesla-sourced cells, and an AC motor, without touching a single body panel.
What Is the Icon 500 Giardinetta Derelict?
The "Derelict" designation is central to Icon's philosophy: keep the exterior patina intact, showing every scratch and age mark as a badge of authenticity, while completely rebuilding everything mechanical and structural underneath. The 1966 Giardinetta, Fiat's long-wheelbase wagon variant of the 500, was chosen for its four-seat configuration and its genuine rarity. Converting it to electric power while preserving its original shell is a technical exercise in both restraint and precision.
Powertrain and Battery Specifications
The conversion was carried out in collaboration with Stealth EV, using an Orion battery management system paired with an AC35 motor. Six Tesla-derived battery modules, two positioned up front and four in the rear for optimal weight balance, deliver approximately 80 hp and 100 lb-ft of torque. That is already more performance than the modern Fiat 500e of 2018.
Estimated range sits at around 120 to 150 miles of city driving per charge, which is entirely appropriate for a car of this size and spirit. The four-seat configuration is unchanged, making the Giardinetta genuinely usable rather than simply decorative.
Chassis, Interior, and Refinement
Beyond the powertrain, Icon addressed every rattling Italian flaw the original 500 was known for. Dynamat was applied throughout the cabin for sound dampening. New glass seals and weather stripping were fitted. Coilovers replace the original suspension units, and upgraded disc brakes bring stopping performance into the modern era.
The cabin was retrimmed in marine-grade vinyl for durability, with Italian leather accents added to keep the interior connected to its heritage. The result is a car that looks untouched from the outside but drives like a thoroughly modern electric vehicle inside.
Motor Authority and Stealth EV both covered the build in detail, with Motor Authority noting the Stealth EV collaboration and the precision of the battery packaging. Electrify News profiled the conversion as one of the more thoughtful small-car electric restomod builds to date.
The Broader World of Electric Restomods
The Icon Giardinetta sits within a growing category of bespoke electric classics. The Charge Electric Mustang applies the same idea to a 1960s Ford pony car, swapping V8 for a silent electric drivetrain while keeping the fastback body. At the other end of the price range, the Nardone 928 brings the Porsche 928 back to life with a completely redesigned interior and drivetrain. Both are available through TheArsenale's curated restomod collection.
Why the Giardinetta Matters
The Icon 500 Giardinetta electric conversion is not about maximum range or lowest price. It is about proving that the most characterful cars ever made need not be retired because their engines are obsolete. With the right builder and the right approach, a 60-year-old Italian city car can be reborn as something genuinely new, and genuinely better.
