PA tech company teams up with historic racing legend to launch stunning new 'electro-mod' Mustang classics
by Mann ePower Cars
January 13, 2024
•Manncorp, of Hatboro, Pennsylvania, specialists in electronics assembly, forms new business partnership with historic racing legend Alan Mann Racing to transform and future-proof classic Mustang cars.
•Philadelphia Auto Show 2024 debuts the first product from this unique partnership – a 1965 Ford Mustang re-engineered with potent new powertrain, regenerative braking, and modern chassis.
•Manncorp announces new subsidiary, Mann ePower Cars, to lead new 'electro-mod' business from its Hatboro HQ.
•Alan Mann Racing (AMR) world-renowned, championship-winning classic car racing specialist, favored by Henry Ford, was established in 1964.
•New ePower Mustang becomes first Alan Mann Legacy Edition model – others to follow.
Renowned Philadelphia hi-tech electronics specialist, Manncorp, of Hatboro, debuts a major breakaway initiative at the Philly Auto Show Jan 13-21– a unique new partnership to modernize and future-proof classic Mustang automobiles.
Manncorp established a new subsidiary, Mann ePower Cars, to join forces with Alan Mann Racing, a world-class specialist in the field of historic car restoration, preparation and racing. The partnership will transform classic Mustangs from the 1960s into powerful, fast, safe 'electro-mods' – wonderful to see and drive, but immune to ever-tightening emission legislation.
The first product from this partnership, a classic 1965 Mustang Coupe, debuts at the Philly Auto Show. Externally this resembles a beautifully-restored classic, but under the skin this Mustang has undergone a radical transformation into a modern, daily-usable GT, with performance, handling, safety and comfort features far beyond those of any 1960s mass-produced vehicle. The show car is also fitted with the latest-generation permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor delivering 300 horsepower and 662 lb ft of torque – far in excess of even the latest Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
Henry Mann, CEO of Manncorp and heading the new Mann ePower Cars operation, said: 'This may seem like a departure for us, but we have long been admirers of Alan Mann Racing. Although unrelated, we share the same family name, and of course a passion for technology, innovation and for cars in general. We have been looking at ways of combining our strengths for some time and are delighted to be launching this project together.'
Mann ePower Cars becomes a new addition to the holdings of Henry Mann (USA). Manncorp is a renowned specialist in electronics production equipment, particularly the precision machines required for circuit board manufacture. It is also a leader in hi-tech LED lighting, and manufacturer from the Pennsylvania HQ under its LED Living Technology subsidiary.
Made famous by its race and championship-winning cars in the 1960s, and its partnership with Ford Motor Company, Alan Mann Racing has prepared cars for such legendary drivers as Mario Andretti, Bob Bondurant, Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill.
Thanks to the new partnership with Mann ePower Cars, AMR is expanding its existing business with a move into a new generation of engineering: the development and integration of electric powertrains into the familiar shape of the 1960s Ford Mustang, in either coupe or fastback styles.
'We have been watching the incredible growth of so-called resto-mods with interest,' said Henry Mann, director of AMR, and son of founder Alan Mann. 'We've seen cherished cars that owners want to improve, and we've seen those that owners want to future-proof, and thanks to our new partnership with Mann ePower Cars, we're able meet all those needs.
'The model on the stand played a large part in the history of our company and is close to our hearts,' he added. 'It was the first racing Mustang to achieve international success for Ford, and, back in 1964, it was all prepared in-house by my father's operation.'
The base car, any 1960s Mustang Coupe or Fastback, can be sourced by Mann ePower Cars or provided by the owner, and is carefully stripped and the powertrain removed. Body and remaining mechanicals are either replaced or refurbished to a very high standard, and the whole vehicle is then rebuilt around a state-of-the-art compact electric motor driving the rear wheels, and a modern, racing-standard chassis.
Each complete transformation (depending on the condition of the base car) takes around 1,000 hours, with all key upgrade components engineered and supplied directly from AMR to one of a small number of specialist restoration partners in the country. This unique process enables both customer convenience and the high levels of quality implicit in such projects.
'It's quite an extraordinary coincidence to find two unrelated families of the same name having so much in common,' said Henry.
'Mann ePower Cars is owned by another Mann family, and coincidentally the CEO is also called Henry Mann, but we are not related. Henry and his family have a 50-year history of manufacture, sales and service in the precision electronics and hi-tech lighting sector and have independently curated an extraordinary collection of modern and classic automobiles,' he said.
The two Henrys first met at the launch of the Alan Mann Heritage Edition Ford GT at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show. Friendship quickly turned to partnership, driven by shared passion and ambition – and complementary skill sets.
The ePower Mustang transformation process does not just involve the removal of the old powertrain and the addition of a compact electric motor, control electronics and batteries – the entire shell is stripped, dipped, and restored. The chassis is upgraded with high quality racing-standard componentry, developed by experienced Formula One designers, with independent double wishbone suspension with billet aluminum uprights replacing the original's front struts and rear leaf springs. The 1960s braking system is replaced with a powerful cutting-edge regenerative system featuring ventilated front and rear discs with six-piston callipers in front and four-piston callipers behind.
Helping transmit the Mustang's 662lb/ft of torque to the road is a low-maintenance Torsen limited-slip differential.
The design and feel of the original 60s interior are retained as much as possible, although every element is either restored, replaced or substituted, with the emphasis on a period-correct aesthetic. The only modern additions being more comfortable and supportive racing seats, climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, a carefully integrated video display, and of course, seatbelts!
AMR has worked hard to balance the need for a useable range, exceeding the 200 miles of the '60s car, with an acceptable overall weight, which allows a genuine dynamic personality fully in keeping with a modern, fast, and fun GT car. Charging too has been optimized, using either AC or DC chargers, with a 20 per cent to 80 per cent recharge taking just 40 minutes.
'The original engine and gearbox accounts for around 600lb,' explained Mann, 'and that's almost the weight of the installed battery pack – it's a little heavier, but not massively so.'
Mann ePower Cars and AMR expect strong interest from existing owners who wish to 'electro-mod' their classic Mustangs, but equally, Ford built over a million Mustangs of this type, and there remains a robust supply of suitable base vehicles for non-owners wanting to purchase a finished vehicle.
The ePower Mustang becomes the first in a series of exciting Alan Mann Legacy Edition cars to be produced, with others to follow soon.
Technical Specifications
New AMR ePower Mustang
0-60mph 5.1sec (launch mode)
Top Speed 100mph (limited)
Power 300hp
Torque 662lb/ft
Range 220 miles
Battery 72kw/h
Charge DC/AC from 20% - 80% in 40min
Suspension Independent double wishbone with coil-over dampers by Quantum Racing
Brakes F/R Ventilated discs with six-piston callipers/ ventilated discs with four-piston callipers
Steering Rack and pinion, power assistance optional.
Traction Torsen limited slip differential
Photo credit: Mann ePower Cars posted on conceptcarz.com
