Datsun FTW!

[Strudel-]

0 to 60mph in 1.8 seconds: The 1972 Datsun that is the world's quickest electric car

With its battered bodywork and 1970s design it could hardly be called cutting edge.

But in reality this 39-year-old Datsun 1200 is making history - as the quickest electric-powered car in the world.

A mechanic has modified the vehicle with a powerful electric engine which can go from 0-60mph in 1.8 seconds, quicker than most sports cars.

It can go 90 miles without being recharged and the 500 horsepower means it can cover a quarter of a mile in just ten seconds.

 

 

Raw power: This 1972 Datsun 1200 is the quickest car on Earth after being modified with a powerful electric engine that can go from 0-60mph in 1.8 seconds

 

 

And she's off: Nicknamed White Zombie, the Datson can go 90 miles without being recharged and its 500 horsepower means it can cover a quarter of a mile in just ten seconds

 

In tests on a race track, the Datsun - which has been named White Zombie - easily beat a Maserati and left the driver red-faced and embarrassed.

The White Zombie was built by American mechanic John Wayland.

He took the shell of a 1972 Datsun and put a custom-built dual-armature nine-inch series-wound electric motor inside it.

He also installed a 192 lithium-polymer cell battery pack which gives it a total of 355 Volts or 22.7kWh of energy.

Compared to the original Datsun it now packs quite a punch - the original car only comes with 69 horsepower and takes 14.5 seconds to reach 60mph.

 

 

Hi-tech: The dashboard (left) shows amps and volts generated by the electric car's batteries,

 

while the boot (right) houses the lithium-ion battery pack

 

 

 

Owner / engineer John Wayland says that those who come up against the car's awesome power are 'stunned'

 

 

Modified: Mr Wayland took the shell of a 1972 Datsun and put a custom-built dual-armature nine-inch series-wound electric motor inside it

 

 

A video posted on YouTube shows the White Zombie acing against a Maserati - and beating it by five seconds.

Going from 0-60mph in 1.8 seconds means the car is faster than a