To celebrate 35 years of production at Nissan’s Sunderland, UK plant, the automaker pulled out all the stops and released a fully custom-built rendition of its classic and colorful 1986 Bluebird, the first car to roll off the production line. The “Newbird” as it’s been dubbed is a one-off release featuring Nissan’s 100% electric LEAF powertrain. Kinghorn Electric Vehicles based in Durham, England handled the electric modifications converting this beauty from the 1980s into a modern EV. The LEAF electric battery can be recharged at up to 6.6kW with an approximate range of 130 miles and goes from 0-62mph in just under 15 seconds.
Beyond under the hood updates, Nissan added modifications to the power steering, braking, and heating systems along with a custom suspension. But, the retro paint job feels perfectly suited to the ’80s. While this was simply released as a celebratory one-off, Nissan aims to continue its EV production over the next few years.
