This ’66 Cadillac DeVille EV By Legacy EV Is Electrification Done Right

It’s 2024, and the term EV is rolling off the tongue of every automaker on earth; but typically, the term is not combined with the model year of any vehicle that came to life in the ‘60s. This fully electric 1966 Cadillac DeVille is one of the electro-mods at the forefront of changing that, and what’s under the hood may surprise you.

It is kind of hard to imagine back when this ‘66 droptop DeVille originally rolled off the line, humans hadn’t even witnessed a man on the moon. Now, nearly 70 years later, that same luxury Coupe has made earthshaking, motor-quaking news of its own as a one-of-a-kind, electrified disruptor of the custom car culture, forging a whole new segment, morphing the modded category, becoming what we can call a 1966 “electro-lux” conversion. So, love EVs or hate ‘em, the internal combustion engine evolution into a modern-day EV, for this ‘60s-era Caddy known as dEVille, produced by LegacyEV, embodies the expanding electro-mod movement.

Sparking The ’66 Cadillac’s Electric Conversion

It all started with the vision of Rob Ward, CEO and Founder of LegacyEV from Tempe, Ariz. Touted as a one-stop shop for EV kits, components, education, and build-support, LegacyEV is responsible for the 21st-century twist on this classic Cadillac.

“I love Cadillacs,” shared Rob. “My first car was a 1978 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, and I’ve owned a lot of them since them. I purchased this ’66 in 2016 and drove it stock for a couple of years.”

The electric re-power of Ward’s Deville kicked off in March 2021 and was an eight-month build. It was a true mechanical transformation.

V-8 Mill Made Way For Three Electric Motors

Seven decades ago, the DeVille Series was in its infancy. Rolling on a 129.5-inch wheelbase, with an expansive stretch of 224 inches in bumper-to-bumper length, it was offered as a convertible and a coupe with two or four-door options. It was powered by a 429 cubic-inch, 7.0-liter V-8, topped with a Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor, and was paired to a three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission. The setup created 340 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. With an MSRP hovering around $5,500, the DeVille was undoubtedly Cadillac’s most popular model for the year, accounting for over 142,000 of the 195,685 Cadillacs sold.

Standard ’66 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Specs

(Specs given by AutomobileCatalog)

Ditching its original gas-powered engine, Ward’s electric Caddy houses three inline NetGain HyPer 9 Synchronous Reluctance Internal Permanent Magnet (SRIPM) motors that are linked in series. “The motors basically sit in the transmission tunnel and are tied in tandem to the driveline, and to the rear end, Rob explained. “There is a torque gear reduction box that sits between the motors and the driveline. The rear end is stock.”

Legacy EV’s ’66 Cadillac dEVille Specs

(Specs given by LegacyEV)

The total system creates 1,000 pound-feet of torque at the rear differential from zero to 5,000 RPM. Yes, for those who haven’t experienced an EV yet, part of the driving fun is the instantaneous available peak torque at zero RPM. “Horsepower is 400,” confirmed Rob. “The battery system is a 55-kWh pack with (lithium-ion) NMC cells.” The EV’s range is roughly 100 miles. Probably not ideal for a road-tripper; but that wasn’t the intention of this Caddy. “I wanted to get around town,” Rob added. “I wanted it to be a cool car to go out to dinner or pick up the kids from school in.”

The Electric Caddy Also Comes With Some Other Tasteful Mods

The standout aesthetics crafted into the Cadillac are hard to miss. There is the white pearl steering wheel from PearlCraft and the low-profile white walls wrapped around 20-inch, one-off billet wheels created by EVOD in the likeness of a vintage 15-inch stock Cadillac hubcap. But the artistry doesn’t end there, and the hood hides another fabricated upgrade. Notably, this newly added bit of flavor doesn’t appear in most recent photos being circulated.

Many images of the car have surfaced with a red motor compartment cover emblazoned with the Cadillac logo. These outdated images of the red piece shield much of the visible electric powerplant; however, the red cap doesn’t stretch the full width or the entire length of the engine bay. In reality, the most recent look is not seen in much of the coverage being blasted off the car. As visible here, it now shows out its Bright White paint spreading into the bay, blanketing a backdrop for a giant Cadillac logo.

“The sheet metal under the hood was redone to improve the look,” said Rob on the differences in of the compartment. “Other cars showcase the electric motors or the batteries, but for this, you pop the hood, and you get art instead of mechanical components.” This was just one more difference-maker in this combination of an iconic body style, housing modern electric power.

More of the EV Caddy’s Mods

• Air Lift Performance Air Management System
• Heated Seats
• Classic Car Stereo Audio System
• Custom Interior with Original Vintage Styling
• Front Disc Brakes
• Custom LED Heads and Tails
• Caddy Daddy Rubber Moldings
• Dakota Digital Gauges