1949 Mercury Derelict EV is All Business
ICON 4x4 applied meticulous work ethic and ingenuity to produce a truly one-of-a-kind build that transcends time itself.
An EV With Soul
The ICON 4x4 team set out to answer a few questions before they embarked on the Mercury Derelict Project. Primarily, "Why are all production EV vehicles devoid of heart and soul?" and "Why can’t you have the best of both worlds: the style and quality of a vintage vehicle with modern performance and functionality?" Another point of frustration was the aftermarket EV industry's slow-to-respond nature. So ICON 4x4 set their sights on bringing a '49 Mercury Derelict into the modern age. The powertrain was a team effort between ICON and Stealth EV and resulted in one of the coolest EVs on the planet.
Photo - ICON 4x4
Laying the Groundwork
Under the body, you'll find adjustable coilovers and an independent suspension system to connect the chassis to the ICON forged aluminum wheels. Behind the powder-coated wheels and vintage Mercury hub caps you'll find Brembo brakes mated to a regenerative braking system. The team also swapped in an electric rack & pinion steering system, nodular Dana 60 rear axle, and a custom driveshaft engineered to handle the instant torque of the electric motors.
Photo - ICON 4x4
Modernizing a Classic
Inside, the equipment was either modified or entirely redesigned to modernize the Derelict. New items include AC vents that mimic the look of the Derelict's grille and a digital cluster that imitates the original. Additionally, the Mercury's knobs, indicators, turn signal stalk, and the shifter were redesigned. Another update came in the form of a modern steering column which mounts the original leather-wrapped steering wheel. The rest of the interior was updated with the highest quality premium leather sourced from non-automotive industry suppliers. The Mercury's occupancy rating remains at six.
Photo - ICON 4x4
It's Electric
Propelling the Derelict EV are a pair of dual-cooled AMR electric motors which send roughly 400 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. The system utilizes a Tesla Performance 85 kWh battery to power the motors which boast a range of 150-200 miles and a 1.5-hour full recharge time. The charge comes through a Tesla Supercharge plug which replaces the original gas filler neck and a CHAdeMO 125 amp fast-charger plug hiding behind the tilting front license plate.
Photo - ICON 4x4
An Omage to the Past
Under the hood lies a specially-crafted CNC'ed aluminum "engine" housing that pays homage to the past. Inside you'll find several Tesla batteries and controller system components. Further additions include a modern high-voltage wiring harness wrapped in traditional black and red cloth branding.
Photo - ICON 4x4
An Iconic Build
Every aspect of the Mercury Derelict EV was an attempt to evoke a soulful experience and combine it with the thrill of modern ingenuity. In that regard, the ICON team succeeded triumphantly. In keeping with the vintage look and feel, ICON even left the original factory paint untouched. There's no doubt that the crew at ICON discovered just how special a resurrected past and an enticing future can be when wrapped up in a singular package. Good work boys.
Photo - ICON 4x4