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This is a Leaf-powered, fully-electric Nissan Bluebird

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This is a Leaf-powered, fully-electric Nissan Bluebird | Top Gear

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Nissan renews an 80s econobox for a unique one-off, calls it ‘Newbird’

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This is a Leaf-powered, fully-electric Nissan Bluebird

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Nissan renews an 80s econobox for a unique one-off, calls it ‘Newbird’

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This is a Leaf-powered, fully-electric Nissan Bluebird

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Nissan renews an 80s econobox for a unique one-off, calls it ‘Newbird’

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This is a Leaf-powered, fully-electric Nissan Bluebird

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This is a Leaf-powered, fully-electric Nissan Bluebird

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Nissan renews an 80s econobox for a unique one-off, calls it ‘Newbird’

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The ‘why’ you’re no doubt currently mulling is simple: the Bluebird was the first car to be built in Nissan's Sunderland factory, which now celebrates 35 years of knocking out actually very good cars you buy in large quantities (more on that later). Despite our advice.

So, welcome not to the Nissan Bluebird, but the Nissan Newbird; a classic Japanese box fitted with the internals from the Leaf electric car. “This ‘Newbird’ project is a wonderful tribute to the enduring presence of high quality manufacturing that Nissan has enjoyed in the UK for more than three decades,” explains Nissan GB boss Andrew Humberstone.

The conversion was overseen by Kinghorn Electric Vehicles who specialise in putting batteries in old cars. As such, they binned the Bluebird’s petrol engine and gearbox, and slotted in a Leaf motor and inverter up front, and a 40kWh battery split between the engine bay and boot for better weight distribution.

It charges at just 6.6kW – basically, ages – via the recharge port placed where the fuel filler used to live, and the fuel gauge has been swapped out for a battery level. The brakes, power steering and heating were all converted to run on electricity, and a “custom suspension” was fitted because batteries are of course, quite heavy.

Just don’t go expecting Tesla-rivalling performance: Nissan reckons this delightfully boxy one-off that once epitomised reliability and tedium can accelerate from 0-62mph in under 15 seconds and provide a range of 130 miles. Yeah, look, it’s just a fun pre-Christmas project, kay?

Indeed, the exterior very much reflects that. Nissan’s London design centre made up a graphic that represents the Eighties. “Converting older vehicles to electric gives you everyday use of these iconic vintage models, but they’re just as enjoyable to drive, they’re more reliable and importantly don’t produce harmful emissions when driving,” explains Kinghorn boss George Kinghorn.

Here's a couple of potentially-not-very-fun but interesting facts to end on: Nissan’s Sunderland factory has pumped out more than 10.5 million cars since 1986, and each Bluebird took 22 hours to build. Today, a Leaf, for example, takes just 10 hours to knock out. Ten hours.

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The ‘why’ you’re no doubt currently mulling is simple: the Bluebird was the first car to be built in Nissan's Sunderland factory, which now celebrates 35 years of knocking out actually very good cars you buy in large quantities (more on that later). Despite our advice.

So, welcome not to the Nissan Bluebird, but the Nissan Newbird; a classic Japanese box fitted with the internals from the Leaf electric car. “This ‘Newbird’ project is a wonderful tribute to the enduring presence of high quality manufacturing that Nissan has enjoyed in the UK for more than three decades,” explains Nissan GB boss Andrew Humberstone.

The conversion was overseen by Kinghorn Electric Vehicles who specialise in putting batteries in old cars. As such, they binned the Bluebird’s petrol engine and gearbox, and slotted in a Leaf motor and inverter up front, and a 40kWh battery split between the engine bay and boot for better weight distribution.

It charges at just 6.6kW – basically, ages – via the recharge port placed where the fuel filler used to live, and the fuel gauge has been swapped out for a battery level. The brakes, power steering and heating were all converted to run on electricity, and a “custom suspension” was fitted because batteries are of course, quite heavy.

Just don’t go expecting Tesla-rivalling performance: Nissan reckons this delightfully boxy one-off that once epitomised reliability and tedium can accelerate from 0-62mph in under 15 seconds and provide a range of 130 miles. Yeah, look, it’s just a fun pre-Christmas project, kay?

Indeed, the exterior very much reflects that. Nissan’s London design centre made up a graphic that represents the Eighties. “Converting older vehicles to electric gives you everyday use of these iconic vintage models, but they’re just as enjoyable to drive, they’re more reliable and importantly don’t produce harmful emissions when driving,” explains Kinghorn boss George Kinghorn.

Here's a couple of potentially-not-very-fun but interesting facts to end on: Nissan’s Sunderland factory has pumped out more than 10.5 million cars since 1986, and each Bluebird took 22 hours to build. Today, a Leaf, for example, takes just 10 hours to knock out. Ten hours.

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Nissan renews an 80s econobox for a unique one-off, calls it ‘Newbird’