Based in Sonora, Mexico, Abimelec Arellano is undoubtedly one of the world’s most talented concept artists, having rendered his first vehicle at the age of 11 before going on to work for big names in the industry like Hagerty and MotorTrend. And after noticing the increasingly popular trend of builders dropping modern EV powertrains into classic cars, Arellano has decided to create his own proton-powered resto-mod, bestowing a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado with a contemporary electric motor and battery setup.
Riding on a set of Rotiform KPS three-piece wheels, Abimelec Design’s Toronado sees the donor’s stock V8 engine jettisoned in favor of an EV powertrain. What’s more, the Oldsmobile’s front-wheel-drive setup has been replaced with an AWD configuration, helping to make the most of the immense torque produced by the four in-wheel electric motor setup. The engine bay that was once occupied by the Toronado’s 7.0L eight-banger now also houses dual cooling fans to keep the electric motors from overheating. Interestingly, with the exception of the wheels, the exterior of the vehicle remains bone stock.
While only a render, it’s likely that Arellano’s latest work will have at least some influence on the actual custom building scene — as his work, and the works of others like Ash Thorp and Khyzyl Saleem, have thus far had a major impact on the space.
