Local Man Shows EV Drivers Who's Boss By Spending Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars To Barra Swap A Tesla 3

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

A Betoota Heights smash repairer has proved anything is possible with time and money this week by putting a turboed Barra engine into a Tesla 3.

Coyne Slott, of Slott Smash & Tow on Greenbow Circuit, began the project in January with the aim of showing EV owners who's boss when it comes to the roads of South West Queensland.

He purchased a brand new base model Tesla 3 from a local dealership and took the Barra engine out of a near-mint 2003 XR6 Turbo he had in storage. Over the next seven months, he married the Tesla with arguably the greatest 6-cylinder engine ever made.

There were many hurdles along the way.

Speaking to The Advocate today, Slott explained why he did it.

"To show them who's boss," he said.

"And how you actually need liquid fuel to go anywhere. Like where are you going to get a quick charge out here? What if you're out of power in Quilpie for example, or Eromanga? Bit different to running out of juice in Bulimba! No roadside chargers out here, you'd be stuffed,"

"If you got a car, you can just get some petrol or diesel and go. Easy peasey."

When pressed on why he spend the best part of $100,000 to create this machine (which has not been able to get a Safety Certificate from any local mechanic to date), Slott said he did it to prove a point.

"To humiliate lefties and prove that renewable energy is the worst invention of the 21st century."

More to come.