I once had a 1967 Ford Mustang, and I loved that car until I hated it. The car was 100% original, as much as I knew anyway. Admittedly, I LOVED the way it looked. And, I had fun interacting with people who loved old Mustangs. The truth of the matter is that the car was not reliable. Moreover, the car drove miserably and was really unsafe for my young family. There are a lot of reasons to buy a restomod.
So, why should you buy a restomod? You should buy a restomod to take advantage of the best part of a classic car – its looks and history. Then, you can modernize it with the latest technological advancements. You’ll turn that legacy machine into an amazing daily driver – personalizing it to your level of satisfaction along the way.
The question really shouldn’t be why should you buy a restomod. Instead, it should more accurately read why shouldn’t you buy a restomod? For nearly every classic car lover, there is a strong incentive to go the restomod route. This is done instead of choosing a vehicle that was restored to its factory original condition. Or, perhaps even making it into a hot rod. I’ll get into why people are making this choice in this article.
Is a Restomod Restored or Modified?
At its heart, a restomod is a classic vehicle that has been both restored and modified. Restoring a car is the art of painstakingly searching for OEM parts for it. This can be an experience that is equal parts rewarding, frustrating and expensive. In the end, you have a vehicle that looks — and drives — the same way it used to. And, even better than it did when it first hit the showroom floor all those years ago.
While this does have its appeal, restoring a car can also be extremely limiting. In nearly all cases, there is a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and money invested in restoring a car. Chances are that the primary way you’d enjoy it is in a hands-off way. This could be through shows, parades, and other exhibitionist routes.
One of the most important considerations is the fact that the automotive industry has made mind-boggling leaps and bounds regarding technology in the past few decades. That means that as beautiful as your restored car is, it simply isn’t going to be as safe and comfortable as today’s modern vehicles.
Here’s Where Restomoding Really Shines
Essentially you start with the same exterior shell whether the vehicle is being restored or it’s being restomodded. In many cases, judging from the outside, you’d never be able to tell that the car isn’t a fully-restored classic.
Now, instead of opting for the original drum brakes or pre-intermittent windshield wipers, for example, a restomod has the modern equivalent. In this case, it would be swapping out the drum brakes for disc brakes for their stopping power and lack of fade. You could also choose the convenience of being able to tailor your windshield wipers frequency and speed to the conditions.
Restomoding isn’t all about safety — though that’s often a motivating factor. And, one of the first areas that’s modified on a classic vehicle. There are benefits when you purchase a restomod version of your favorite classic car. You can have that great vintage aesthetic that you fell in love with. And, you will enjoy a boost in its power, performance, and comfort that allows the vehicle to become the ideal daily driver.
Why You Should Buy a Restomod Car
If you’re in the market for the love of your life — car-wise, of course — there are real advantages for choosing to buy a restomod car. A few of the reasons have already been touched on, but the list of advantages is long and varied as follows:
Classic Looks.
No matter how much of a performance worshipper you are, chances are your favorite classic car captured your attention first because of its sleek lines, muscular build or other physical attributes that are visually appealing to you. A restomod keeps that foundation so every time you look at the car sitting in your driveway, you get a little thrill of excitement.
Stunning Creativity.
It’s true that the classic good looks of a vintage vehicle are often what quickens your pulse, but that doesn’t mean that enhancements to its physical appearance can’t improve on a great thing. Racing stripes, vibrant paint colors and aftermarket spoilers are just a few examples of the creative additions that can take a classic car to the next level.
Creature Comforts.
From today’s Recaro racing seats that cradle you in comfort and style to USB ports and other digital amenities that keep in entertained and connected, buying a restomod car allows you to fully enjoy your driving experience.
As another example, suspension systems have greatly improved over the past four decades. Not only do today’s modern choices offer you better handling, but they also make the ride itself smoother and more comfortable.
Safety First.
To say that the automotive industry has moved forward in safety features by leaps and bounds over the past 40 years is an understatement. Of course, a vehicle that has been restomodded doesn’t need to have all the safety bells and whistles.
At the very least, any restomod vehicle you purchase is likely to have disc brakes. This swap is typically one of the first that is performed on a classic car. Anti-lock brakes, a five-point racing harness or a lap and shoulder belt combination are just a few of the other common safety modifications you can expect.
Performance Boost.
A performance boost for a classic car doesn’t have to mean that the vehicle is hot-rodded with obvious power — though there’s nothing wrong with that approach. Simply switching out the existing transmission with one that has overdrive offers plenty of benefits by itself. You’ll experience smoother shifts and the advantages of having more gear options.
The lower engine speeds can help save your car’s engine by reducing wear. You’ll enjoy less motor noise that makes it easier to have a conversation with your passengers or listen to your favorite music. Fuel efficiency is also boosted with the addition of an overdrive transmission.
Going beyond the practical, though, and diving into the true underpinnings of performance means that whatever modifications or upgrades were made to the engine are most likely going to make the car better than it was when it was brand-new. Whether that means that the existing engine was upgraded, a modern one was dropped in or a performance-focused setup like a forced induction motor was used, you’ll get that unmistakable thrill of power coursing through you.
Budget-Friendly.
A restored classic car comes with a high price tag. This is understandable since getting these vintage vehicles back to their original condition is often an expensive venture — both in terms of time and money. It’s only natural that the owner wants to recoup their costs.
In plunking down all that money for a restored car, though, you’ll get a vehicle that isn’t safe to be your daily driver. You won’t be able to take your family for a long drive and feel good about them being safe.
You’re also likely to be very protective of the vehicle so your investment is safe. For classic car enthusiasts who like to be hands-on with their vehicles, this can be a frustrating paradox.
A restomod is the perfect intersection of classic good looks and modern conveniences. The vehicle is a more reliable, efficient, powerful and safer one. And, the price tag reflects these changes to its original condition and that’s what a restomod is all about.
Open to Further Modifications.
Buy a restomod and you have the foundations of something that you can further modify to meet your exact desires. Maybe you love the classic Mustang fastback. However, the one you want one in a particular paint color that wasn’t available back in the day. Buying a restomod Mustang means that much of the hard work has already been done for you.
You need to make the tweaks and updates to fully customize the car to your liking. Add a subtle rear spoiler, for example, dual exhaust pipes or a killer sound system. The choice is yours and buying a restomod makes it so much easier.
The bottom line is that buying a restomod enables you to fully immerse yourself into your classic car. You don’t have to worry about questionable and outdated braking, suspension or steering systems. You need to head out to your driveway while admiring the stunning beauty of your vintage vehicle. Then, fire the engine up, slide behind the wheel and enjoy it. The reliability, power, safety, and comfort that’s possible because of the modern modifications that the car has. Buying a restomod allows you to have your cake and eat it too.
Related Questions:
First, we assume the classic car has a quality restoration and so the only variables left to determine worth is how rare the car is and how many and what type of modifications have been. Without taking rarity into account, the amount a restomod is worth varies but is generally between $50,000 -$75,000 for an entry-level restomod, $150,000-$200,000 for a mid-grade restomod, while a completely custom restomod can be worth over $500,000. Rarity is another factor used to determine worth. Simply put, there are so many variables to subjectively give the “worth” of a rare restomod, let alone one with any level of professional modification/customization. However, it’s more than safe to say the worth of a professionally built restomod easily soars well over $1,000,0000.
First, we assume the classic car is in very poor condition and the following areas will be completely restored and modernized: interior, exterior, suspension, brakes, engine, fuel system, electrical, and exhaust system. The cost to build a restomod varies but is generally between $90,000-140,000.
Pro touring refers to a kind of classic muscle car that has been fundamentally enhanced to either meet or surpass the performance standards of a modern performance vehicle. Restomod is an approach that involves restoring a classic car so that most –– or all –– of its esthetics match the original version, but significant high-performance upgrades have been made to the engine, transmission, and other systems and parts.
