To Restomod or
THIS is a testy subject among classic car fans. On one side are the purists who say that a car that is not kept original is really not worth keeping while on the other side are those who say that a car should be enjoyed and whatever that allows the owner to enjoy the car should be encouraged.
Before we go further down this rabbit hole, let Alice explain what is restomod.
Etymologically, restomod is simply a contraction of the words restoration and modification.
Some may argue that the meaning of restoration is to return something to its original condition, while others may hold the view that it simply means returning something to a good usable condition.
Modification, on the other hand, simply means to change something from its original form.
As you can see the sticky point is the word original but it is still possible to explore the possibility that originality can mean either the intended use or intended form.
Who the heck is Alice? Well, in this story, Alice is someone who believes that a car can be both a work of art as well as a thing of practical sublime beauty.
If you have so many zeroes in your bank account and there is very little chance that even an extravagant life would drain your financial reserves, Alice says you should grab some cold hard cash and hand it over to a restorer who will spare no effort to recreate your favourite classic as it left the factory, right down to every small grommet.
After such restoration, these cars should not be driven other than at concourse events and even then under the closest scrutiny of a mechanic who is certified as OCD.
The car has become art, it exists purely for the sake of existing, some will derive pleasure from its existence, others will scorn the effort while yet more will simply scratch their head in confusion.
Personally Alice believes that all cars deserve this treatment, there is no such thing as a car too common for this treatment, because at the end of the day, the treatment comes together to express a particular statement.
The resulting work of art is as much about the physical manifestation of the car itself as it is the long years of training and practice that has allowed the artisan to produce or reproduce the parts and reinterpret them into a particular form of perfection.
In fact, I find a Volkswagen Beetle or Vauxhall Viva that have been restored to better-than-new condition more compelling as a work of art than some mythical Bugatti restored.
In fact, the more mundane the car, the higher the art.
On the other hand, if you are a Joe Average, or even Joe Above Average who wants to enjoy the car as much as possible, the only real option is restomod.
The rigours of modern driving have even some modern cars stymied, one particular German manufacturer explained that one of their major components is failing due to tropical heat and constant stop-start driving condition.
What hope would a faithfully restored Morris Marina have in enduring today’s hellish roads, especially if the owner insists on air-conditioning. And just who wouldn’t want an air-conditioner in a daily driver?
Imagine finding a nice BMW 2000 and performing a heart transplant with the current four-cylinder turbo engine, rip in a new set of suspension, wiggle in new brakes,modernise the electrics, bolt on a new air conditioner and maybe even tastefully incorporate the latest upholstery material into the car.
The result is a car that is as unique as your own fingerprint that has been fettled and tuned to your exact specification, making it even more unique than any faithful factory restoration, which is simply a copy of something that may be rare but may not be unique.
To that end, I would like to suggest several cars that are ripe for restomodding, top of the list is the original Citroen Diesse. Put in a new 1.6-litre Prince turbo engine, rip in a modern air suspension system and decent brakes plus the mandatory air-conditioner and you have a daily driver that will snap so many necks that you’d be best friends with your chiropractor.
Then there is the possibility of finding a suitable modern V-8 for the Jensen Interceptor, preferably straight from the workshops of Messrs AMG. Who cares about originality when you can have beauty that can last the distance. After all a V-8 is a V-8 and there is no shame in swapping an American V8 for a German version.
Imagine also finding a good DeTomaso Pantera and plonking a bulletproof Toyota V8 into one of those with modern suspension and brakes. Oh the joy of seeing that car in traffic every day will cause other motorists to pray for your good health.
Imagine also finding a particularly sad Lamborghini Countach and a modern Lamborghini V12 that would not overheat in traffic. Wait a minute, didn’t I see a modern Lamborghini burst into flames in traffic on YouTube somewhere?
Never mind. I mean, there are limitations if you want to keep to the original brand of mechanicals but if you don’t mind a Lexus V8 and Nissan Micra air-conditioning in your Espada, then you could have the coolest car in any car part in a 50 kilometre radius.
Alice thinks restomod should be made legal.