Our Two Cents: Our ultimate offbeat restomods
Sure, cars like the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro are great candidates for a slick retro-fit to modern powertrains, high-tech suspensions, and all the other bits that make restomodding so popular. But what if you want to get a little weirder? I wanted to see if my co-workers would channel their inner Project Valentino, and consider something akin to the insanity of my restomodding of a Fox-body Lincoln Continental. Even it doesn’t feel that insane after you’ve done all you can to a Fox-body Mustang … but I digress.
Let’s ask our team about their ultimate offbeat restomod: What would they make if they had all the money and labor in the world to create it?
Model T EV
I really think an EV Model T would be so much fun. It doesn’t need to go fast, and technically you only lose the need for the timing adjustment. The throttle lever could be a rheostat and then the driver uses the same three pedals of the stock ‘T. It would be perfect for popping around town. — Kyle Smith
Honda-powered Corvair
Here’s one that I’ve been pestering Kyle about for a while: a Honda K-series swapped Corvair. Why, you ask?
Honda K-series are the LS equivalent of 4-cylinders and are easy to come by. The Corvair’s transmission requires a counterclockwise rotation engine, and that’s precisely how the K spins its crank. You can keep it simple and build a high-RPM screamer that makes 200–300 hp, which is way more than stock, or you can add a turbo and crank the wick WAAAAAY up for some extra danger. — Greg Ingold
“But, but boxer Subie swap!” — Sajeev Mehta
“Nah, that answer seems too obvious.” — Greg Ingold
A Fighting Fit Boxster
I’ve always thought it’d be fun to build my 986-generation Boxster the way I think it should’ve left the factory. The chassis would be set up as a modern equivalent GTS-spec—more capable than the base cars, but not as stiff as the GT3. Light-weighting with carbon body panels and a front end updated with 996.2 headlights and GT3 front bumper. Expensive leather and stitched interior surfaces to make it feel less budget-oriented. Add in a Mezger 3.6 from that generation GT3. Grab the wheels off the original concept car. And then finish it all off in a subtle ’50s Porsche color like Azure Blue. — Eddy Eckart
A not Lil’ Red Dodge
I had a 1979 full-time four-wheel-drive, short bed, stepside Dodge pickup in red—sort of an anonymous Lil’ Red without the embarrassing side graphics and exhaust pipes. It was during the gas crisis so I got a four-speed manual with the 225 cubic-inch slant-six, thinking it would save me money. It did not.
I got 10 miles per gallon sitting, driving, off-roading: No matter what, it got 10 miles per gallon. Still, I loved that truck and always wondered what it would be like with a proper V-8. I’d drive a restomod version of that pickup every day. — Steven Cole Smith
Lamborghini E-Spada
Already doing it (or I will when I get around to it): EV powertrain in a Lamborghini Espada. The E-Spada if you will. I want one that I can daily drive on short trips, and the gas Espada is singularly terrible for that, what with 17.5 quarts of oil in the engine to warm up. It takes 10 minutes before the oil temp needle is even off the peg, and you can’t really run it hard until the needle moves.
Also, they stink. And leak. The engine is both the best and worst thing about any old Lamborghini. Electrifying is a perfect solution, and with a 100-mile battery, the weight distribution works out about the same as a fully fueled gasser. Got the rolling shell donor, just need the time and money, and for the EV conversion industry to develop a bit more. — Aaron Robinson
Front-engine C8
I’d pay some angry Corvette purist to build a C8 Corvette with the engine up front. I don’t really think the packaging would allow for a big V-8 beneath that low nose, so maybe I’d spec it with an Iron Duke four or a 13B rotary, just to make that angry purist even angrier. — Stefan Lombard
All Corvettes are red … block.
Stefan, you’ve inspired me. I love Corvettes, and I love 240-series Volvos. I also love Corvette-swapped 240s—but we gotta do something with all those jettisoned Swedish four-cylinders. Lord knows they have a lot of life left in them. (This is true no matter how many miles the engine may have. Any 240 owner will back me up.) Why not a Redblock-swapped Corvette? I’ll be generous to the purists and pick a C4—the least sexy of the breed, and the squarest. — Grace Houghton
Project Hermès?
Since I am already answering this particular question with my Project Valentino, it’s hard to top what’s currently emptying my wallet. Then I thought of other designer editions, and the Bugatti Veyron Hermès edition is the only thing crazier than what’s currently in the hopper. Unlike the Valentino-fettled Fox-body, I doubt you can squeeze any more out of that Bugatti’s factory engineering, but perhaps more aero would be worth it. I’m thinking a fan in the back like that Chaparral race car.
But wait, there is more power afoot: Gut the powertrain and slam in the EV-guts from the Rimac Nevera. It would chop off a second from the Bugatti’s 0–60 time, be even more silent/train-like than it currently is, and it’d ensure I never deal with camera-laden gawkers at the gas station. Not that I’m famous, but I ain’t got time for that. — Sajeev Mehta
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1962-70 Novas were available with a 153-ci 4-cylinder engine and I always thought it would be cool to do a modern 4-cylinder swap into a 1st gen convertible or maybe even a 3rd gen. Something like the Ecotec 2.4L or the Ecotec 2.0L turbo and the with the Aisin 5-speed manual or the 5L40-E and the independent rear from the Solstice/Sky Kappa platform.
I always wondered about a Nova with the 4.2L in-line six from a Trailblazer, but that might be even better!
Agreed!
Convert a Tesla to a gas engine with a manual
Somebody somewhere will find a way to put an 8-71 blower through the hood of an C8 just because they can.
Putting a Honda engine in a Corvair! Sacrilege!
Oh, I’d drop the FC20 S2000 engine in a Caterham 7. Or maybe the Renesis RX8 engine in a NB Miata.
Then there was Crispy… That was a track-rat 914 tube-frame with a twin-turbo 3.8 build… ooooh, and then we could get jiggy with an old 987 gen boxster and dump the Ford Coyote 8V…. or Just stuff that badboy in a 928, oh wait BTDT, blew the rear transaxle…
That 914 sounds insane. Just what the doctor ordered!
Henry Ford’s wife, Clara, had an electric model T. A one off as I understand it. She wanted to be able to drive without having to crank the engine.
As I remember you can swap the ring gear on the Corvair transaxle side to side in order to change the rotation to match the engine. I helped a guy back in the 1970’s build a mid engine kit car using a Corvair four speed transaxle flipping the assembly around so the small block Chevy faced forward. They used to do the same in Corvairs putting a V8 in the back seat.
Back in the 70s I briefly owned a Corvair powered Zundapp drag race bike. I sold the trans and rear drive to a biker who was going to adapt a VW engine to it. After leaving town I reflected he would end up with 4 spds. in reverse. I was glad I lived 250 miles away.
This is a bit off the other comments. I’ve always been a Cadillac guy. I have always wanted to take a coupe from 67-68 and graft a chopped fast back roof from a Buick or Olds from the same year, slam it and power it with an LS and all the suspension/brake fixins’. I could never figure out if it was easier to do the roof swap or get a Poncho/Olds and do body sheet metal swaps.
With age is supposed to come wisdom! Hummmmmm–doesn’t seem to be that much wisdom forthcoming!
It is sad that no pictures can be added to the comments. But there are different things that can be done
to an Espada. If your are interested I can send some pictures. protouring@gmx.de
I’m resto modding a 61 Rambler American convertible. It’s to be a cruiser, so no need for gobs of power. I was originally searching for a Toyota 2RZ or 3RZ, but wanted to find an entire vehicle so I’d have everything to swap over. Even parts trucks were priced kind of high, and many wanted to part out only, wouldn’t sell entire vehicle. I also considered Nissan fours and even Volvos — still couldn’t find a complete wreck at a reasonable price. I finally found a 2006 Ranger with a 2.3L Duratec and five speed auto trans (an auto trans was a must… said wife!). More miles on it than I wanted, but price was low enough to risk it. Even if I need a short block or trans the $500 I paid for the totaled truck with 200K on it is worth it for all the extraneous pieces (wiring, ECU, etc.). Not a straight panel on the T-boned and rolled truck, but drivetrain is intact and it will crank and run! Going slow, but getting it done. It will still have about 40% more power than the original 195.6 six (3.2L), and the drivetrain will weigh about 30% less. Should be a nice spunky cruiser…
As the owner of a 2011 Duratec Ranger I’ve always thought its powertrain would be amazing in any number of vintage vehicles originallt with an in-line engine. Best of luck, I think it will exceed your expectations in the end!
For the last 20 years I’ve had in my head to make a 60s style gasser out of a PT Cruiser. You’d have to build a chassis and set the body on. Put an early Hemi in it and have handpainted lettering on the side. I’d call it “PT Bruiser.”
This needs to happen. Please make it.
Always a fan of the Volvo 1800 ES sports wagon, I often wondered about the possibility of cramming the 2.4 twin cam five cylinder from my 850 sedan into one, and adding a turbo.
I’m not sure that this one counts…
Back in 2000, I built a pillarless quad cab 4 door 4X4 1962 Ford pick up truck, for a friend.
The rear suicide doors latched to the body with Bear Claw latches then the front doors latched to the strengthened body (upper and lower). That’s how you fit a family of six go camping in one car.
The truck ended up in the Pacific Northwest.