Today, we at Exotic Car Trader explain what a restomod is, and how we can help you acquire a great one, should it pick your fancy. You’ve probably come across the term whilst perusing our listings, browsing the web, or from the lips of an automotive fanatic friend or colleague. Let us shed some light on the topic.
In the briefest possible terms, a restomod is when you take a classic vehicle and restore it to a suitable standard (we at ECT typically prefer a high standard) but modernize some aspects of it as well, typically in the pursuit of more performance, capability, and comfort. An important point that differentiates a restomod from a hot rod is that the exterior appearance of a restomod is typically unchanged, whilst a hot rod can easily be identified as one through a cursory glance. With a restomod, you might be able to spot some giveaways such as larger, cross-drilled brake rotors lurking behind wider, low-profile tyres, or twin tailpipes when the original came with only one. You might even spot an intercooler lurking behind the front grille if a turbocharged engine lurks under the hood, but that’s typically the extent of visible changes. Most of the magic lies beneath the skin.
Classic cars are great things to own. They have immense collectible value, look, and sound great and often turn a lot of heads whilst being driven. However, they are stuck using technology from the era in which they were made. For example, most classics from the fifties and sixties didn’t come with air conditioning, and often had rather temperamental heaters – not ideal for a particularly cold winter. Engines were typically carbureted and require specialist attention these days to get them running efficiently, particularly if there is more than one carb. Drum brakes were common on the rear wheels – and sometimes, the front ones as well, meaning you had to plan your braking. And let’s not get started about cars from the seventies and eighties when emissions standards came into the fray, and the average V8 was putting out less than 200hp! Sorry to burst your bubble but one of the most popular TV cars of the eighties, Knight Rider’s KITT was actually running around the sets with a stock 305 motor that put out just 165hp! Now you can understand why a restomod looks so attractive. You can have a car of your preferred model or from your childhood era, but with some tasteful modernization to better suit your current lifestyle. The most popular areas for restomods include:
At ECT, plenty of restomods have passed through our hands and we know what to look out for. Our stringent quality processes ensure that we provide the best experience to buyer and seller. We have handled many amazing restomods, some of which packed some surprising firepower under their hoods yet looked completely unassuming on the outside. So, if a restomod is your thing, have a look through our listings and get in touch with us. We are glad to help.
Exotic Car Trader offers a curated selection of high-end, collectible, and noteworthy cars. Our media-rich listings provide an immersive look into every car we sell. As a brick-and-mortar company with strong ties to South Florida car culture, we strive to set a high bar of transparency every step of the way. If your car would look right at home with our current listings, have a look at how our car consignment program can be tailored specifically to your needs.
More articles:
The Complete Guide to Selling a Car on Consignment
4 Signs That You Can Trust a Car Consignment Company
Car Consignment Fees Explained
We are not attorneys. This article does not contain legal advice.
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