The Best Restomods For Retro Looks & Modern Performance

No matter if it’s a vintage roadster or an old-school off-roader, a classic car is undeniably more special to drive than its modern-day counterpart. Because it’s true: they really don’t build ’em like they used to. However, what that means in practice can be totally different depending on whether you’re the misty-eyed onlooker or the frustrated owner who’s faced with the car’s constant headaches. For as much as we like to romanticize classics for their beautiful styling and their raw road feel, all it takes is one breakdown to realize that, yes, there’s a reason why automotive technology has continued to evolve. Of course, there’s something to be said for originality, but wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to keep AAA on speed dial?

Enter restomods. Combining timeless visual appeal with state-of-the-art componentry, such cars retain all of the good things about classics whilst updating their engineering to the standards of today. It’s the ultimate automotive indulgence, for along with upgraded performance, they also bring improved reliability and greater peace of mind. Whether that’s as a daily driver or as a track toy, restomods offer a far better ownership experience than an original car of the same era. Naturally, then, these kinds of creations have become incredibly sought-after over the years, first popularized by shops like Singer and ICON, and subsequently emulated by operations the world over. But don’t just take our word for it; read on to see what we consider to be the very best restomods you can currently buy.

“Restomod” is a portmanteau of the words “restoration” and “modified.” As such, it’s best to think of these cars as something of a renovation. For though they may look like a classic on the outside, they’re far from a stock vehicle under the hood. That is to say, restomods attempt to capture as much of the original appearance and feel as possible, though they make exceptions when it comes to things like performance, safety, and in-cockpit experience. It’s also common place to see these machines bestowed with modern materials and tech. Bespoke, completely reworked interiors are also routinely found on these rides — which are often offered with a host of custom configurable options. 

As amalgamations of new and old, restomods are fairly unique vehicles. As such, it can at times be a little tricky knowing exactly what to look for when shopping for one. Knowing this, we’ve pieced together this condensed guide to the main areas to consider when buying a restomod build. 

Build Type: Just like automobiles themselves, restomod builds come in all manner of shapes and sizes, ranging from small roadsters to massive restomodded pickup trucks, and everything in between. Not only should this serve as your jumping off point when looking to buy a restomod, but you should also consider the style of restomod that you’re interested in, as some keep much more in line with the original appearance and spirit of the vehicle while others put unmistakably modern spins on classic vehicle designs. As such, you should also think about the style of build that you’ll want. 

Donor Model: As the basis of any restomod, the donor platform that the vehicle is built around is of extreme importance, as the donor model will largely determine much of the vehicle’s overall character, as well as its price, as restomods that use rarer and more exotic donors almost always come at a much steeper price. It’s also worth noting that some restomod builders will supply the donor vehicle themselves, while others requires that the customer provide the donor themselves. 

Powertrain: One of the biggest and most obvious benefits of any restomod build is its modernized performance — an area that’s largely owed to the powertrain that replaces the donor’s original engine. This can range from everything from high-performance forced-induction gas engines to contemporary EV powertrains. Some restomods are also offered with multiple powertrain or engine options, as well as some that are offered with multiple transmission choices. 

Chassis: As the backbone of a restomod, its frame is also of pretty extreme importance. Because chassis designs have massively evolved over the decades, it’s not uncommon to see restomod builds bestowed with modernized, reinforced frames — if not fully bespoke frames that have been completely redesigned from the ground up. 

Running Gear: The hugely modernized performance offered by restomods is also owed to these vehicle’s use of contemporary suspension setups. Because the build’s suspension plays such a pivotal role in its performance, this is definitely another absolutely essential area to review when shopping. Likewise, one should also keep an eye out for the build’s braking hardware, as this area is hugely bolsters the car’s stopping abilities and overall safety. 

Bodywork: Bodywork is another important area to pay close attention to when buying any restomod, as it’s not uncommon to see a donor model’s original bodywork modified and modernized with contemporary vents and inlets, fender flares, and the like. Often outfitted with modern aero kits, these custom sets of bodywork are routinely crafted from modern lightweight materials like carbon fiber. It’s also fairly common to see restomods that maintain the donor’s original bodywork design while updating its construction to a more modern material. 

Weight: With more potent powertrains, carbon fiber bodywork, and modern lightweight components, it’s not uncommon to see restomods that weigh substantially less than their original donor model. In fact, a restomod’s weight savings actually play a pretty major role in the vehicle’s newfound agility and performance — making this yet another crucial area to consider when shopping.

Performance Capabilities: On top of their improved safety and comfort, modernized tech, and reworked appearance, another major selling point of restomods is their performance capabilities. Typically, builders will provide information that offers a sense of what these machines are capable of in the form of their acceleration time(s) and top speed — metrics that are largely owed to the vehicle’s weight and power figures. 

Interior: It’s not only the exterior of a restomod that’s often completely reworked, as the cabins of these vehicles is also often heavily modernized and completely redone. Because these fully reconfigured cabins play such a major role in the original donor’s overall transformation, a restomod’s interior is undoubtedly another pivotal element that should be closely considered when shopping. 

Customization Options: The vast majority of restomods are built on a made-to-order basis. As such, their builders are able to offer these exclusive vehicles with a wide range of custom-configurable options for everything from paint and trim color to cabin upholstery to wheel options, just to name but a few. 

Price: Generally speaking, restomods almost never come cheap. Having said that, some offer markedly better value and bang for your buck than others. As such, pricing is another important area to factor into your decision when shopping. It’s also worth pointing out that most restomods feature a base price that increases as the buyer adds options and upgrades. 

David Brown Automotive Classic Mini Oselli Edition

While David Brown Automotive offers several different classic, coachbuilt, custom Minis, this Oselli Edition is easily our favorite. Handbuilt in Silverstone, England, it comes powered by an over-bored 1,450cc four-banger that’s fitted with a pair of SU carburetors and a five-speed manual gearbox, android for 12hp — making David Brown Automotive’s most powerful restomod to date. Accordingly, DBA also gives the Oselli both upgraded brakes and suspension, including AP Racing four-pot calipers, Bilstein dampers, and some lowered springs. Rounded out by some sports exhaust and a limited-slip rear diff, it’s no wonder that just 60 of these beauties will ever hit the road.

Emory Outlaw Porsche 356

As a third-generation tuner and the son of Gary Emory, Rod Emory started working on Porsches as early as age 14. These days, his eponymous Emory Motorsports is easily one of the most recognized outfits in Stuttgart’s air-cooled community, both for its astounding output (175 cars and counting) as well as its incredible attention to detail. Each of the shop’s builds is completely made-to-order, allowing for virtually limitless customization in both open-top and coupe flavors. Typically taking about 12-18 months for completion, Outlaws (like the one you see here) undergo a full nuts-and-bolts restoration, receiving some modified 911 suspension and an in-house Emory-Rothsport “Outlaw-4” flat-four engine.

ICON 4×4 BR

Having honed his restomodding expertise running the TLC Land Cruiser Service center, Johnathan Ward then proceeded to found ICON in order to bring his own innovations to life. In the case of his BR build, you’re getting a top-to-bottom redesign of a classic Ford Bronco, retrofitted with 12″ travel Fox Racing coilovers, Brembo brakes front and rear, and a thundering Ford GT Coyote V8 (amongst a long list of other upgrades). More than anything, though, it’s the sheer amount of available options that make ICON’s services so desirable. Keep it classic with one of their Old School design packages or spice it up with a New School appearance; with two-door, four-door, soft-, and hard-top body styles, the end product can be practically anything you want it to be.

East Coast Defenders Land Rover Series IIA

If old Land Rovers are your thing, E.C.D. Automotive is the shop for you, as the Kissimmee, Florida-based operation has built its entire operation around vintage Defenders and Range Rovers. This Series IIA is an ideal option for the classic off-road enthusiast, restored to factory 1960s specifications and fitted with a host of aftermarket upgrades. In creating the car, E.C.D. leaves a lot of the decision-making up to the customer, meaning you can keep it old-school with a Cummins 2.8 Diesel or spice things up with a 5.3L Chevy V8. Inside, too, the shop’s builds balance their originality with modern amenities, retaining their dash and seats whilst gaining a hidden eight-speaker sound system and some backup parking sensors.

Velocity Restorations Ford F-250 Signature Series

The Velocity Restorations Ford F-250 Signature Series manages to hugely improve the original pickup truck’s safety, comfort, technology, and performance, while retaining much of the donor model’s soul and DNA. The truck is constructed around a Velocity-exclusive frame design built by Roadster Shop and fitted with a Dana 44 front axle, a Dana 60 rear axle, and front and rear sway bars. Under the hood, the vehicle now packs Ford’s third-gen 5.0-liter Coyote V8, which has been paired with a 10R80 automatic overdrive transmission and a bespoke Velocity performance exhaust system. Upgrades to the outside of the truck include custom Glasurit paint,  18″ painted steel wheels, J.W. Speaker LED headlights, all new glass throughout, a chrome trim package, power steps, OEM chrome bumpers, and a Raptor Liner undercarriage and bed liner. The interior of this Signature Series model boasts custom Velocity bench seats, a Bluetooth head unit, custom Velocity-branded Dakota digital gauges, a Focal audio system, a Vintage Air A/C system, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and a classic wood steering wheel set on an Ididit tilt steering column. 

Alfaholics GTA-R

Leading Uk-based Alfa Romeo expert Alfaholics puts over 3,000 hours into each one of its GTA-R builds, and the craftsmanship certainly shows in the final product. Designed to be the ultimate expression of the legendary 105 series, it combines enduring character with updated components in a package that’s as timeless as it is nimble through the turns. Under the hood, this Italian-made classic packs a 2.0L Twin Spark generally gets bored out by a further 1/3 of a liter, whilst the rest of the package is left up to the customer’s budget. However, assuming that six-figure purchase price sounds a bit steep, Alfaholics also sells a grip of restored components on its website.

Finale Speed “Viral” Chevrolet Camaro

Born out of over 2,500 hours of expert labor, the Finale Speed Viral Chevrolet Camaro is a high-performance muscle car restomod — as well as the world’s first exposed-weave carbon-fiber ’69 Camaro. Boasting a world-class level of craftsmanship and attention to detail, this restomodded Camaro sports a full set of custom carbon bodywork and rides on a set of 18” Forgeline 3-piece wheels with Wilwood Aero disc brakes. Massively improving the vehicle’s handling is a Speedtech Extreme suspension setup fore and aft with JRI coil-overs. At the heart of the restomod is the same supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 found in the C7 Corvette Z06. Good for a whopping 640hp and 630ft-lbs of torque, this potent crate engine has been bolted to a Tremec six-speed manual transmission. Offered with a host of upgrades including a set of carbon fiber wheels, a candy paint job, and an available 1,000-hp Wegner LS3 powertrain, 

Built By Legends MINE’s R32 Skyline GT-R

The Built By Legends MINE’s R32 Skyline GT-R is a spare-no-expense take on a restomodded JDM classic. Starting with its powertrain, this R32 model has been gifted a hand-built straight-six engine constructed around a Nismo Heritage block that’s been bored out to 2.8-liters before getting weight-matched forged pistons and con rods, a forged crank, a Mines x BBL titanium exhaust system, an HKS R-Type intercooler, and GCG GT2860R turbos. This alone should start to paint a picture of the meticulous level of detail that’s gone into this restomod, however it doesn’t end there. Weighing in at just under 3,000lbs, the car also benefits from Öhlins DFV dampers, Brembo four-piston calipers, 18” RAYS Volk Racing wheels, and a custom set of aero-equipped carbon fiber bodywork. The interior of the vehicle has also been customized, as well, and now features sport seats with period-pattern fabric inserts, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, a MINE’S leather handbrake, a BBL shift knob, and R34 pedals.

Maturo Cars Lancia Delta Integrale Stradale 

The Maturo Cars Lancia Delta Integrale Stradale is everything that a good restomod should be. It features a stunning, completely redesigned interior clad in a combination of carbon fiber, titanium anodized aluminum, leather and Alcantara, plus its exterior is now comprised of a custom widebody kit also made from carbon fiber. Powering the restomod is a 2.0-liter inline-four that’s been mrebuilt to WRC Group A spec before being mated to a strengthened five-speed manual gearbox and then finally dropped into the car’s reinforced chassis. Modernizing this Lancia’s handling cornering are four-way adjustable shocks backed by ARC tech, and an optional electronically-controlled ride height system. The end result is a modernized take on a rally car icon that’s been improved in just about every way possible. Maturo Cars also produces several other limited edition restomods based on the Lancia Delta Integrale, including a full-on rally-spec model. 

Nardone Automotive Porsche 928

Using the unconventional front-engined 928 as its donor model, the Nardone Automotive Porsche 928 is an ultra-sleek take on a restomodded ‘80s era classic that’s received a slew of minor tweaks that collectively modernize the car. Riding on a custom forged 18” wheel-set, the car features a sleek set of composite bodywork that’s been paired with custom LED lighting all-around. Under the hood, this roughly 3,000-pound machine packs a 5.4-liter V8 that cranks out 400hp and comes mated to a new manual six-speed gearbox that’s been paired with a limited-slip differential. Further modernizing its performance is an adaptive electric power steering setup, an up-spec’d braking package, a reinforced frame, redesigned front and rear axles and spindles, and an active-controlled electronic suspension. And, as good as Nardone’s 928 looks on the outside, the interior of the restomod is even more striking, with a plush and thoroughly modern layout that still draws obvious influence from 1980s cabins. Trimmed in Foglizzo leather and Alcantara, this reworked interior features a carbon fiber trim package, a custom vintage-inspired digital instrumentation setup, and a HiFi stereo with Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Kimera Automobili EVO37

Okay, so this one is technically more of a modern reimagining than it is an out-and-out restomod, but the 037 is an iconic rally car that’s too cool to pass up. And besides, with 500hp and 406lb-ft of torque on tap, Kimera’s creation keeps with its roots whilst bringing something a little extra (read: a lot) to the table. Crafted with a mix of carbon, kevlar, titanium, and aluminum, it remains reminiscent of its stylistic inspiration yet is slightly modernized with smoothed angles and exposed weave. Sure, the asking price might seem a little eyewatering, but that’s what you pay when there will only ever be 37 in existence.

Gunther Werks Porsche 993 Coupe

Gunther Werks creates cars with performance in mind above all else, honing each vehicle to an ultra-refined driver’s tool. The West Coast outfit’s 993 Coupe, for example, starts its life as a classic air-cooled 911, after which it’s fitted with a crop of carbon fiber parts, a 430-hp Rothsport Racing engine, and a Getrag G50 six-speed manual box. Weighing in at under 2,700lbs partially thanks to a custom widebody kit crafted entirely from carbon fiber, it’s a machine that takes everything Porsche’s are known — handling, lightness, feedback — and elevates it to the standards of the present day.

Lunaz Design Aston Martin DB6 EV

Originally produced from 1965 to 1971, the Aston Martin DB6 is wildly valuable icon of an automobile. As such, chopping up or restomodding a DB6 would typically be viewed as sacrilegious, however, the UK’s Lunaz Design isn’t your average shop, and their Aston Martin DB6 isn’t your average restomod. Completely rebuilt and restored from the ground up, the Lunaz DB6 sees every inch of the car’s exterior returned to its former glory, before its interior is bestowed with a tasteful, retro-inspired cabin. Under the hood, the DB6’s original engine has been jettisoned in favor of a CCS fast-charging-compatible battery pack and electric motor setup that makes 375hpand 516ft-lbs of torque while offering a range of between 180 and 250 miles per charge. And, while Lunaz says exact pricing for this vehicle is available upon request, it’s also stated that this restomod’s MSRP starts at over $1,000,000. 

Eccentrica Cars Lamborghini Diablo 

Managing to put an impressive twist on what’s already widely viewed as one of the greatest supercar designs of all time, the Eccentrica Cars Lamborghini Diablo restomod is simply a stunning machine that blurs the line between vehicle and work of art. Inspired by the bodywork and aero-kit found on the GTR-spec Diablo, this “few-off” restomod’s own bodywork has been reworked and now boasts redesigned lighting and an aero kit comprised of a new front splitter, side skirts with integrated aero fins, a rear diffuser, and Diablo SV-inspired rear intake scoops — all of which are crafted from exposed carbon fiber. Powering this Lambo resto is a massive 5.7-liter V12 that generates 550hp and allows the vehicle to do 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 210mph — all while maintaining road-legal status. The restomod’s scissor doors lift up to reveal its leather and Alcantara-trimmed cabin which features a neo-retro, ‘90s-inspired motif with a bespoke all-digital instrument cluster, all-carbon-fiber trim, a gated stick shift, and a custom tilt-adjustable steering wheel with a carbon fiber neck. This restomod was designed by BorromeodeSilva — the same force behind the Nardone 928. 

Singer Porsche 911 DLS

Rounding out our list is Singer, a shop whose Porsche-customizing proficiency has set the standard for restomods worldwide. And it’s not without good reason — the California-based outfit’s cars are true pieces of art, builds that command hefty sums and lengthy wait times quite unlike anything else on the market. Exclusively working with the 964-gen 911, Singer finishes each Porsche with a swooping widebody kit, tasteful woven finishes, and one-of-a-kind paint combinations. The more recent 911 restomods coming from this Southern California shop benefit from the Porsche tuner’s “Dynamics & Lightweighting Study” — or “DLS” for short. What’s more, like all Singer projects, the DLS-spec 911 features a fully bespoke interior that gives the buyer an enormous number of custom-configurable options. 

The Best Retro-Inspired Production Cars

Fond of vintage-style vehicles backed by contemporary performance capabilities but don’t have a massive budget to commission a restomod? Then be sure to cruise on over to our guide to the best retro-inspired production cars for a curated selection of brand new rides that merge old-school looks with modern performance and technology.