For Queen and Handling: Restomodding

"djmt1" (djmt1) 07/08/2014 at 09:16 • Filed to: british, cars, restomodding

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So over in the states they have this thing called restomodding.

It is where you take an old car and make it better than it ever could be. Seems like a good idea in my books but it would never happen on this side of the pond would it now, I mean what would the MG owners club think about an MGB "on rims". Well bollocks to them and anyone else who is against this because as it turns out, it is already happening.

Anyone who has watch enough Top Gear will know that they have shown quite a few restomodded or as James May put it "modernised" British Cars. These include a Jensen Interceptor, a Jaguar XJS & E Type and an Aston Martin DB5. Now none of these cars were modded to the same extent as the cars in the Top Gear USA episode but you have to start somewhere.

So what old British car would you restomod/modernise?

For me it would be the MK2 Jaguar.

I've always liked the S-type but like everyone else I recognise that it is not the greatest looking car in the world as it tried to capture the spirit of the MK2 so why not have a look at the original instead. Plus they raced them as touring cars which means I can screw with E28 M5 owners and claim that my sports saloon predates theirs.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > djmt1 07/08/2014 at 09:22

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Very possibly a Minor. Stiffen the frame, change the front torsion bars to something a bit stiffer, rework the rear - better brakes all around, and possibly a modern Ford Ecoboost.

Voila, classic compact now a nimble sleeper that still sips lightly enough to drive every day.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > djmt1 07/08/2014 at 09:23

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Ford GT40

DoYouEvenShift > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/08/2014 at 09:24

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I loooovvve restimodding!!! That way the car runs and drives as good as it looks.

djmt1 > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 07/08/2014 at 09:25

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This will no doubt cause a shitstorm but oh well. I would love to see a modernised GT40 go up against a Ford GT.

djmt1 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/08/2014 at 09:28

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Honestly I'm not hot on convertible compact cars but modernising a classic compact to go up against modern hot hatches is brilliant idea and one I shall now claim as my own.

crowmolly > djmt1 07/08/2014 at 09:37

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Harper Invacar:

Would take some serious fab work to make it anything less than a complete death wagon but I'd love to throw some kind of turbo 4 in there and a tube chassis.

Plates would read "IN H"

Audi-os, Amigos! > djmt1 07/08/2014 at 09:38

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That MK2 Jag is an excellent choice.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > djmt1 07/08/2014 at 09:41

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I know of plenty of LR guys over on your end that resto mod their Series Landies. Coil suspension, disk brakes, more modern engines ect...

My dad and I have resto modded a 67 Series IIA 88' with Disco 1 axles, ARB air lockers and parabolic springs. Fighting over the engine though, he wants to put a 200Tdi in it where as I'm quite fond of the 2.25 4 banger already in there.

The jig my dad built to convert the axles.

djmt1 > crowmolly 07/08/2014 at 09:42

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You sir/madam have balls of carbon fibre and for that you have earned my respect.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > djmt1 07/08/2014 at 09:43

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MG TD midget. I've seen some with small block V8s before and I thin that would be awesome.

STANDARD6SPEED > djmt1 07/08/2014 at 09:45

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I never thought about it before, but yeah, that's not really a thing that's done over there, is it? "Pro-Touring" is another name we have for them. Pro-Touring muscle cars are kind of my favorite thing ever. I think a Pro-Touring E-Type would be amazing as well though. Heck, I could probably think of a lot that would be awesome...

djmt1 > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 07/08/2014 at 09:46

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Colour me impressed, it's like a Jeep wearing a monocle. My full respect for allowing that old girl to keep doing what she is great at.

djmt1 > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 07/08/2014 at 09:47

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Small car and big engine, nuff said. I approve.

djmt1 > STANDARD6SPEED 07/08/2014 at 09:50

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Without a doubt a brilliant idea.

but reserved for the wealthy over here.

STANDARD6SPEED > djmt1 07/08/2014 at 10:24

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True, though it makes for an interesting comparison as far as the ratio of the current values of OEM vehicles vs. the cost of the upgrades made to them. There are some $20,000-$30,000 vehicles receiving upwards of half a million dollar upgrade packages. More of the classic Euro-spec cars are fetching much higher numbers I think.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > djmt1 07/08/2014 at 10:45

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It absolutely happens over here, I'm doing it myself :) minus the ghastly 17" rims...

Look at any number of V8 MGBs, or fuel-injected Triumph Spitfire 6s , or Jaguar XJCs (one of my favourites).

A Mk2 Jag is an excellent choice though :) personally, I'd love to do a whole host of cars, but usually using old components modernised, rather than sticking modern lumps in.

I've got loads of ideas, from Triumph Stags with 16v Dolomite Sprint heads, to V8 MGBs with Jag IRS', to lightweight XJS V12s :)

djmt1 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 07/08/2014 at 10:51

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Seriously why isn't there a modern XJC, something to go up against the S Class Coupe.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > djmt1 07/08/2014 at 11:16

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Tell me about it :) I got really excited when Bertone released this concept a couple of years back, but it was just as Jag were getting away from their retro styling, so it would probably have been a step in the wrong direction.

Shame, as it's utterly gorgeous :)

djmt1 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 07/08/2014 at 11:23

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Just yes.

BarryDanger > djmt1 07/08/2014 at 11:39

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I'd have to go with a TR6 or a STAAAAAAG

djmt1 > BarryDanger 07/08/2014 at 11:41

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Stag is such a great name for a car.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/28/2014 at 13:51

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$kaycog is going to kill you when she sees that, you know.