Oppinions: Restoration or Restomod?

"Jcarr" (jcarr) 08/25/2014 at 16:29 • Filed to: Restoration, Restomod, Poll

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Just bored and curious. Not for these cars in particular, just the practices in general.

What say you, Oppo?

Restoration

Restomod

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Images courtesy of the Google

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:31

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Restomod because more POWAAHHHH and more driveability.

crowmolly > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:33

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Restomod. 14" wheels and chalk marks are for museum pieces.

Although I am jaded since I'm a restomod guy.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:33

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Restoration because I enjoy seeing them as they did out of factory.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:34

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I'd say resto mod. Something about a classic car being able to handle like a modern car is cool to me. Makes classic car's more viable as DD's.

T5Killer > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:35

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Restomod here. I am to young to be a resto "melvin" as we call them in the Mustang world.

KnowsAboutCars > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:35

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I don't like all restomods but they can be great.

And well, stock is always stock. You can't really argue against restoring a car.

jariten1781 > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:41

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Depends on the donor vehicle. A decent donor should be restored. More of a basket case, the more I lean towards restomod.

Also depends on the level on upgrading for a restomod. Just replacing the interior with one out of a trailblazer or some crap gets a pass for me. A full modern drive train with working gauges is pretty sweet.

Milky > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:43

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In a decade or two all of these restomod cars are going to be looking really dated. Factory fresh is the way to go IMO.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:45

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It depends upon the specific car. I think if it's some special edition or rare option car, I'd lean towards keeping it stock. Your basic run of the mill '66 Mustang with a 289 that's split the crank and needs a paintjob? Go bananas!

camaroboy68ss > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:46

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I would say restoration, but depends on the car you start with. A body missing its drivetrain makes it hard to restore in a alot of cases. So resto mod would be appropriate. I prefer chalk marks, overspray and 100% correctness of a restoration because its just as hard or harder to restore a car to original spec than to mod.

(Also being a camaro guy that 67 in the top pic has the wrong tires on it for an original car)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:47

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Really depends. Is it a rare car? How nice is it? Cost? And on down the line.

NaturallyAspirated > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:47

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To me, a good restomod is one where you can't tell the car isn't original from the outside without looking closely, but mechanically you have upgrades like big 4 wheel disc brakes, suspension upgrades, fuel injection, etc.

Damn I wish I had a garage so I could restomod an S30.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:57

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I like a subtle mix. I'm not into big wheels and lowering a muscle/pony car from the 60s. but I'm all for increasing power/handling

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 16:58

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Low number, not worthless models: Restore. Everything else, restomod.

crowmolly > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 08/25/2014 at 17:00

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I have a friend who has spent a TON of money on a rare '69 Z. He has an original crossram induction system and an original STEEL crossram hood.

crowmolly > camaroboy68ss 08/25/2014 at 17:02

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Should be Redlines, right?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > crowmolly 08/25/2014 at 17:04

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God do I need better friends.

Sam > NaturallyAspirated 08/25/2014 at 17:16

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My dad's dream car is a big 1950's car with the underpinnings of a modern vehicle. It'd be like having the best of both worlds, because let's face it, the original engines have barely enough power to keep up with traffic and the brakes are worthless.

kyngfish > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 17:19

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After I finish paying off my car, I'm going to keep it, and then I want to buy something a lot simpler, so probably something from the 60s or 70s with an unapologetic V8 with no plastic cover and a large engine bay. At the risk of sounding cliche, it will probably be a C3 Stingray or a 67 - 70 Mustang. I don't want something too pretty or too awful. No fundamental flaws like rust or rough mechanical components, but I don't want a showroom queen.

I want something mechanical. I'd like something that will teach me about cars but not cost an arm and a leg, like my AMG. I think I'd like to upgrade and resto-mod it, but the key would be to keep it looking on the outside, as original as I can, hopefully doing only things I can do on my own.

Anyone around here done something like this? Advice? I have some low-level shade-tree mechanic skills, but if I were to make a metaphor, I might say that I'm like a college kid with some moderately difficult conquests under his belt, but I've never gone after sorority row and won.

camaroboy68ss > crowmolly 08/25/2014 at 17:22

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If I remember right the base tire was actually a thin white wall (little wider than a redline) the redlines were an option.

The wide oval wasn't used untill 69, 68 Z/28s has the option for Goodyear white letters

Jcarr > Milky 08/25/2014 at 17:24

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Interesting point. Hadn't thought about that.

freebollocks > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 17:28

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Clowns, go ahead and resto mod, give the lipsticked pig a big kiss........

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 17:28

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One thing I absolutely hate about Restomods is that they almost always get the wheel choice wrong. They choose modern looking wheels on an old car and everything is then ruined.

crowmolly > camaroboy68ss 08/25/2014 at 17:41

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Edit: Wait, I thought the redlines were standard? D70x14?

crowmolly > Milky 08/25/2014 at 17:44

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Big Red isn't dated.

camaroboy68ss > crowmolly 08/25/2014 at 17:54

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No optional, at least that's what a couple of my books show, I know for a fact they were not std in 68. SS cars might have gotten them std or dealers just paid the option too move cars. I have seen a few high point cars even SS cars with the thin white lines

crowmolly > kyngfish 08/25/2014 at 17:58

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Absolutely. What specifically do you want to know? I can tell you that a mid 70's C3 will be a bargain, just plan on ditching the engine and suspension almost completely.

ly2v8-Brian > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 18:01

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Depends in factory configuration. If it was a numbers matching Z/28 then restore. If it's not original or not a highly valued configuration then restomod.

TheRallyStache > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 18:07

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Restomod for those cars that have suffered rust and other damages, or were originally equipped with a base model powertrain. Restoration for those that are still mostly original and came with options.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 18:11

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I think it all depends on the car.

Let's take a pair of 1970 Ford Torino GT convertibles as examples. One is an original 429 CobraJet 4-speed, drag pack and all, and the other is a 302/automatic with a bit of family history.

The CJ car deserves a restoration, it is rare and valuable in its restored condition. The 302 car on the other hand is a good candidate for restomod. It won't really be worth that much in factory fresh condition, and it wasn't in factory trim when we got it.

What I'm saying is, if its a rare, low production car, restore it. If its a more common, not particularly special model, restomod it and make it special.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Jcarr 08/25/2014 at 20:31

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Something between.. I want restoration looks, and restomod mechanicals and rubber

Milky > crowmolly 08/26/2014 at 09:11

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Doesn't big red have a old school carb'd big block? I think that when the new LT whatever number engine swaps start becoming common place the LS swapped ones will be showing their age.

Then you'll no longer have a up to date restomod nor a original time correct car.

crowmolly > Milky 08/26/2014 at 09:23

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Components may age but Big Red has looked the same since the early 90's.

I think you are specifically talking about pro-touring , which is a subset of restomodding. That goes through cycles as having the latest-and-greatest is big in that crowd.

Dumping your 4 wheel manual drum brakes for 4 wheel power discs, going from bias ply tires to radials, non-hardened to hardened valve seats, etc will never go out of style. Some of the components of yesteryear don't hold up on today's roads. That stuff will never get dated. Big Red is off the deep end but hasn't shown its age in my opinion. 217 mph in a '69 Camaro is still awesome.

Pro touring stuff will and does get dated. Ask an Gen II LT1 swapped guy at a cruise night. You do not have to have an FI engine to have a pro-touring car though.

Milky > crowmolly 08/26/2014 at 09:42

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I think I get what you're saying, but when I GIS 'restomod' its pretty much all what I'm talking about.

Most, not all, of that ^ will go out of style.

Mattbob > Jcarr 08/26/2014 at 10:31

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restomod, but with a bit less lowering, a smidge more meat on the tires, and less stupid hood. In other words more tasteful. But that's just what I would prefer.