When tackling the big question that has become a debate on the internet: Is it better to keep your classic muscle car original or turn it into a RestoMod? The short answer is yes. One of the best things you can do to keep a classic muscle car reliable and drivable in the modern age is to convert it into a RestoMod. Assuming you can afford to build a RestoMod, let’s go over factors below before you tear it all down and build it back up:

1. Rarity

If your classic is a run of the mill, everyman car that is not a rare special edition nor has rare factory options, RestoModding might be right for you. You may prefer a car that is not a rare production run limited to a small number of units, nor remains one of the only survivors left in the wild.

OUR ADVICE: There’s no reason to not turn an ordinary classic muscle car into a RestoMod. If you value drivability, safety, comfort, and horsepower, then go for it. Even if the car possesses some rarity, it’s your car after all, and if you don’t ever plan on trying to get a large return on your investment, then modernize it! If the car is quite rare then you’re probably not interested in RestoModding it since you wouldn’t be driving it much.

2. Condition

Squeezing the trigger on RestoModding may depend on what condition your car is currently in. If you’ve had it a long time in original condition but factory parts are starting to fail, paint is starting to fade, some rust is starting to show, then converting it into a RestoMod is a great way to keep your car on the road while upgrading it to modern standards. Some modifications might include a new engine, transmission, coilover suspension, disc brakes, 3-point seatbelts and air conditioning. If the car has already been recently restored, you might consider some safety and drivability upgrades like coilovers, control arms, sway bars, bracing, and disc brakes. Throw in air conditioning if your car doesn’t already have it!

OUR ADVICE: Nothing is off the table when it comes to classics in any condition. At the time of this writing, your car may even already have some RestoMod elements, but there will always be another advancement in automotive technology that can take your classic to the next level.

3. Drivability

We’ve mentioned drivability previously, but let’s dive into this a bit more. Do you complain about things like body roll, low power, and poor traction? Converting your classic into a RestoMod will be crucial to improving your experience with your classic when you’re out on the road, and that rings true tenfold when you’re engaging in spirited driving. You should never be scared of having fun in your classic, nor should you be bored either because your wife’s Honda Pilot could beat it in a drag race. But we’re not knocking the originality of a classic. If you like driving a classic even with its old school quirks, then consider that before you go full tilt on a RestoMod.

OUR ADVICE: If you want to be able to have way more fun in your classic, then turn it into a RestoMod. Give it all the advantages of a modern car but without the cheap plastics.

4. Safety

Drivability and safety go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other. Your classic should be so safe that you could drive your kids around in it. We’ve seen RestoMod builds that have it all: state of the art suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes, a reliable crate engine, brand new rear end with positraction, 3 or 4 point seat belts, half or full roll cages, even entire chassis swaps via Roadster Shop or Art Morrison packages. Even the tires matter in this equation. A RestoMod with modern grip, braking, and chassis stiffening will help you avoid hazards, while frame reinforcement and roll cages will protect you when the unavoidable happens.

OUR ADVICE: Keep your car safe and it will keep you safe.

5. Comfort

Young people will be surprised to hear that oftentimes classic cars did not have things like bucket seats, power steering, power brakes and air conditioning as standard equipment back in the day. If they were available, they were factory options that had to be selected much like how you’d select a paint color or wheels for the car on the manufacturer’s website today. You may own a classic that did not have those options installed. Or maybe those options were installed but now they are either worn out or missing. Don’t be one of those people that is only able to drive their classic in the spring and fall because the weather doesn’t permit them to enjoy a drive without freezing stiff or baking in a four wheeled furnace. There are many aftermarket companies that offer air conditioning kits for an array of classic cars. Perhaps you don’t like having to manhandle the steering wheel at slow speeds. Get yourself a power steering kit. Tired of tumbling around on your bench seat? Get bucket seats. These aren’t necessarily RestoMod specific improvements, but you’ll always find them on a RestoMod build.

OUR ADVICE: Make your classic more comfortable to drive unless you really enjoy the authenticity and brashness that a classic delivers.

6. Performance

Finally, let’s talk about go-fast parts. If you want more power out of your classic, then make sure you’ve addressed Drivability and Safety first. You never want to drop 700+ horsepower into a car that can’t handle that power level. Drivability parts like suspension and chassis stiffening keep that power under control when things get aggressive, and Safety parts like disc brakes and roll cages can help to avoid dangereous situations. If you want high performance in your classic, then give it the full RestoMod treatment. There’s aftermarket companies like BluePrint Engines that offer brand new turn key engine and transmission packages that you can drop right into your classic. Some of them boast exciting power levels thanks to well built internals and sometimes forced induction superchargers and turbochargers. They even come with warranties.

OUR ADVICE: Crank up the performance if you want to be able to get after it out on the road. Driving a high horsepower machine is a visceral experience, especially in a RestoMod. You don’t even have to be an adrenaline junkie to enjoy driving a classic muscle car that can perform as good as a modern car.

Final Thoughts

If you don’t care much for rarity, if you want to improve your car’s condition, if you want to make your car more daily drivable, if you want it to be safer to drive, if you want it to be a more comfortable drive, and if you want to squeeze more performance out of your car; then by all means take your classic to the next level by giving it the RestoMod treatment. All the builds we have done here at RestoMods can serve as a template for how to elevate your classic to RestoMod status. The wonderful thing about RestoMods is that there’s no exact formula. You truly get to build it how you want. So grab a wrench and get in the garage!

Check Out Some RestoMods Videos:

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