The 2018 Review: Our Top 10 Restomods Of The Year

This year’s been an excellent year for restomods. It’s seen a huge variety of models go under the knife: from European sportsters to classic muscle cars, SUVs to pickups, restomodding has come into its own this year. In this article, we’re going to take a look at 10 of the best restomods that have been made this year. We’re not going to play favorites, so this isn’t necessarily a countdown to the very best, just 10 that we’ve covered and that we absolutely love. If there’s a project you love that we’ve missed, don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments!

Paul Wolf’s 1959 Chevrolet Corvette

Out of all the cars we’ve written about this year, this has to be the most beautiful. Its looks can be compared to classic Aston Martins such as the DB5 and DB6, yet it packs plenty of punch thanks to an LS3. The rear wheels have been tubbed, but largely, the body has been left alone. Inside, the British-esque styling continues, with almost everything finished in light brown Ultraleather. There’s a new steering wheel by Billet Specialties, gauges by Dakota Digital, and a brand new sound system. Other nice little touches include power windows and push button ignition.

The aforementioned LS3 has been upgraded with Art Morrison heads to give a final output of 487 horsepower. To provide stopping power, Wilwood disc brakes have been fitted. The suspension has been given a thorough upgrade, with Strange Engineering coilovers at both front and rear, while a Ford 9″ axle has been fitted at the back. The transmission is automatic, a 4L65E system, while the radiator has been replaced with one forged from aluminum and the exhaust is fully-custom.

Terry Lipscomb’s 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 40

This is no ordinary Mustang restomod. This is a mashup of a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 and a Ford GT. The Ford GT was a beautiful Italian-styled supercar, that had a raucous 330 V8. Someone putting one into a Pony Car was just a matter of time. Built by Eckert’s Rod & Custom of Molalla, Oregon, this was not a quick project. A whole 11,000 man hours went into it, and it’s not particularly surprising when you look at it. The car’s been given custom floor pans, C6 Corvette suspension, and a perimeter frame. Inside, a few luxury fittings have been installed including new leather and suede by Griffin Interiors, Vintage gauges, and a Pioneer sound system. The engine is the true focus of this project, however.

The original engine was underrated, according to experts, at 550 horsepower. However, that wasn’t enough for the wonderful madmen of Eckert’s. They wanted more power. To compensate for this, a huge four liter supercharger has been added. There’s a dial inside that lets the driver pick whether they want the final output to be “just” 600 horsepower or 850 horsepower. Oh, and one little cool touch: the Mach 1’s dummy air scoops behind the doors? They’re functional now, cooling the mid-mounted engine. Fantastic work.

E-Type UK’s Jaguar E-Type

The Jaguar E-Type is famously one of the most beautiful cars ever made. It is a triumph of aesthetics that truly stands the test of time. However, even its V12 engine is somewhat lacking in power these days. Originally, it produced 250 horsepower, and over time, it’s lost a lot of power. Specialists E-Type UK have rectified this at the behest of an anonymous client. The carb-fed 5.3 liter V12 has had a new downdraft fuel-injection system fitted and the ECU and throttle bodies have been upgraded. The V12 has been expanded up to 6.1 liters too. The total output? Up to 283 horsepower — pretty good for a grand tourer.

The car’s brakes, steering rack, and suspension have seen a major ugprade, and the engine sound has been augmented with velocity stacks and a new 12-branch exhaust system. Inside, an Alcantara headliner has been fitted and fresh leather has been added. There’s an improved AC system too, along with LED ambient lighting, surround sound, and an engine start button. Tasteful, restrained, and understandably expensive, this is a fantastic example of a Jaguar restomod done right.

Ares Design’s 1964 Corvette Sting Ray

While the first entry on this list was a stunning Corvette, we needed to feature this one too. The Sting Ray has always been my favorite Corvette design, and this one takes it even further. Based in the legendary motoring center of Modena, Italy, Ares Design have taken the C2 and made it look…well, Italian. The car was stripped down to its chassis, with all panels being repaired and resprayed. The wheels have changed too, with new turbine ones fitted. The interior has been covered in bespoke burgundy leather, as have the new interior panels. There’s an Alpine 500W sound system with elegantly concealed speakers and an eight-inch subwoofer.

Fear not: the engine has also been given a staggering upgrade. There’s a new LS3 engine which produces 527 horsepower, along with a bevy of other wonderful mechanical upgrades. The suspension has been swapped with that of a C7, pop-up white LED headlamps have been installed, and the braking system has been modernized. The car is staggeringly expensive, of course, but it is one of the most gorgeous Sting Rays that I’ve ever seen.

Ringbrothers’ 1971 Chevrolet K5 Blazer

Called Seaker, this Chevrolet K5 Blazer is the first four-wheel drive vehicle to pass through Ringbrothers’ loving hands. While a Blazer may not have been the most obvious SUV for Ringbrothers to have picked, it certainly turned out a treat. While the truck has only been lifted by one inch, a whole host of wonderful body modifications have been added. New running boards, floors, side panels, air box, engine cover, fan shroud, and a firewall have been fabricated. The truck rocks 17-inch Circle Racing wheels, while inside, the dash has been modified and the upholstery redone in brown leather. Even the door hinges, door handles, and window cranks have been changed, switched with parts from Ringbrothers’ catalog.

Under the hood, there’s a trademark restomod surprise waiting for you: an LS3. However, that’s not the only change that’s been made to the truck’s power plant. A Holley fuel system and a Flowmaster exhaust send 430 horsepower to the four-speed automatic transmission. One of the coolest little SUVs we’ve seen.

Above And Beyond Customs’ 1970 Dodge Challenger

When the Mopar Hellcat engine was made available as a crate engine, it wasn’t going to be long until someone fitted one in a classic Challenger. This one? It’s absolutely superb. It couldn’t look any more badass, for a start. Rocking a blacked out Be Cool radiator, and wheels, it looks like something a Bond villain would have as their personal transport. The exterior features new headlamps, a Challenger T/A style hood scoop, and a small rear spoiler. Inside, diamond-patterned tan leather abounds, as well as a pistol grip shifter, touchscreen center console, aftermarket dash gauges, and a custom steering wheel.

Underneath the hood, complete with custom hinges, you’ll find the restomod’s main event. The 6.7 liter Hellcat engine is supercharged and equipped with cold-air intake and high-flow headers, with a final output of 707 horsepower. Linked to the engine is a Tremec six-speed transmission. The suspension has been upgraded with RideTech coilovers, and Wilwood disc brakes marshall the Hellcat into some form of restraint.

Ringbrothers’ 1972 AMC Javelin AMX

I didn’t intend to include two cars by one manufacturer on this list, but Ringbrothers’ AMC Javelin is worth mentioning. For a start, it’s one of my favorite muscle cars of all-time, and ridiculously underappreciated in general. This project aims to right that wrong. Named Defiant, this car has also had the 707 horsepower Hellcat engine installed, but god knows that’s not enough for Ringbrothers. A huge 4.5 liter Whipple blower was installed, maxing out horsepower at 1036. As I said back in January, once again an AMC can make Italian supercars quake in their finely-cobbled boots.

The car’s exterior is almost the definition of sleek. The wheelarches have been moved forward a few inches and replaced with carbon fiber parts. Other new parts include the hood, front fenders, grille, and front valance. Other parts, including the tail lights, have been fabricated from aluminum. The suspension is a Hydro system, as set up for a Camaro, by Detroit Speed. The interior is a wonderful mix of old and new. The gauges and instruments are classic, but a Kicker Sound System, custom seats, and Vintage Air give it a touch of modernity. This is one javelin that can absolutely fly.

Bill Sefton’s 1971 Dodge Demon

The Dodge Dart Demon is oft-forgotten. It’s easy to understand why: the Dodge Dart didn’t have the greatest reputation, and as such, the Demon is swept under the carpet. Its short run doesn’t help, it was only produced for two years before Christian groups protested its name and it got pulled. This car shows that it shouldn’t have been that way. The Demon was built by Mike Staveski of Hudson, Florida, inspired by the works of Mr Norm’s Grand Spaulding Dodge. Built in tribute to the GSS Demon, it began as a run-of-the-mill 1971 Dodge. New sheet metal was fabricated for the exterior, then work began on the interior. The old crank windows have been replaced with power ones, but with the switches mounted in the center console to maintain its retro looks. A Sony sound system was also added.

Under the hood, the demon shows its evil side. The old V8 was ripped out and a 6.1 liter Hemi installed. Add to this an Imagine Injection Six Pack electronic stack system. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, while stopping power is provided by Wilwood disc brakes. The suspension has been done up with coilovers too. A fairly understated restomod, Staveski has managed to drag the Demon into the 21st century while also maintaining its classic charm.

ECD Automotive Design’s Range Rover Classic

The Range Rover is Land Rover’s flagship model, deserving of only the best restomod treatment. This truck began life as a Range Rover Classic, the type imported into the United States from 1987-1995, which came with a mild V8. These were Rover V8s, and as such, weren’t built so much for raw power as American-made engines. To address that issue, the Rangey has had its old British engine replaced with a 6.2 liter LS3, which boosts power from the SUV’s original 170 up to 420. ECD have also given clients the option to supercharge it up to 500, if they so desire. The transmission is still an auto, so don’t expect to win any drag races in this thing, but it’s been modernized. The exhaust system has also been updated, to keep emissions below California’s standards.

The exterior has been mostly left alone, aside from being refurbished, bar some new LED headlights and a lower front fascia, but the interior has seen big improvements made. The center console boasts a touchscreen infortainment system, while soundproofing has been massively upgraded, keeping the interior ghostly quiet. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather, and luxury carpets have been installed. The interior’s materials (right down to leather type) are left to the clients’ own discretion. A triumph of design, reborn.

Allan McCostlin’s 1970 Chevrolet C10

I love the look of classic pickups. While some may favor even older ones, this Chevy C10 has melted my heart. The most obvious change to the C10 is its low ride height. It’s more of a hot rod than a pickup now. The custom panels’ fitting is unbelievably good, and the bumpers have been tucked and wheel wells tubbed. The old chassis has been replaced with one by Roadster Shop. The height change has been augmented by a slight modification of stance, with 20 inch wheels at the back and 19 inch ones at the front. Stopping power is provided by six-piston Baer discs.

Under the hood, you’ll find a beautiful, custom Chevy 383 small-block engine, built by Tri Star Engines of Boston, Wisconsin. Its power output is 550 horsepower, which makes this one mean little pickup. A wonderful little restomod that effectively marries the pickup and hot rod.