Recommendations: Top 5 Cars To Restomod

The fine art of restomodding is kind of like learning a new language. The difficulty scales considerably depending on what vehicle you choose to work your magic on. Were they only produced for a few years or in small numbers, meaning getting your hands on one will prove to be a monumental task in itself? Is there good aftermarket support for them, or are spare parts and owners’ clubs as rare as hen’s teeth? In this article, we’re going to look at the best cars to restomod, the ones that are great as either a first project or another addition to your garage that you don’t need to spend years waiting on.

5. Chevrolet Bel Air

Ah, the Bel Air. Where would we be without this wonderful little tri-five? While other years’ Bel Airs are great, as we discussed last week, the tri-five models hold a special place in the heart of every car enthusiast. They look wonderful, handle beautifully, and when restomodded well, will be the envy of everyone. The amount of different ways you can do that are practically limitless, too. You could take the minimalist approach like this guy, upgrading the engine to a 383 small-block while retaining the vintage looks. You could drop it low and transform it into a racer with a mighty 502. How about modernizing it inside and out with bucket seats, new A/C, air ride suspension, and a new engine?

Let’s get down to brass tacks here, how much, and how easy? Well, Bel Airs don’t tend to come all that cheap in good condition, but that’s good and bad news for you. While a pristinely restored Bel Air can easily top $100K, so too can an old jalopy be yours for under $10K. Restore it well, and if you’re so inclined, you can reap extraordinary benefits for your labor. Parts are easy to come by, thanks to the Tri-Fives’ popularity in the car world, and there’s a wealth of clubs and associations out there to offer support.

4. Plymouth Barracuda

It’s no secret around these parts that I’m a fan of the Barracuda, a car that helped to define what we think of when we hear the words “muscle car.” The golden age of the Barracuda was undoubtedly from 1970-71, when the broke free of an economy image that had plagued them for too long. The fastback was removed from the lineup that year, but the coupe and convertibles were there, and they were superb. Power topped out at 425 horsepower as stock, from a 426 V8, but with a restomod, well there’s no limit. We’ve already seen some lunatics put a twin-turbo, modern 426 in one and throw 1200 horsepower on to the wheels.

For a 1970 Barracuda in good condition, you can be looking at a huge amount of cash, but you can find examples in decent condition for around $25K. If you want a project, ones in bad shape can be had for just a few thousand. If you’re willing to get one from the 60s, you can get one in good shape for around $15K. Ones with smaller engines are also far cheaper than their more powerful siblings. Due to it being a Mopar, there’s also a big old crowd of enthusiasts out there to buy spares from, and to show off your new Barracuda-shaped bundle of joy to.

3. Chevrolet Camaro

When we talked about archetypal muscle cars, I guess the Camaro’s ears started burning. More specifically, I’m talking about the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. Even now, they’ve still got reasonable performance, and just look at it. It needs no introduction does it, it’s a Camaro. Conceived as a response to the runaway success of the Mustang, it’s a glorious retort to Ford, a testament to the ingenuity of Chevy’s engineers and designers.

These cars are EVERYWHERE, but that doesn’t seem to decrease their value a jot. Well restored Camaros can go for over $100K without much effort on your part at all. That being said, the number of them around means that you’ll also be able to find far cheaper project cars. The vast and, to be fair, deserved, cult of personality that they have also means you can find brand new parts with zero issues. Get yourself a Camaro. You know that you’ve always wanted to.

2. Ford Mustang Fastback

This list really is a muscle car jamboree isn’t it? The Ford Mustang Fastback is my favorite style of my favorite car of all time, and that seems to be the case for lots of you. Fun, fast, and stylish, it’s power in a tailored suit and a pair of Persols. An original in good condition still holds up today, with a 1967 Ford Mustang able to hit 60 in just over seven seconds. It’s not going to break any land speed records, but that’s where you come in. Fancy installing a 302 small-block? How about being more conservative with your cylinders, and hitting 1300 horsepower with just six of them?

Like the Camaro, finding a Mustang Fastback is not hard to do, particularly in project condition. If you want one, you can probably expect to pay somewhere around $10K. They’re also one of the most popular cars in muscle car history, so clubs and associations can be found everywhere. You can probably find one under a rock in your yard. Parts are some of the easiest of all to come by, with catalog after catalog offering new parts at good prices. Get one, race across your state’s most beautiful highways, and enjoy your life that little more.

1. Dodge Charger

Shakespeare once said “so long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, so long lives this, and this gives life to thee.” Now, while he was talking about a woman, it also applies to the Charger. Bear with me here. The Charger is a car that’s loved by every generation that it comes across. Whether you’re a 50-year veteran running your own shop or a high schooler starting your first project, the Charger is looked at by many as the pinnacle of muscle car design. When you first look at a 1968-1970 Charger in particular, the Dodge’s brutish good looks smack you in the face.

Whether you like your grilles looking like an electric shaver or split, and your headlights hidden or on display, you’ll find a Charger to fall in love with. They’re still fun to drive too.

While they’re not the easiest cars to find nowadays, they’re also not the most expensive. If you find an old beater, much like the Mustang, you’re not going to find it hard to restore. Parts are made constantly, with even the most minute and seemingly insignificant parts, like engine labels, being made today. Get one, weld the doors, and compose a new sonnet while bootlegging.