Vroom Vroom.

When it comes to car enthusiasts and hobbyists, classic cars are kryptonite. Never mind the costs to purchase these beauties or what goes into maintenance; newer models may be superior in many ways, but nothing beats the timeless charm of a classic car.

Once you’ve got your hands on your dream car, you may have given some thought to restoring it. The purists will tell you to stay close to the original condition of the car to preserve its sanctity and value. While they’ve certainly got a leg to stand on, a new wave of collectors have started straying from the traditional rules. In comes restomodding—a trend that’s taken the car community by storm.

What Is Restomodding?

Restomodding, put simply, is the process of “restoring” and “modifying” a classic car. For the most part, you’ll maintain the appearance and character of the vehicle while modernizing it to improve its performance, safety, and comfort.

Restomodding vs Restoring

Restomodding and restoring are two distinctive approaches to getting the most out of your classic car.

When you restore a classic car, the aim is to return it to its original condition or as close to it as possible. Often, the original parts, or parts from the period, are used to preserve the historical accuracy and value of the vehicle. Everything—interior and exterior—should remain authentic, and the ultimate goal is to make it look and function the way it did when it first came off the production line.

With restomodding, you have a lot more freedom. There’s still a huge focus on preserving the aesthetics of the car, but functionality and comfort are also a huge consideration. Some common modifications you’ll see are sound systems, power steering, and air conditioning. These adjustments aren’t true to the original era, but if you’re regularly taking your car out, you’ll find yourself missing some of these modern features very quickly.

Another major modification is swapping out the engine with a more powerful one. The new engine will be more reliable and yield better speeds—but some classic car lovers wouldn’t dream of making this replacement.

Restomodding can also involve adding modern safety features, like airbags, safety belts, and newer-style brakes.

Why Restomodding Is Super Hot Right Now

While it’s true that many buyers prefer vintage cars in their original condition, restomods have been making waves. Done right, these new iterations overshadow the originals and sometimes fetch a great price. Some companies now even specialize in restomodding and sell sought-after limited edition restomods with huge price tags. If you like the look of a classic car but want the advanced technologies that come with modern vehicles, a restomod gives you the perfect blend of nostalgia, practicality, and performance.

What adds to a restomod’s appeal is how truly unique it can be. A rare vintage car can become one of a kind after it’s been tailored to its owner's preferences, making it all the more special.

Should You Restomod Your Car?

There are a few questions you should ask yourself before you decide if you’d like to restomod your car.

Car Condition

A good starting point is assessing what condition your car is in. How much work does it need? This decision may be informed by what you’re using your car for. If you’re simply a collector and own your car for pleasure and personal use, you can restore and modify your car to your heart’s content.

Costs

Of course, you’ll have to set a budget and establish the costs. Depending on the car you have, the parts required, the condition it’s in, and the changes you’d like to make, the costs to restomod your car will vary, and you may have to shop around to figure out the overall expense. Be sure to factor in any unexpected costs, as these tend to come up.

Future Plans

If you see your classic car as an investment, you’ll have to think about restomodding it more carefully. Perhaps you’d like to enter your car into competitions or even sell it later down the line. With rare cars, it’s a good idea to think twice about certain aspects of the remodeling.

Painting her another color, for example, could diminish its resale value, as potential buyers might want something as close as possible to its original look. You may still want to paint her or even do bodywork if she’s sustained any damage or rust, but stick to the original color or use a variation that was available at the time.

DIY or Outsourcing

Another big question is whether your restomod will be a DIY job or if you’ll leave it to the professionals. Even if you’re good at DIY and have tackled other projects, this could keep you busy for a while.

Just don’t underestimate this undertaking or the costs involved. You might have to rent or borrow tools and spend some time sourcing the right parts and materials. It’s important to set a realistic timeline, be meticulous in everything you do, and document every step of the process so you stay on track.

Choosing to enlist professionals can help you avoid errors and get better results in less time. When you make this decision, consider your budget, skill level, the work that needs to be done, and the timeframe you’d like for the project. Consider choosing a bit of both. If you do the project DIY, it’s still a good idea to consult with the pros.

Regulations & Roadworthiness

It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with any rules and regulations to ensure your car remains roadworthy. If you have to re-roadworthy it down the line, this can set you back thousands. This isn’t the only legal consideration to be made.

If you’re selling a restomod car, you’ll have to check the manufacturer’s copyright terms. You might be fine enhancing a classic VW but could run into some trouble working on a Jaguar.

Get In On The Restomod Trend

This new trend in the classic car community holds a lot of potential, so keep an eye out on the restomodding space. If you’ve been wanting to enhance your classic car, this new trend may inspire and embolden you to break from tradition and breathe new life into your vehicle.