There is something about classic cars that draw people in like moths to a flame. No one can explain it. Newer cars have better MPG, tend to run smoother, and have better technology amongst other advantages. Why would anyone want a classic car in the first place? They even cost more money to acquire and maintain! Many consider the classic car hobbyist as crazy; nothing would please a classic car enthusiast more than to trade in their modern-day vehicle for a classic beauty. Plus, some classic cars have yet to be outdone by anything from this day and age. Should you restore or restomod a classic car? If it is in good condition and a true number matching car then restoration is most likely the best choice. On the other hand, if the vehicle is not in good condition and does not have a lot of its original parts then it makes more sense to restomod it.
Thus, if you run into a classic vehicle that you would like to turn into a project you have a particularly important decision to make — do you restomod, or do you restore the classic car or classic truck?
What Is the Difference Between A Restoration and A Restomod?
At first, glance, restoring an automobile seems completely the opposite of transforming it into a restomod. However, it is not that cut and dry.
There are two types of restoration:
- Frame On – The restorer will redo the body, paint, motor, interior, and trunk. In most cases, only the parts that need attention will be replaced.
- Frame Off – The restorer will take the entire body off the car and examine the frame and all parts will be re-conditioned – or replaced – and repainted. A frame-off restoration is easy to tell as most parts will be freshly painted or powder coated.
To summarize, restoration refers to the process of restoring a car to its original condition – the way it came off the assembly line. Restomod refers to the process of restoring the vehicle but also modifying it. These concepts are critical to understanding when deciding to restore or restomod a classic car.
First, let us start with definitions:
Restoration – refers to bringing back a classic car to its former glory by only using all (or mostly) original factory parts. The vehicle undergoes a complete makeover both externally and internally. When the restoration is complete, you should have a vehicle in pristine condition that looks just as good as it did when it was manufactured all those years ago.
Restomod – this is a process where you perform a restoration on a classic vehicle but incorporating modern day technology to improve the performance. With most restomod projects, the outer appearance of the vehicle retains its classic appeal, but the inside is replaced with the latest technology to truly give you an improved ride.
Though both sides have valid points when it comes to choosing one over the other, the one deciding factor that usually tips the scale for most people is value. A restored classic vehicle with original parts will often fetch a higher price at auction. However, the process of restoration will also be far more expensive. Hunting down parts that are no longer in production can be an expensive endeavor indeed.
Though a restomod project will not hold the same value as a restored classic vehicle, the improvement in performance may compensate for the deficit in value, at least for some people. Restomod vehicles have the same appearance as an original classic, but with all the modern conveniences provided by current technology.
Factors to Take into Consideration?
The first thing to consider is what condition the car is in. For example, cars with original major components that match one another are called numbers matching. Numbers matching is reasonably rare and if the car is in particularly good condition it would be a more likely candidate for a restoration. On the other hand, finding older parts can be exceedingly difficult so an older car that has had multiple owners may have been cobbled together with a whole host of parts. Making the restoration process timely and well as quite costly.
Historical significance usually refers to either a relatively famous person having owned the vehicle or that the vehicle has participated in major events (e.g., as a pace car). Historically significant cars are more likely candidates for restoration.
The planned use of the car is also an important consideration. Is the car going to be a daily driver? Can the vehicle be driven year-round? Whom will you be traveling with and where (e.g., young children, on highways, in major cities, etc…)?
Safety and performance are not usually major considerations when one is performing a full restoration of a vehicle. Rather, these folks usually have the cars and drive them on occasion as they are more showpieces and not daily drivers. Whereas restomod owners tend to prefer to have all the modern safety measures and improved performance.
Restore vs Restomod: Which Path Do You Want to Take?
Let us face it, there are, at the very least, two sides that auto enthusiasts seem to take. Some love restoring a classic car to its original condition. Others, like the modern amenities with the classic look. I understand both sides of this argument well however, in this example, I am clearly on the restomod side. In my case, the truck was rusty and had multiple owners. Moreover, the truck had an assortment of products from different manufacturers, so it was not historically significant, and I planned on driving it daily.
It all comes down to two factors — your purpose and your budget.
If you plan on using your classic vehicle as a daily driver and want something that is reliable and safe, a restomod project will be exactly what you are looking for.
However, if your budget is large and you are looking for a showpiece car that will only be brought out on special occasions, a restoration may be the route you are looking for. Both projects hold merit. It comes down to what suits you best.
A deeper look at the debate – traditionalists vs. modernists
The debate goes deeper still. There are classic car purists or traditionalists out there that view modernizing a classic vehicle as a sacrilegious act. For the traditionalist/purist, restoration is the only proper action.
Somewhat recently, truly hardcore purists/traditionalists have begun to adopt the European way of preserving classic vehicles. Typically, the American definition of restoring a classic car is to make it look as new as possible while maintaining its original parts. This is done by applying fresh paint, a good waxing, etc.
However, a new wave of traditionalists now believe that a classic vehicle should remain the way it is — dents, rust, and all. Even when a part fails on the vehicle, that part must be repaired while maintaining its original look, no matter how many dents it has. It is clear these individuals wish to preserve every aspect of their classic vehicle’s history.
How important is numbers matching with respect to restore or restomod a classic car?
Numbers matching is important to the value, collectability, and rarity of the vehicle. Just like in the art world, an original Picasso is worth something, so the more original a car the more it may be worth. That said, numbers matching is also important to a buyer that wants to purchase a car and then perform a full restoration on it. The more original the car the less costly and timely it will be to do the restoration.
From the flip side of the coin, those who favor restomods want to maintain the classic look of the vehicle while improving performance, safety, and comfort while driving. It may be a classic on the surface, but it is a completely different vehicle beneath the hood. Restomodders favor function over form, as opposed to traditionalists who prefer form over function.
Picking a side
The problem is that it is not so easy to simply pick one side or the other. You might find yourself toeing the line because when you think about it, both sides have valid arguments. If the classic vehicle in question is extremely rare, then going the restoration route would be a good idea to preserve the history of the vehicle.
But if you need a reliable vehicle to take your kids back and forth to school and get yourself to work every day, there is nothing wrong with going the restomod route and updating the safety features of your vehicle with modern day technology (i.e., brakes, safer seat belts, etc.).
The challenges of restoring a classic vehicle
Let us be honest with ourselves, especially if you are a traditionalist. It is hard to restore a true classic. Not only does it come down to cost, but sometimes it is just downright difficult to find the parts in the first place. In many cases, you may end up settling with aftermarket parts anyway because the parts you are searching for may be out of production. Plus, with the advent and popularity of bolt-on parts for classic vehicles, restomod projects may not seem so far-fetched after all.
True restoration is a long, hard, and expensive road. That is why many people find that going with a restomod is the better choice. Parts become plentiful, cheaper, and easier to come by. Though, if you have a large budget, you can overcome all these issues.
In almost every case, I land solidly on the restomod side of the restore or restomod a classic car debate and here are my top ten reasons why:
- Do you prefer to have a regular driver, or a trailer and/or garage queen.
- Improved safetymeans better peace of mind while driving. Brakes are arguably the single most important part of a car and the technology has changed quite favorably in the last 40+ years.
- Performance enhancementsmean it is more fun to drive. An engine swap, out with the old and in with the new, is cost-effective and exhilarating.
- Increased comfortallows me to travel greater distances as newer suspensions easily surpass outdated technology.
- Using a modern enginewill greatly improve reliability. In addition, replacement parts and general maintenance will be easier to find and less costly.
- Finding original OEM partsis extremely difficult and only getting worse with the numbers matching hobbyists. Purchasing modern aftermarket parts helps to avoid this issue.
- Air conditioning is necessary for the muggy Midwest when temperatures can get over 90 degrees and humidity hovers around 100%.
- Modern sound-deadening materialswonderfully allow for a quieter ride which is important when conversing with people riding in the car of having a cellular phone conversation.
- Technology enhancementslike auto navigation, hands-free cellular phone/blue tooth integration, remote start, a rearview camera, and a modern sound system are commonplace in anything else I drive so it is natural to want it in my most cherished automobile.
- Restomods are a good investment now and in the future. The value of a restomod has been thought to be less than that of numbers matching cars. And to a certain extent, I think that is true still to this day. However, that is changing as a new generation of car buyers enters the market.
What do modifications do to value?
As we already know, a classic that stays true to form will fetch a higher price than a vehicle that has received the restomod treatment. However, restomod vehicles can also command a handsome price, especially if you find a buyer who is searching for a vehicle with specific modern-day modifications in mind.
Be mindful that modifications done for the sake of changing the aesthetics of the vehicle, an expression of art, will likely drive down the price. However, upgrading the guts of your classic car will surely fetch you a handsome price from the right buyer.
Cost to Restomod a car
First, we assume the classic car is in extremely poor condition and the following areas will be completely restored and modernized: interior, exterior, suspension, brakes, engine, fuel system, electrical, and exhaust system. The cost to build a restomod varies, but is generally between $90,000-140,000.
Restomod values
First, we assume the classic car has a quality restoration and so the only variables left to determine worth is how rare the car is and how many and what type of modifications have been. Without taking rarity into account, the amount a restomod is worth varies but is generally between $50,000 -$75,000 for an entry-level restomod, $150,000-$200,000 for a mid-grade restomod, while a completely custom restomod can be worth over $500,000. Rarity is another factor used to determine worth. Simply put, there are so many variables to subjectively give the “worth” of a rare restomod, let alone one with any level of professional modification/customization. However, it is more than safe to say the worth of a professionally built restomod easily soars well over $1,000,0000.
Millennials were not raised in classic cars, nor were many of their parents which takes away some of the historical value a buyer might place on these vehicles. Barrett Jackson is the world’s largest auctioneer of classic vehicles. They report internal sales and market data over the last decade, among the trends they identified was the growing demands for professionally built restomods, as well as an increasing number of Gen X and millennial buyers coming into the hobby.
While there is a lot of information on this topic some key takeaways are as follows:
- Fewer people can relate to cars that are 40+ years old.
- Transportation is going through major changes with autonomous driving perhaps being the biggest.
- Predictions indicate classic cars will move to electric engines to allow for a safer environment
- There is some debate/discussion about the future as some wonder will people even be driving in 25-50 years.
What Does All This Mean?
I am not sure. Perhaps, numbers matching, or restored cars have a much shorter life expectancy as we look toward the future. Changing industry regulations may eventually lead to restored cars not even being allowed on the road. Restomods have adopted and transformed so they meet the most stringent future regulations.
All this said it is understood the best thing about owning a classic car is that the individual owner can make whatever decision she or he thinks is best. There clearly is no right or wrong answer and there are a plethora of opinions and comments all over the internet, magazines, and car shows. The neat thing is you do not have to pick a side, after all, just do what you want with your classic car and enjoy what others have done with theirs.
Modified Vehicle Insurance
If you are the owner of a modified vehicle, you will be no stranger to rules and regulations. Each state has specific vehicle requirements on what modifications are allowed, and how these adaptations affect your vehicles registration class. The same caution and attention should go into picking out your modified vehicle insurance Make sure you discuss with your agent exactly what modifications you have made to your vehicle to be sure it will be completely covered when you need it most.
There is only one conclusion
The only conclusion here is that both schools of thought — restomod vs. restoration — are valid in the right situation for the right person. It ultimately comes down to purpose and budget, but it also comes down to whether you care if your vehicle remains a true classic with 100% factory specs or if you do not mind throwing in modern day conveniences.
There is no reason why you should not modify your vehicle the way that you want it to look and run. But if you wish to preserve the tradition of your classic vehicle, then restoration is truly the way to go.
Let us agree that we all love working on classic vehicles. Let those who want to restomod their vehicle mod to their heart’s content and let those who prefer restoration focus on preserving the tradition and history of their vehicle. At the end of the day, both camps share a love for classic vehicles and that is all that matters.
