As we draw towards the end of old school month, we thought for this week's poll it'd be cool to have you guys speak your mind on how your ideal classic machine would be built.
From a purist-pleasing resto to a full on Frankenstein build, there's plenty of ways to go about enjoying classic iron.
For this poll's sake I used the Hakosuka Skyline as an example, but any car can be substituted in it's place.
The first, and most traditional choice would be a factory correct restoration. This choice might not be the best for expressing creativity, but there's always something to be said a fully restored classic. Generally, the historic value of the base car has a big effect on how likely it is to be modded, with something like the KPGC10 above a good candidate for a factory resto.
The "middle road" here would be a resto-mod, some light tuning, or whatever you want to call it. The basic elements of the car are kept intact, but changes include wheels and tires, light engine work, suspension, minor body upgrades, etc. A good choice for someone who wants to make a car more fun while preserving its original character.
Finally, you have extreme builds that use the original car only as a blank canvas. Heavy suspension and chassis work and crazy engine swaps are the name of the game here. The 1JZ-powered Hakosuka built by C&Y Sports is a fine example of this.
Obviously there are other options that fall in between these three, but I think this covers the spectrum pretty well.
So, which of these styles floats your nostalgic boat?
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
Modded no doubt about it, nothing nicer then a classic car with a modern stance/flush look., or a race theme look
Personally, if I came across an original Hakosuka GTR, not the GTX, I would just restore it back to factory spec. The GTR's are just too rare and desirable to modify them. Now if I came across an unrestored GTX, I'd definitely resto mod it.
Factory Stock. There are a lot of GT-R's that look and/or perform absolutely stuperb when tuned, but it's a classic car with cool history.
Modded, of course. Unless its a REAL GTR, you have to mod it. what's the point! http://fatlace.com/lacedup/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/skytarga_2.jpg
Resto-mod. That way you retain most of the feel of the original, but get performance that stops and goes like more modern machinery. But keep those original parts somewhere just in case you sell it later.
Definitely modded, nothing cooler and more creative then a crazy swap and bringing modern tech into the old school world. Swap would either be n/a RB or n/a 2JZ. Great sound and ample power for the chassis.
Cant wait to race-prep my hls30
Done tastefully, I like it all.
i was hoping a rockey auto gtr would be used for on of the picks
on some cars i would say to do a resto mod like the hakosuka. on a z i might go crazy or restomod again the z is kinda a timless desigh so i might go crazy (fender flares subtal body kit and a rb26). my only questin is if i love a stock body wheels suspention(restomod) but i would love to put a s400 13b-rew in it so is that restomod or crazy
What about SUPER middle ground?
Someone who keeps the cars original character but mods a period correct engine heavy (L28), converts to coilovers, etc.
Def, a resto mod. modern performance and great stance but exterior and interior originality.
I think that depends on the owner will and the purpose of the car, and some cars looks and feels good with peroid correct mods, other just with restoration, and the modernization of mecanics is final option .
modded. there's always room for improvement, and if someone is putting that much work into a car, it should be a unique vehicle that says a little something about the driver.
I prefer resto-modding, but I wouldn't do anything that'd be permanent and I'd hang onto the original parts. Basically, I'd want to restore it, then mod it, but not too far that I couldn't change it back if I wanted to.
Do what you will with whatever you've got, rocking a classic is a way of life no matter how accurate/modded it is.
I only see factory restorations as an option if you are looking to sell or show the car in judged concourses. Full-on monster builds are just too damn expensive and focussed for anyone but uber-rich and shop demo cars.
Resto-mod allows you to have your classic car, but without the bottle-cap brakes and stuff like rubber fuel lines. Best of both wolds! Just take a look at the Hotchkiss cars as PERFECT example.
resto-mod. Keep the original intact while making improvements. No silhouette racers please.
FACTORY STOCK !!!!!!!!!!!
Keeping the original charcteristics of a car as well as adding a few personal touches is always a good way to go, in my opinion. So resto-mod would fit perectly in my book of good things.
I have to go with modded MOST of the time. A Hakosuka modded for sure, unless GT-R (mostly because of the rarity) but they look amazing modified tastefully.
Rest-Mod....get the best of both.
absolutely modded if you dont drive the car and have fun with it whats the point of owning it. Of course there are exceptions just like american muscle some cars are just to rare and special to hack up. I dont hesitate to cut metal on my s30
Lightly modded, keeping the beauty of the car while upping the performance.
go crazy , but i do hate the C&Y hakosuka, to wild paint no need to uses a jz engine on a Skyline i would stick a nice RB with a bigass turbo and give a shot a the quater...
I am a resto mod kinda guy for the classics that arent so rare, but if it is super rare, like a true Hakosuka or Kenmeri GTR or the 432 Fairlady Z, i would always do it back to stock, possibly get some bolt on stuff suck as suspension to the the stance a bit more up to date, a set of wheels, and maybe a exhaust to bring that amazing sound of an s20 to life.
Between "Resto-mod" and "Go crazy with it". Modern engine, steering, suspension, and brakes should make the car safer and more fun to drive. I wouldn't want a different engine layout to keep the original driving feel. Also, I prefer chassis and engine of the same make.
For me it depends. If the car is in terrible shape and the shell is barely useable, I'd mod it like crazy. But the if the was super minty and original, I'd do light modding with period correct wheels but modern suspension/braking/tires.
Period sensitive mods, IMHO, are the way to go. The race styled examples above are probably in some cases more heavily modded than the crossbred C&Y car, but they aren't trying to make it something it isn't (which the C&Y one is), they are more in tune with the whole wabi-sabi sort of concept I think whereas wholesale crazy modernising, transplants etc do away with that authenticity in a somewhat destructive way.
modded
modding it with (equivalent) parts only available at the time. I'm sure owners of these cars would have had the modifying bug too. Era specific all the way, even for internals.
Definitely resto-mod
well as a ownner of a 1971 skyline gtx...mine has a rb25de with throttle bodies on it and headers..i personally prefer the smoothness and less maintenance with the rb (no oil leaks)..the stock brakes on these cars suck..i am in process of upgrading them ...i personally like the body all original with the flares and spoilers...how do i send you guys pics?anyway if any of you had the money for a real gtr 65-85 thousand or more of course your not going to modify it .but i think if you do it tastefully dont cut the body you can have best of both worlds the styling and the power...by the way i am putting a rb26 in now with 2 upgraded turbos the na engine sucks on the freeways here in california....190rhp is not enough
It really depends on the project at hand, but for the most part I have to say Resto-mod. Keep the original styling of the car, given it was somewhat cool to start, give it some modern reliability, handling and power. This makes a very cool package. And everyone has there own creative style, thats the cool part of the car culture.
Resto-mod all day long... If the car is in classic condition then it deserves some choice (reversible) modifications to make it more drivable day to day, without ruining it's classic style.
This is the goods.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2001/12972534/23111526/385431023.jpg
f*ck that full race
I think the perfect Hakosuka for me is with a RB26DETT, Volk TE37v's, RECARO Furious seats, MOMO Drifting steering wheel and racing suspension, something between going crazy and resto-mod....I'll vote for Going crazy with it
I think it all come down to personal taste and also your over all respect for the classics, I personally would modify the car no matter which car it is. But, And that's a big BUT. I would keep it period correct paying respect to the era in which it was built and raced.. But thats just my 2 cents
For most I think a resto -mod is probably the best choice, keeping it a close to original as possible but still making it fun to drive is a must. I think there certain things that just need to be changed; like the suspension and brakes. Being that were used better breaking and handling cars, I think it is a must and they can enhance the driving experience of that classic, making it even better than original.
We have a hillclimb event every May long weekend here in Canada and there are a lot of "resto mods" running up the hill. They are some of the coolest cars I've seen because they aren't just show 'n shine cars, but classics like the 510, 240Z, or RX7 that actually gets used - hard. Love it.
resto mod sleeper..interior and exterior lightly moded while going crazy on engine and car dynamics
All is good, depending on the purpose for the car.
Middle Road would be my choice.
Hakosuka with full suspension works, wheels + offset.
Even if I were to put a RB26 in, I'd still keep the exterior on the clean side.
although i have OEM leanings you can't beat a good 'Resto' with added mods..
I've really started leaning towards classics modded with classic mods. You know 60's stuff modded like it would have back in the 60's and 70's. Not that making a classic handle and stop is wrong, just kinda kills the OEMness of it.