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Retro
15 of the best restomods revealed in 2025
From Ferrari F40s to Ford Escorts, nothing is safe from the restomod treatment
Officine Fioravanti F40 Alte Prestazioni
It’s a brave person that decides to try and improve a Ferrari F40, and yet Officine Fioravanti saw a couple of whoopsie videos on the internet and thought it best to step in. So, rather than changing the looks and adding more power, it fits adjustable Öhlins suspension, carbon ceramic brakes with ABS, hydraulic power assistance for the steering, lightweight alloys and new bearings and hubs. All in the aim of making the F40 “safer, more accessible and, when necessary, even more high performing”.
Advertisement - Page continues belowHalcyon Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
Electromods are still fairly controversial, but if there’s any car that makes sense with an electric powertrain it’s an old Roller. Halcyon can apply its magic to either a Shadow or Corniche, and it’ll fit a 94kWh battery with over 250 miles of range, plus a motor with over 400bhp. Nice.
ABT Ur-Quattro
Hans-Jürgen Abt once built himself a custom 444bhp Ur-Quattro, but now he’s setting his company the task of creating a limited-run of 523bhp restomods. The 25 cars will use a 2.5-litre five-pot engine and get Kevlar carbon fibre body panels all round.
Advertisement - Page continues belowPorsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer
The latest 911 from that Porsche restomodder is a tribute to the Carrera with Super Sport Equipment from the 1980s. So, it’s a 964 with a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six developed in collaboration with Cosworth. That means 414bhp, a redline that’s beyond 8,000rpm and pop-up headlights.
Twisted TBug
Yorkshire firm Twisted unveiled its take on a Baja-spec Beetle back in May. It doubles the power of the air-cooled flat-four Volkswagen engine, although that still means it makes less than 80bhp. But just look at its face!
MST Mk1 Sports
Paying tribute to the Escort Mexico, MST’s Mk1 Sports gets a 2.0-litre twin-cam engine with individual throttle bodies and 180bhp. There’s also a five-speed manual gearbox, a limited slip differential and adjustable suspension and dampers. Also, optional spotlights.
Wood & Pickett Mini by CALLUM
Hang on, is brown… cool? This little Mini was built by Callum Designs in partnership with Mini specialists Wood and Pickett, but it was commissioned by very fashionable man David Gandy. Oh, and it has a road/rally spec 1.3-litre four-pot making 110bhp.
Advertisement - Page continues belowFord Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition
As part of Boreham Motorworks, Alan Mann Racing is back with a replica of its 1968 British Saloon Car Championship contender. Finished in Mann’s iconic red and gold colours, and weighing just 795kg, it’s powered by a rorty 1.8-litre four-pot on Weber carbs with 205bhp.
Kimera EVO38
The Kimera EVO37 beat contenders from Lambo, Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin to win Top Gear’s Performance Car of the Year mega test at Portimão this year, and now there’s an EVO38 with more power, a 48V hybrid system and all-wheel drive. Oh, and somehow it’s even lighter than the EVO37.
Advertisement - Page continues belowGunther Werks Project F-26
This was once a 993-gen Porsche 911, but it’s now a 1,000bhp 935-inspired monster that pairs a 4.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six with a six-speed manual gearbox. Good luck.
Ringbrothers Octavia
No, it’s not a spacious Skoda. This particular Octavia is what US tuner Ringbrothers came up with when confronted with a very British muscle car. What started life as a classic Aston Martin DBS now sits on a custom chassis and is powered by an 805bhp 5.0-litre supercharged Ford V8.
Tuthill-Manx LFG
Making its debut at The Quail during Monterey Car Week was the LFG, which apparently stands for “Let’s Freaking Go!”, although its creator Richard Tuthill reckons us Brits might replace ‘Freaking’ for something a little cruder. Essentially it’s the ultimate Meyers Manx buggy, with a carbon body, rally-spec suspension, all-wheel drive and a 3.5-litre flat-six.
Eagle Lightweight GTR
Built as a true one-off, Eagle has taken its Lightweight E-Type one step beyond to create this 975kg GTR. With an all-aluminium 4.7-litre straight-six, adjustable Öhlins dampers and carbon ceramic brakes, it should be pretty serious. Still looks utterly gorgeous, too.
Toyota Turbo Trail Cruiser
Toyota itself built this glorious restomod FJ60 Land Cruiser for the SEMA show. That means you can’t actually buy it. Still, free to take inspiration. We particularly like the fact that it’s now powered by the 389bhp 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 from the current Toyota Tundra.
Encor Series I
Got a Lotus Esprit taking up space in the garage and half a million quid burning a hole in your pocket? The Encor Series I is a 400bhp, 1,200kg wedge of excellence, although we’re waiting for the one that can swim.
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