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We’ve thrown around the term’ restomod’ quite a bit over the last few years, as there has been an influx of restomodding. Usually, when we see a new restomod unveiled to the world, it’s more often than not a reimagined Porsche.

Why are there so many companies using Porsche 911s as the basis for their restomod projects? Maybe because the 911 is just a great car to base extreme projects on. However, with that influx of restomods, there are now more epic restomods that aren’t Porsches. These 10 cars are an example of a restomod done right that doesn’t use Porsche’s greatest hits as its base.

10

Vision 148 “Carbon Piranha”

Based on: Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500

If the Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500, a car that is undoubtedly a legend in its own right, were an animal, it would be a piranha. Those were the words of Vision 148, the company behind the creation of the one-off “Carbon Piranha” who also said that if it were a piranha, its body would be made from carbon fiber, which is why the “Carbon Piranha” has a heavily revised physique with many bends and folds that are composed entirely of carbon fiber. Only a single example of the carbon fiber-laden restomod is planned for production, with a company called Digital Manufacturing Centre tasked with building the car, which will then be gifted to one member of the Autovision Club.

9

Eccentrica Diablo

Based on: Lamborghini Diablo First Edition

The Lamborghini Diablo was, at one point, the world’s fastest car, and the V12 that was at its core was a significant reason for that. Decades after its debut, a company called Eccentrica revived Lamborghini’s sinister V12-powered Berlinetta, simply referred to as the Diablo. This restomod transforms the Lamborghini Diablo by incorporating modern technology, a new engine, and a revamped design.

Compared to the Diablo it’s based on, Eccentrica’s devil utilizes a heavily modified V12 engine that produces more power than the original, while weighing less due to the use of modern materials like carbon fiber and sandwich panels. Eccentrica has stated that the aim of their efforts to revise Diablo isn’t to extract four-figure power outputs, but rather to refine and improve the driving experience. Testing of the Diablo is nearing completion, and once this project is complete, Eccentrica might turn its attention to the Lamborghini Murcielago.

8

355 by Evoluto

Based on: Ferrari F355

By definition, a restomod is a classic or vintage car that has been revised and reborn with modern technology, and the 355 by Evoluto is the quintessential example. Marketed as the “peak analogue” driving experience through a complete overhaul of the Ferrari F355’s formula. Its engine, while still a naturally aspirated flat-plane V8, features over 200 new and redesigned components.

While retaining its core formula from the 90s, it boasts the level of power, performance, and reliability of a 21st-century supercar. The subtly revised exterior and the new interior are the handiwork of Ian Callum, the mind behind those cool Mini Cooper restomods. Aside from being more powerful and responsive than the Italian sports car it’s based on, Evoluto’s version of the F355 is also lighter, while having a stiffer body, than the Ferrari F355.

7

HWA AG 190 EVO II

Based on: Mercedes-Benz 190 EVO II

Like the Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500, the Mercedes-Benz 190E is a legend, and it’s no surprise that someone would eventually take one to an operating table to try to bring something new to life. HWA AG introduced the HWA EVO in 2023, which was based on the bones of a W201 190 series sedan; however, by the end of the transformation, as much as 75% of the donor car’s components had been replaced. Its front and rear sections were replaced by cast aluminum and high-strength steel subframes to improve rigidity and crash protection.

At the same time, DTM-inspired wishbones, adjustable KW dampers, and billet-machined wheel carriers support its boxy physique. The twin-turbocharged V6, borrowed from an AMG C43 sedan, was pushed further back in the engine bay to achieve a front-mid-engine configuration, resulting in close to 50/50 weight distribution. Its physique, surprisingly, is laden with carbon fiber, with the sum of all its parts totaling a $760,000 price tag. Only 100 examples are planned for production.

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6

Kimera Automobili EVO37

Based on: Lancia Rally 037

The Kimera EVO37 is the modern revival of the Lancia Rally 037, Lancia’s Group B rally car from the 1980s. This restomod supercar is based on the Lancia Beta Montecarlo, but its modifications only extend to the passenger cell, with the rest of its components and hardware being entirely new. Its boxy physique, to no surprise, is comprised of carbon fiber, while the chassis is supported by two double wishbones at the front and rear, developed by Öhlins.

The 37 examples planned for production weigh a total of 2,310 lbs. They are powered by a twin-charged (supercharger and turbocharger) four-cylinder engine producing nearly 500 hp, capable of reaching a top speed of 190 mph. Its interior is almost as impressive as its exterior, with the cabin featuring modern tech like an LCD and camera-based mirrors.

5

Lunaz Range Rover Safari

Based on: Land Rover Range Rover

Many companies have tried and succeeded in using a Range Rover as a base for their restomod projects, but the restomod produced by Lunaz Design is a standout offering. Finished in baby blue, the poster child for this restomod project was configured as a convertible off-roader, marking the company’s first time producing a Range Rover as an open-top model.

It has been gifted extensive body and chassis strengthening, while its powertrain has undergone a complete overhaul. In its place, an all-electric powertrain consisting of two electric motors (one for each axle) directs its output to all four wheels. This isn’t an oddity because we’ve seen a handful of Land Rovers undergo the same electrification. A plush interior complements an electric powertrain, starkly contrasting the classic styling of the exterior.

4

Maturo Stradale

Based on: Lancia Delta HF Integrale

The Lancia Delta HF Integrale needs very little introduction, and it’s the next best base for any restomod project after the Porsche 911. Maturo introduced a version of the Lancia Delta HF Integrale draped in carbon fiber, and at a glance, it was almost indistinguishable from the original. However, the devil’s in the details. Its carbon fiber body follows a similar fit and finish to the original sheet metal body, while reducing the body weight by 100 lbs in comparison.

Below its lightweight body is a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing significantly more power than the original, consisting of several parts and pieces designed to be lightweight, stronger, and more precise than those offered in the original Lancia. A tactile five-speed dog-leg transmission is paired with its engine, and limited-slip differentials keep its output being sent to all four corners in check. It also features a physical handbrake, a feature not many cars offer these days, which can be switched to a rally setting with the flip of a switch. It’s nearly on the same level as the hardcore Porsche from the 1980s that humbled the Ferrari F40.

3

Totem GTA Modificata

Based on: Lancia Guilia GTAm

For many, including the person writing this, the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm is a dream car, and Totem’s GTAModificata is a dream come true. Essentially, it is a significantly lighter, more powerful, and modern incarnation of the Giulia GTAm. Its body, while retaining the original car’s style, is composed entirely of carbon fiber with a metallic carbon finish, similar to the Alfa Romeo GTAm from the ’70s. It is distinguished by a wide-body kit that flares its frame by more than 200mm.

At the core of this lightweight Alfa Romeo is a 3.2-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces nearly 800 hp; mind you, the car only weighs 2,414 pounds. The fun doesn’t stop there; the same V6 engine exclusively powers the rear axle and is paired with a six-speed sequential transmission, culminating in a truly exciting driving experience. That’s if you could cough up roughly $1.2 million.

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2

Touring Superleggera Veloce12

Based on: Ferrari 550 Maranello

The Ferrari 550 Maranello was a handsome car, praised for its sonorous V12 engine among other enticing qualities. Production of that model ended in 2002, but now a new incarnation of this V12-powered Berlinetta has arrived, thanks to a company called Touring Superleggera, which introduced the Veloce12, a modern rendition of the Ferrari 550 Maranello that is an example of how to revive a classic tastefully.

Its V12 engine wasn’t perverted and forced to generate 800 hp; instead, it only produces 503 hp (up from 478 hp) and is accompanied by a gated six-speed manual transmission, punctuating its revised cabin, which follows the philosophy of “less is more” with its analogue interior devoid of intrusive screens and displays. Touring Superleggera states that it takes roughly 5,000 hours to assemble a single example of the Veloce 12, of which 30 examples will be built, each costing nearly $1 million after purchasing the donor car needed.

1

TWR Supercat

Based on: Jaguar XJS V-12

In 2024, Tom Walkinshaw Racing introduced a new restomod with an exterior design that few restomods can rival. The basis of the stylized coupe is the Jaguar XJS V-12 from the 1980s, which was designed to blend traditional features with modern technology. Beneath its long hood, characterized by two rectangular vents, lies a 5.6-liter supercharged V12 engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission, and it features a rear-wheel-drive layout.

Like the Diablo by Eccentrica and the Touring Superleggera’s Veloce12, the TWR Supercat prides itself on being an analogue restomod supercar powered by a capable V12 engine based on the bones of a car that, in stock form, bears little resemblance to the TWR Supercat. For a single example, expect a starting price of $285,000.

Sources: Totem Automobili, Maturo, TWR Performance, Touring Superleggera, HWA AG, Lunaz Design, Kimera Automobili, Vision 148