Ask builders what customers want right now and you’ll hear the same answer: a classic that looks right and drives like a new car. That’s the restomod, and it’s everywhere.
What is a restomod?
A restomod keeps a classic car’s original style and upgrades what’s underneath. Typical upgrades include fuel injection, modern brakes and suspension, better cooling, engine management, updated wiring and modern transmissions. The goal is to keep the character and lose the headaches.
In America the line between “hot rod” and “restomod” is blurry. A classic Mustang with fuel injection and big brakes could be called either one. What matters is the result: a car you can actually drive.
Restore or restomod?
Two questions usually decide it:
- How will you use it? A show car that rarely leaves the trailer may be best kept original. A car you want to drive on weekends or every day is a great restomod candidate.
- What condition is it in? If the original numbers-matching drivetrain is already gone, a full restoration can’t be complete, so modernizing often makes more sense.
It started with the Boyd Look
Long before “restomod” was a word, Boyd Coddington was doing it. His cars were engineered, not pieced together. Instead of borrowing parts from commuter cars, he machined his own from billet aluminum and gave hot rods a smooth, fluid look that’s still the industry baseline.
Today’s restomod builders follow the same playbook: keep the soul, upgrade everything else. Read the full story at BoydCoddington.com.
Restomod shop or parts brand? Put your build in front of Jo’s fans →