Modifying Classics - resist or embrace?

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Gaz

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Car modification.

It's not a new thing. Although it had a boom in the 90s and early 00s, with 2001's 'The Fast and The Furious' in particular responsible for a number of garish, neon-lit and bodykitted abominations, car enthusiasts have been tinkering with their vehicles as far back as the 50s and 60s. A new set of chrome spoked rims here; a carb tune there .............. Read the Full Article Here



Read the Entire Article Here
 

Rover Repair

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For all the talk of keeping classics original unless its a zero millage example it will barely have original parts never mind original looks.

IMO period mods to a car will always suit it (look at american muscle cars and how the mods have lasted and became styles over the decades) but lambo doors will always age lol.
 

Cooper

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I find it nigh on impossible to leave things well alone. My rationale being, it will make it drive better, it will be safer, faster, more reliable, I could live with it easier- I'd enjoy it more. Just plain better.

Then simply add man maths and it happens. In certain situations I'd reign in certain areas. I'd love a 20v Audi Quattro with 600bhp, but most of the mods would be under the radar go faster bits that wouldn't ruin the original aesthetic. Compare that to your point on the GTRs or Evos where carefully placed aero parts really do help them.

I also believe it's something you can get addicted to this modifying/tuning lark. It's no good for the bank balance!
 

Steviegsi

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Modify the balls out of them to you're own taste. There'll always be a beard to stow away a more original, cleaner, less miley example than yours anyway. Just because that 200 mile's from new gem made £120k at an auction, doesn't mean your 172k mile example with no service history, Triggers Broom of a car, is going to let you retire early.
 

Coog

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Often it's the original unmolested cars that stand out to me.

It's relatively easy to modify a car with aftermarket bits... once it gets to a certain age it's gets more and more difficult to keep it the way it was originally (metric tyres anyone?!)

For sure there is a place & time for upgrades, but the inner beard in me does like to hear about Joe Bloggs going out of his way to figure out the proper OEM wheel colour on his Series 2 Land Rover because a set of alloys from a shop is too easy, not the way it's supposed to be & simply won't do.
 

m00k

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I've always modded each car in some way be it suspension, brakes, engine or audio etc

Cav was modded when I bought it and has mods since then

Bought the Calibra with mods sitting at home to go straight on, however found myself enjoying its 'purity' and ended up leaving it as it was... in fact ended up re fitting an original stereo and factory mats
 
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AMG

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All depends on the car if you ask me.

This is not so much of a "classic" in this shape
opel-ascona-b-luxus.jpg


this is a slightly different story, and never really dates
413273522.jpg


This variation on the same theme is totally different, and really dated looking:
3154ff97-52d7-40af-83b0-80a72f1b0344_opel-ascona-b-mattig-extrem-halbcabriolet.jpg
 

cauld1

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(metric tyres anyone?!)

The majority of metrics are ancient and bought second hand. They have a nasty habit of being utterly crap when in anything but new condition too.

I think theres absolutely nothing wrong with modifying classic, pretty much every car that I have owned or my dad owns/has owned when I was growing up has been modified to some extent. As I am finding out at the minute there arent a lot of off the shelf mods for an e34 BMW (not quite a classic but close).

Nothing wrong with keeping a classic standard but there are a lot done like that that are quite frankly appallingly done, only have to go to a 'vintage' show and look down the side of some of them to see just how ripply they can be! Saying that if it's a motorsport replica without proper bits then its **** imo.

Nothing like winding purists up all the same!

Edited to add. If you are a car enthusiast you will do whatever makes you happy with your car, if you are a money enthusiast you will keep it standard, unused, mothballed to make sure the resale isnt affected, in spite of enjoying it.
 
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Coog

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The majority of metrics are ancient and bought second hand. They have a nasty habit of being utterly crap when in anything but new condition too.

They're just tyres but sized differently. No worse or better when new or used compared to a set of imperial sized, quality branded tyres. Dunlop still make (some) new ones. They're hugely expensive and not many people (me included) bother replacing them and instead end up going for a set of aftermarket wheels under the guise of "modifying". There's nothing wrong with it but some appreciation must go to the chap that resists the urge to stick on a set of 15 inch wheels in favour of spending time/effort/money on something that very very few people will notice or appreciate (except himself and a handful of beards).

The problem with modifying, as you pointed out above is that a certain visual modifications look great for the 3/4/5 year window in which they were carried out. After that, assuming it's not a replica of a factory car already, something purposeful or subtle mods, it can look a bit... well naff if I'm honest.

DonColeman-A.jpg


TerrySchulte-FA.jpg
 

Bryan

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My Cortina is totally original. I had toyed with the idea of putting a 5 speed gearbox in it but my father in law talked me out of it saying that I should leave it original 4 speed. I've also toyed with the idea of putting a Rover V8 in it but again then it wouldn't be original.

I hate Morris Minors but this is one cool looking example:
Sally-Phillips-001.jpg
 
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cauld1

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They're just tyres but sized differently. No worse or better when new or used compared to a set of imperial sized, quality branded tyres. Dunlop still make (some) new ones. They're hugely expensive and not many people (me included) bother replacing them and instead end up going for a set of aftermarket wheels under the guise of "modifying". There's nothing wrong with it but some appreciation must go to the chap that resists the urge to stick on a set of 15 inch wheels in favour of spending time/effort/money on something that very very few people will notice or appreciate (except himself and a handful of beards).

Oh I know they are just awkwardly sized tyres, but as you pointed out, very expensive. Some people buy ancient ones as they 'look' ok and new ones are hard to get/bloody expensive, but the compound is banjaxed and they make for a skitterish car. This is more common to metric than it would be normal sized tyres.

Yes have to hand it to someone who keeps a car standard. But I would rather see neat or period correct modifications that only a beard would understand more so than new old stock bl wheeltrims.

The examples you gave were guff looking when done!
A35-Speedwell.jpg

Speedwell A35 with period correct aftermarket Dunlop (i think) steelies over a boggo standard one. Yes please.
 

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That article should have a NSFW sign given the Cosworth photo within.

No photos of a real G60?! :p
 
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Cooper

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For sure there is a place & time for upgrades, but the inner beard in me does like to hear about Joe Bloggs going out of his way to figure out the proper OEM wheel colour on his Series 2 Land Rover because a set of alloys from a shop is too easy, not the way it's supposed to be & simply won't do.

I think the opposite applies with the same effect. Take something that has been modified badly, or 'in vogue' eg a kitted GSi Nova for example, return it to standard and get anal about the bits. Philips LCD Radio Cassette with Dolby B type detail, I'm all for it. Its as much about the process and project as anything!
 

Neil_M

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Done well and tastefully I see no problem with it. Many parts could be old and worn anyway, so why not do some genuine upgrades.

Many classic cars lend themselves to tuning for example. That could mean they are on a power with a more modern alternative.

Just because it's a classic it doesn't mean it shouldn't be rejuvenated IMO.
 

Coog

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I think the opposite applies with the same effect. Take something that has been modified badly, or 'in vogue' eg a kitted GSi Nova for example, return it to standard and get anal about the bits. Philips LCD Radio Cassette with Dolby B type detail, I'm all for it. Its as much about the process and project as anything!

Totally agree. I couldn't tell you the last time I saw a standard AE86 or MK1 Escort. It's actually more unusual to see a standard, unmolested model than a modified example. There's a level of effort needed to have it genuinely OEM, which often doesn't get appreciated as much as the work involved in changing the car. Enthusiasts can have very little appreciation or appetite for keeping something OEM and will want to leave their mark (me included). Ironically the modified stuff generally ends up looking very similar - all you need to do is type in "modified xxxxxx" into Google images and multitudes of the same car with very similar wheels and set ups will pop up.
 

nobby

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agree with @Neil_M

Depends if the car is going to be a garage queen and never do any proper driving then you could leave alone.

But if you plan to drive it you will have to refresh parts anyway and also you may as well make mods which can easily be reverted back and be beneficial in today's driving. Certainly this is the way I have approached it with my NSX but would never consider modding to the extent of the actual article pic featured above. :worried:
I think it's wise to maintain as much as OEM look as possible but do the necessary as a classic car will always need attention
 

Neil_M

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There's a level of effort needed to have it genuinely OEM, which often doesn't get appreciated as much as the work involved in changing the car.

110%, that's one thing alot of people don't realise. Certainly when done to a large level of detail, part manufacturers change, period correct parts, date stamps on parts etc etc.
 

AMG

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Totally agree. I couldn't tell you the last time I saw a standard AE86 or MK1 Escort. It's actually more unusual to see a standard, unmolested model than a modified example. There's a level of effort needed to have it genuinely OEM, which often doesn't get appreciated as much as the work involved in changing the car. Enthusiasts can have very little appreciation or appetite for keeping something OEM and will want to leave their mark (me included). Ironically the modified stuff generally ends up looking very similar - all you need to do is type in "modified xxxxxx" into Google images and multitudes of the same car with very similar wheels and set ups will pop up.

Have to agree there, currently building a Nova at the minute, and its easier (and cheaper) to build it modified slightly over a standard example!
 

DavidY

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If it's mass produced then go for it. If It's fairly low in production, then I'm against it. Also, if it's a car with a significant history, case in point being the Honda NSX above, then I think they definitely should not be touched. I fully understand the cars can be made to look nicer, and perform significantly better/safer etc. But it's only ever done to that owners taste at the time. Which can be a very bad move down the line.

If you have to 'modify' a classic, then why can't they be re-imagined or 'new' cars built up from scratch using spec parts. Examples of this are the Eagle Speedster or the Jaguar E-Type Clarkson drove on top gear with the new chassis.
 

Simon998

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I'm torn with this constantly. I'm forever buying uprated/aftermarket parts for the Rallye and not fitting them because it will compromise its originality. Keeping the 8v engine alive sickens my happiness and I know a 1.6 16v engine swap would solve most of my woes but it's usually irreversible unless you pay for a custom loom. Due to the low numbers of this model produced the prices are starting to sky-rocket for original examples. On the other hand, it has 120k miles on it, it will never be pristine and I don't ever plan on selling it so I'm not sure why I worry about resale value so much.
 

Woodcutter

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Great article Gaz!

I have never modified a car in my life, but I have just bought a white 944 that needs some fettling, and I'm tempted to do something with it as I'll probably never sell it.

If you plan on ever selling up, any mods on a classic really have to be 100% reversible in my opinion, otherwise you're limiting your market for resale and most likely going to reduce the value.
 

cauld1

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Depends what type of mods you do though. A proper, period correct prep of a car to historic rally spec can add value to it. You would never make what you spent back, but over a boggo car it would be worth more. Or the likes of an a35 built to tophat race car spec. Not cheap to do, but nothing to do with classics is if you do it properly.

When Im talking about modifications by and large theyre reversible aside from weld in cages...

I see e-types were mentioned. Theres a cracker one being built in England at the minute thats using a shell that was absolutely useless. Its getting a rotary and is going to be very low. Likes of a series three e type couldnt be made to look worse by modifying it so why not!
 

Coog

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Saw an e-type at Santa Pod that was running c.10 second quarter miles. Was class :grinning:
 
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