Are restomods really the next "big thing"?
Yesterday I watched a new videoby Harry Metcalfe (Harry's Garage) in which he talks about how "petrolheads" are no longer interested in today's new cars. Firstly, they lose value too quickly, secondly, they are too complex and thirdly, they contain many things that nobody wants, e.g. traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning, distance warning and so on, i.e. basically functions that you have to switch off every time you drive off. For this reason, Harry assumes that the cars of the decade of this millennium will be much more in demand today and in the future than their more modern successors, which have various batteries and electric drive motors on board in addition to an ever smaller engine with fewer and fewer cylinders.
According to Harry, his colleagues do not want to buy new cars, but would rather hold on to their older ones. And they are showing more and more interest in so-called "restomods".
And since a press release from "Modena Automobili Srl" had just fluttered virtually into the house, the Maserati Birturbo Shamal on display was the ideal illustration of this phenomenon.
Modena Automobili wants to breathe a second life into the Shamal. Instead of the original V8 with two turbochargers, however, the V6 from the Ghibli S is now used, increasing the power output from 322 to 500 hp. The modern twin-turbo engine is coupled with the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Suspensions and brakes are optimized and modernized, the body is completely new in carbon and steel. The creators speak of a more modern and rounded interpretation of the Gandini design. At 187 cm, the car remains compact by today's standards.
Inside, contemporary comfort is provided, including new Recaro seats, an oval-shaped TFT instrument display and automatic air conditioning. 33 units are to be built, each costing around EUR 585,000.
What exactly a "restomod" is, definitions and opinions differ. While some expect it to be practically a new car with an old design, others simply see it as a technically improved old car. The Shamal from Modena Automobili belongs more to the first group.
Is Harry Metcalfe's (ex Evo magazine) assessment correct? Will these restomods really be able to inspire sports car enthusiasts? And aren't these restomods a little too far removed from the original? Are they still classics? Can they still become classics?
I would be very interested to hear the opinions of our readers on this subject, please comment! We are curious!
