Category Archives: Restomod

Restomod

Theon Design Turns the Porsche 964 Into a 426-HP Air-Cooled Weapon

Singer may have written the opening chapter of the modern Porsche restomod story, but the genre has evolved well beyond a one-brand show. Case in point: Theon Design’s latest take on the 964-generation 911, a car that looks politely classic until you realize it packs a better power-to-weight ratio than a modern GT3 RS. Yes, really.

From a distance, this renewed 964 doesn’t scream for attention. The lines are familiar, the stance restrained, the vibe unmistakably air-cooled 911. Look closer—or better yet, drive it—and you discover that subtlety is just camouflage. Underneath the vintage skin lives a deeply reengineered machine built by Theon Design, a UK-based outfit that’s quietly become one of the most serious players in the restomod game.

The heart of the transformation is a new air-cooled 4.0-liter flat-six, and it’s exactly the kind of engine enthusiasts fantasize about at 2 a.m. It makes 426 horsepower at a heady 7,600 rpm and 439 Nm of torque, thanks in part to independent throttle bodies that promise razor-sharp response. Open engine intakes complete the package, ensuring the soundtrack is as unfiltered as the driving experience. If you believe air-cooled engines should be heard, not muted, Theon is clearly on your side.

Power goes to the rear wheels only—because of course it does—through a six-speed manual gearbox. No paddles, no modes, no apologies. To make sure all that power doesn’t turn into expensive tire smoke, Theon fits specially calibrated TracTive semi-active dampers and brakes borrowed from the 993-generation 911 Carrera RS. The result is a chassis that blends old-school feedback with modern control. Period-correct 17-inch Fuchs wheels fill the arches, wrapped in Michelin rubber that quietly hints this car is meant to be driven hard, not parked under velvet ropes.

The build process itself is obsessive in the best possible way. The donor 964 is stripped to its bones, the chassis reinforced with additional welding, and the steel body panels replaced by lightweight composite parts. Finished in Medium Ivory with contrasting Grand Prix stripes and protected by PPF, the car manages to look both timeless and purpose-built.

All that carbon pays dividends on the scale. Theon’s 964 tips the scales at just 1,150 kilograms, giving it a power-to-weight ratio that eclipses Porsche’s current 911 GT3 RS. That’s an outrageous statistic for something that still looks like it belongs in a 1990s showroom poster.

Inside, the same level of care continues. Carbon-backed Recaro CS seats are trimmed in Tobacco nubuck leather with ivory stitching that mirrors the exterior details. Plastic switchgear is banished, replaced by machined aluminum components that feel substantial and mechanical—exactly how a 911’s controls should feel. The rear seats are gone, swapped for a carbon-fiber storage compartment, while a Focal six-speaker system with an Audison amplifier handles audio duties for the rare moments when you’re not listening to that flat-six howl.

None of this comes cheap. Prices for one-off commissions like this start at £420,000 (about €484,250), and each build takes roughly 18 months. But in the rarefied world of high-end restomods, that price isn’t just for parts or performance—it’s for patience, craftsmanship, and the idea that a classic 911 can still move the goalposts.

Singer may have started the conversation. Theon is making sure it doesn’t end there.

Source: Theon Design

Restomod

The Shelby GT350TR Proves There’s Still Room for One More Great Mustang Restomod

Just when it seemed like the Mustang-based restomod boom had reached peak saturation—every fastback reborn, every stripe reimagined—along comes another build that reminds us why this corner of the car world refuses to slow down. Meet the Shelby GT350TR, a sharpened, modernized reinterpretation of the classic Mustang by Oklahoma-based Trick Rides. Yes, it follows a familiar formula. No, that doesn’t make it any less compelling.

At $339,000 to start, the GT350TR clearly isn’t trying to win over casual nostalgia buyers. This is a no-compromises restomod aimed squarely at people who want their classic Mustang to drive like a modern performance car—without losing the attitude that made the original special.

As with any serious restomod, the magic begins underneath. Trick Rides ditches the original underpinnings in favor of a modern Roadster Shop chassis, instantly resetting expectations for ride quality and handling. An independent front suspension with Fox shocks brings a level of composure the original car could only dream of, trading vintage float for modern control. It’s the kind of upgrade that quietly transforms the driving experience long before you start leaning on the throttle.

The chassis revisions don’t stop there. Stiffer front and rear stabilizer bars work alongside a four-link rear suspension and a stout 9-inch rear axle. Together, these upgrades dramatically recalibrate how the Mustang behaves when pushed, trimming away much of the body roll and cornering hesitation that defined the original car. In other words, this is a classic Mustang that finally feels comfortable attacking a winding road rather than merely surviving it.

Visually, the GT350TR walks a careful line between reverence and reinvention. Trick Rides keeps the familiar silhouette intact, crafting the body panels from steel and preserving the proportions that made this generation of Mustang iconic. There’s an undeniable Eleanor vibe here, but it’s more restrained—less Hollywood hero car, more grown-up muscle with taste.

Up front, the changes are more pronounced. A new grille, revised headlights, and a custom hood give the GT350TR a sharper, more purposeful face. Three-piece Forgeline wheels fill the arches just right, while side-exit exhaust pipes add a touch of race-car menace without tipping into parody. From most angles, it looks properly aggressive, though the rear end plays things a bit safe compared to the bolder front fascia. That subtlety may disappoint some, but others will appreciate the restraint.

Then there’s the powertrain, which is exactly as unapologetic as you’d hope. The headline act is a supercharged 5.0-liter Coyote V8 pumping out a reported 710 horsepower. It’s paired with a six-speed Tremec T-56 manual transmission, because anything else would feel like a missed opportunity. A custom exhaust system with Magnaflow mufflers ensures the soundtrack matches the numbers, delivering modern V-8 fury through a classic American megaphone.

For buyers who want brute force without the whine of a blower, Trick Rides offers an alternative: a naturally aspirated 7.0-liter V-8. It’s a different flavor of excess, trading forced induction drama for big-displacement swagger.

Performance upgrades would be meaningless without serious stopping power, and the GT350TR delivers there too. Baer brakes handle braking duties, with six-piston calipers up front and four-piston units at the rear, promising fade-resistant confidence to match the car’s newfound pace.

The Shelby GT350TR doesn’t pretend to reinvent the restomod formula. Instead, it refines it—modern chassis, modern power, classic looks, and just enough restraint to keep it from becoming a caricature. In a crowded field, that focus might be exactly what helps it stand out.

Source: Ford Authority

Restomod

Italdesign Gives the Honda NSX a History Lesson—and It Actually Works

Restomods are usually reserved for air-cooled Porsches and vintage Alfas, but Italdesign has decided to rummage through Honda’s greatest hits instead. The result is the NSX Tribute, a reimagining of the second-generation NSX that stitches together three decades of supercar heritage without tipping into cosplay.

At first glance, the strongest nod goes all the way back to 1989. The rear wears a deck-style spoiler that instantly recalls the original NSX, complete with a “floating ring” brake light that gives the whole assembly a satisfyingly architectural feel. The turn signals and reverse lights are cleverly hidden beneath the spoiler, keeping the tail clean while rewarding anyone who looks twice.

Look upward and you’ll spot another deep cut. The roof-mounted intake channels the ultra-rare 2005 NSX-R GT, the homologation special built for Japan’s Super GT championship. It’s an enthusiast reference that won’t register with casual observers—but that’s exactly the point.

The front end stays closer to the modern NSX playbook. The sharp-edged nose mirrors the final-year Type S, lending the Tribute a more aggressive, contemporary stance. Red Honda badges add a subtle Type R wink, while the headlights wear removable “eyelid” covers that echo the pop-up lamps of the original car. It’s nostalgia, but applied with restraint.

According to designer Cristiano Fracchia, the goal was to add tension and muscle without disturbing the NSX’s famously clean lines—and that balance is where the Tribute succeeds. The surfaces feel more dramatic, yet the silhouette remains unmistakably NSX.

Inside, Italdesign wisely resists the urge to reinvent the wheel. The cabin is largely carried over from the standard second-gen NSX, with bespoke upholstery tailored to buyer preference. In other words, the drama stays outside, where it belongs.

Mechanical details haven’t been confirmed, but the expectation is familiar hardware: Honda’s twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 paired with three electric motors, good for a combined 573 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque. In stock form, that setup launches the 1.7-ton coupe to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds—squarely in the territory of modern hybrid exotics like Ferrari’s 296 GTB.

The NSX Tribute doesn’t try to rewrite history or outgun today’s hypercars. Instead, it reminds us why the NSX mattered in the first place—and why it still does. In an era when nostalgia often feels forced, Italdesign’s take proves that a greatest-hits album can still sound fresh when the original tracks were this good.

Source: Italdesign