Category Archives: Restomod

Restomod

Gunther Werks GWX Is the Rarest, Wildest 911 Restomod Yet

At this point, it’s no secret that Gunther Werks doesn’t just build restomods—they build rolling statements. Every Porsche 911 they touch leaves their California shop reborn: sharper, faster, and infused with the kind of obsessive detail you’d expect from a Swiss watchmaker, not a boutique carmaker. But their latest creation, unveiled at Monterey Car Week, pushes things far beyond the familiar formula. Meet the GWX—the most ambitious, most exclusive car Gunther Werks has ever attempted.

How exclusive? Only three will ever be built. Not three per year. Not three per color. Three total, period. And don’t bother calling your dealer; the GWX is strictly invitation-only.

A Flat-Six With Bite

Like its siblings, the GWX starts life as a 993-generation 911 before undergoing an industrial-strength metamorphosis. At its core is a new 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six, good for 440 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. But the real nerd-bait detail here is the sliding throttle body plates—a motorsport-derived solution that promises razor-edge throttle response. This isn’t just another hot-rodded air-cooled Porsche; it’s a scalpel designed to slice milliseconds off your synapses.

Wrapped in Carbon, Dressed to Kill

If the engine is the beating heart, the carbon fiber bodywork is the exoskeleton. Every single panel—the hood, the quarter panels, the skirts, the fenders—is sculpted from carbon. The GWX looks like something sketched by a kid who grew up mainlining IMSA race cars, then refined by a designer with OCD. The stance is wide, the details intricate, and the aero unapologetically functional: a massive rear wing with a ram-air scoop built right into the decklid, a custom diffuser, and a front bumper that belongs on a GT-class racer.

The car shown at Monterey, dubbed Alpha Spec, came finished in a shimmering shade of Candy Purple created in-house, complete with silver pinstriping and herringbone carbon accents splashed across the hood and roof. It’s loud, it’s luxurious, and it’s unapologetically Gunther Werks.

A Cabin That Matches the Drama

Open the door and the story continues. Carbon-backed bucket seats wrapped in black-and-white leather, a three-spoke Alcantara wheel, a reimagined carbon-fiber dash, and even a Porsche Classic stereo system to remind you that this car, somewhere deep under all the carbon and Candy Purple paint, started life as a 1990s 911. But personalization is the name of the game here—buyers will almost certainly have a hand in dictating every stitch, weave, and finish.

The Pinnacle of the Breed

Founder Peter Nam summed it up succinctly: “Our new GWX takes all we have learned with remastering the Porsche 911 platform and pushes it even further.” Translation: this is the ultimate distillation of Gunther Werks’ philosophy, a no-compromise halo project aimed squarely at the company’s most dedicated clients.

No pricing has been released, but let’s be real—if you’re one of the three people getting a call, the number on the invoice isn’t going to matter. The GWX isn’t about price. It’s about power, presence, and the kind of exclusivity that makes a Bugatti Chiron look mass-produced.

Gunther Werks has built plenty of unicorns before. With the GWX, they may have just built Pegasus.

Source: Gunther Werks

Restomod

Ringbrothers Reinvents the Aston Martin DBS as a Supercharged Hot Rod

The Aston Martin DBS has long been celebrated as a gentleman’s GT—sleek, refined, and forever tied to James Bond’s suave image. But American restomod legends Ringbrothers have asked a very different question: What if 007’s weekend car wasn’t shaken, but seriously stirred? The result is Octavia, a wildly reimagined DBS that trades its British heart for American muscle.

A Mustang Heart, Supercharged to 805 HP

Under the carbon-fiber hood, the DBS no longer hums with an Aston inline-six or V8. Instead, it roars with a 5.0-liter Ford Coyote V8, familiar from the Mustang GT, but here it’s been thoroughly overhauled and force-fed by a 2.65-liter supercharger. The combination delivers a staggering 805 horsepower—nearly triple what the original DBS ever dreamed of.

To handle that power, Ringbrothers swapped in a Tremec six-speed manual transmission, the same heavy-duty unit found in machines like the C6 Corvette, Dodge Challenger Hellcat, and Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. In other words, this is no fragile Bond prop car—it’s engineered to take a beating.

Rebuilt From the Ground Up

Ringbrothers didn’t just stuff a big engine into an old British chassis and call it a day. The car’s structure has been completely transformed thanks to a bespoke Roadster Shop chassis. Wheelbase has been stretched by three inches, the front track widened by eight inches, and the rear track by ten.

Suspension duties fall to Fox coilovers at all four corners, while braking comes from massive 380mm Brembo discs hidden behind custom HRE center-lock wheels. The stance is aggressive, the geometry modern, and the capability well beyond anything the stock DBS could ever deliver.

Bond Style, With a Twist

The body may look familiar, but every panel is carbon fiber. Finished in Double-0 Silver—a nod to Aston Martin’s cinematic ties—the DBS looks like it belongs on a movie poster. Inside, the cabin blends tan leather, brass door handles, and a carbon-fiber dash with stainless accents. It’s equal parts classic British luxury and hot-rod theater.

The Bond connection doesn’t stop there. The engine’s valve covers read “Aston Martini”, and the oil dipstick is shaped like a martini glass. As Ringbrothers co-owner Jim Ring put it: “We asked ourselves, what would an MI6 agent drive on his holiday?”

Octavia Takes the Stage

Nicknamed Octavia, this one-off restomod makes its public debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Car Week. With its outrageous mix of British elegance and American brute force, it’s less an homage to Aston Martin tradition and more a Bond villain’s fever dream.

One thing’s for certain: if Q Branch ever got its hands on it, James Bond might never return it to the garage.

Source: Ringbrothers

Restomod

Classic Mini Returns with Modern Flair

In a world where size and digital excess often dominate automotive headlines, the timeless charm of the classic Mini stands out as a refreshing alternative. Now, in a stunning collaboration that bridges heritage and innovation, legendary designer Ian Callum’s eponymous design firm has joined forces with Wood & Pickett — the artisans behind the iconic Margrave Mini of the 1960s — to reimagine the beloved British icon for a new generation.

The result is a limited-production restomod that blends 1960s charisma with 21st-century performance and craftsmanship. Built upon the bones of a Mk5 Sportspack Mini, this reborn classic is more than just a nostalgia trip; it’s a fully reengineered driver’s car with bespoke details throughout.

From the outset, the car sets itself apart with a series of bold exterior upgrades. Lighting housings have been entirely rethought, giving the front and rear ends a more purposeful look. Redesigned valances and an updated rear section further distinguish it from the original model, while flared wheel arches not only enhance visual aggression but also contribute to improved aerodynamics and cooling.

Sitting proudly on 13-inch alloy wheels designed in-house by Callum, the car sports 8.4-inch vented and grooved brake discs, ensuring that stopping power matches its sporty demeanor.

Under the bonnet lies a “newly rebuilt” 1.3-liter Stage 3 road/rally engine delivering an impressive 100 horsepower — a significant boost over the original powerplant. Featuring twin-point fuel injection, a performance cylinder head, and a revised ECU, the engine is mated to a reengineered transmission, all tuned for both everyday drivability and weekend spirited runs. A twin-exit upswept exhaust provides the auditory punctuation, while a bespoke road-tuned suspension kit ensures comfort without compromising the go-kart handling Minis are known for.

Step inside, and the craftsmanship continues. The dashboard, inspired by Wood & Pickett’s original Margrave design, combines analog elegance with modern functionality. Classic dials and tactile physical switches are joined by a discreet screen with Apple CarPlay integration — a nod to today’s digital expectations without betraying the car’s analog soul.

Each of these Callum x Wood & Pickett Minis will be hand-built to order, starting at £75,000 (approximately $103,000 USD). But don’t expect any two examples to be the same. Buyers are invited to collaborate closely with the Callum team, tailoring each build to their personal taste — from trim and paint to performance tuning and tech.

This isn’t just a car. It’s a statement — one that says individuality, craftsmanship, and timeless design still have a place in our fast-moving automotive world. And for enthusiasts of the original Mini, it’s a thrilling reminder that great things often come in small, exquisitely detailed packages.

Source: Callum Design

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Classic Mini Returns with Modern Flair