What Is A Restomod?

When a classic car has been restored but it’s modified with more modern parts, it’s called a “restomod.” It’s easy to imagine someone buying an old, iconic car, like a Dodge Charger, and rebuilding it with nothing but original parts. This project is considered a true restoration in that it restores the car like new.

You can also imagine taking that same classic vehicle and updating it with newer parts, technologies, and features. The end result is an amazing combination of a restoration and modification, thus making it a restomod.

The Different Kinds of Cars

People love working on old cars. Whether it’s to add a running vehicle to the family fleet or to show off at the local car show, rebuilding and repairing cars is a popular hobby and even career for some.

Classic cars typically fall into one of three categories:

Original

Finding a genuine original car is a rare achievement. An actual original car has been maintained over the years without using any replacement parts or pieces. Instead of using new or replacement parts, anything needing attention is repaired and reused.

Restored

The goal of a restored car is to rebuild the old car so that it looks and operates in the exact same way that it did when it first roamed the open streets. To achieve this goal, the vehicle is repaired with original factory parts or new parts that have been built to the original specs.

Restomod

A restomod is a restoration but allows for more modern parts and pieces. The vehicle looks the same on the outside but may have different elements that increase performance, comfort, or convenience. Owners still have to meet emissions and safety standards, so the modifications might only be tasks like adding airbags, seatbelts, or upgraded brakes. In most cases, owners like upgrading what’s under the hood or add features like a GPS or premium sound system.

The Dodge Charger is the Restomod Supreme

While any iconic or classic car can be modified with updated parts to become a restomod, the Dodge Charger seems to be a prime example. There’s something about this quintessential American muscle car that makes it a crowd favorite to restore and upgrade. These updates can turn older Chargers into highly desired restomods that bring in some serious cash.

For example, a 1970 Dodge Charger was recently marketed on eBay for a $289,000 starting price. This restomod was completed by MirandaBuilt in 2015. The custom work and craftsmanship earned this Charger the first-place trophy at the Detroit Autorama during the same year.

Some of the most notable features of this restomod involve some pretty spectacular upgrades:

• A side-exhaust system
• 8.75 Mopar axel
• Air conditioning
• Power rack & pinion steering
• Power disc brakes
• 20-inch front wheels and 22-inch wheels in the back
• Leather interior
• Power windows
• Touchscreen navigation
• Push button start/stop
• And more

This unique Dodge Charger could easily be a champion on the drag strip or just be the perfect daily cruiser. The best part is, there are countless examples of other Chargers that have been turned into modern classic restomods. There are tons of incredible examples all over the web; some are even for sale or show.

Whether you’re looking for a new project car or just appreciate seeing the ingenuity that goes into creating a restomod, the Dodge Charger is the perfect place to start.