Restomods: Better Faster Cooler

Reviews

AS OEM HYPERCARS BECOME unusably fast and other modern performance machines are lost or homogenised into EV SUVs, the growth of the restomod scene has become foremost in people’s minds.

It’s about time for a deep dive into the subject, then – and that’s what Bart Lenaerts’ colourful 252page book sets out to do. Firstly, he defines what a restomod isn’t, before selecting 13 of the leading proponents of the genre.

Some are more obvious than others, such as Eagle’s E-types, Alfaholics’ takes on the 105 Series and Kimera; Singer is notable by its absence. However, there’s much to enjoy in the stories of restomods that perhaps don’t have quite such a large following, such as the MZR Roadsports 240Z and the Citroën SM2 by Gallet Automobiles.

Each chapter relates the history of each restomod, its builder and their often-twisty route to the finish.

The Automobili Maggiore Project M is, for legal reasons, a Ferrari 308 that cannot be presented to the world in that way. Although a memorandum of understanding was signed allowing the project to continue, one poor chap still had his car locked away for 20 days because a policeman thought it was a replica. Then there’s the 911 by Sander Automotive, the result of a 30,000ft hungover brainstorming session by founder Dirk Lührmann.

It’s these kinds of stories, plus

Lenaerts’ breezy, irreverent prose, that reflect the somewhat different thinking that goes into each build, as well as the different thinkers who create them. There’s a refreshing sense of freedom to have a take on the high-end classic car market that doesn’t necessarily involve counting the number of rivets to be held in high esteem.

Of course, there are readers for whom such concerns do matter; if you consider restomods to be an aberration, this book is not for you. But even if you’ve no interest in buying a restomod, you can’t help but be impressed by the dedication and passion that go into each one. There is a theme behind several of the projects – the builders didn’t have to do them, they just loved the idea and ran with it, and the business element was formed around it. We rather appreciate that…

The only real negative is the choice of matte paper for the pages of our review copy. While it feels nice to the touch and works well with the cool illustrations, it makes the excellent photography dull and lacking in sparkle; a shame given that the cars and characters featured within the book are anything but.

Nevertheless, the words more than make up for this, and for €60 for the standard version and €180 for the special edition you’ll derive much pleasure from the book –and feel your wallet start to twitch… www.waft.be

NORDSCHLEIFE AND SÜDSCHLEIFE 1960-1969: NÜRBURGRING ALBUM

The Nürburgring is much more than a race track – it’s a point of pilgrimage for those with fuel in their veins and an ambiguous relationship to their own mortality, whether racer or enthusiast. It is, after all, a public road. This beautifully produced 256-page, €59 book charts the history of The Green Hell, deploying evocative, rarely seen images as it treats each section of the circuit like chapters of a novel. Even if you’ve never driven around the track, and the many YouTube ‘video nasties’ have put you off ever wanting to, it’s an enjoyable, engaging read. www.rallyandracing.com

FERRARI 1960-1965: THE HALLOWED YEARS

Although the legend of Ferrari encompasses many decades, it’s arguable that the nexus point for the legendary tales are concentrated in the early 1960s. Success, scandal, death and glory, 1960 to 1965 had it all. Author William Huon, who was lucky enough to see the action unfold while he was a boy, focuses his efforts on the Scuderia’s efforts in Formula 1 and endurance racing, providing a detailed review of each year’s races and notable moments. Exquisite period imagery from Bernard Cahier adds extra allure to this 358-page, £75 book. www.evropublishing.com

The Concours Year 2022

Produced by the team behind Magneto magazine, the fourth edition of this celebration of the finest concours d’elegance around the world features some of the most exquisite cars on the planet. More than 50 concours are covered in depth, and there are also intriguing insights from scene luminaries such as Bruce Meyer, Lois Hunt and Paul Sable. This 272-page hardback book costs £75 for the case-bound standard edition, and £115 for the Publisher’s edition, which features a silk-printed cover along with a limited-edition slipcase. www.magnetomagazine.com

The Ultimate Book Of The Porsche 356

Any book with ‘ultimate’ in the title has to be pretty sure of itself, particularly with cars where history can become contentious. The 356 is one such model, but Brian Long is well known for his authoritative tomes. This 256-page, limited-to356 special edition tracks the history model by model, year by year. While there is no new photography, there are evocative historic images and original brochures and press materials, which are mini artworks in themselves. It’s £356, and well worth having for a hardcore 356 fan. www.veloce.co.uk