The remnants of a Datsun 240Z, a late-model engine swap, a whole lot of tubing, and a slathering of carbon fibre thrown in for good measure. This is a complete ground-up build if I’ve ever seen one. The thread actually started in 2009, so there are a few dead links, but all the oily bits are still there for us to enjoy.
You can check out the owner’s website here: Z-car. Thanks to Geoff for submitting (waaay back in 2014!).
One of the things I enjoy about this site is keeping in contact with some of the great craftsmen out there who grace these pages. One such person is Cameron, the man behind the 205 Hillclimber I featured way back in February of 2013. Cameron got in contact recently to tell me that he’s now working for himself, having started SaloonLibre, and is now part-way through another race-spec Pug build. If you remember his previous work, then you’ll need no incentive to read on, but if you haven’t, well, I’ll let Cameron’s own description be your guide: “The basic spec is a mid-engined RWD 2-seater using a Formula Renault engine (192bhp F4R) and Sadev sequential transaxle, carbon-kevlar T16 silhouette body, some Clio suspension & brake bits, and around 750kg kerb weight”
Follow SaloonLibre on Facebook. Click here for more Peugeot builds. Click here for more builds with fabrication.
Yesterday I published a “What I’m Watching” post about a likeable young fella who goes by the name PneumaChris and his two Subaru project cars. Well, since he also has two up-to-date build threads about the same cars he vlogs about, I thought I might as well do a separate build thread post for them, too! As usual you’ll find the links to the full build threads at the bottom of the post.
What do you do with yourself after building a V10-powered E30? You do it all over again, this time with a slightly more exotic subject. This Lotus Exige gets stretched and widened in order to fit the M5-sourced 10-cylinder power-plant, culminating in a very sleek and capable supercar-fighter that gets put through it’s paces at the track.
Thanks to Maarten for submitting. Click here for more Lotus builds. Click here for more BMW builds.
Hailing from our very own Build Threads Communal Garage is a very creative chap who runs a channel called It’s Ben Modified. The ‘about’ page says “Anything with Wheels and a Motor”, and to be honest I can’t think of a better way to describe the types of automobiles being pieced together in this shop. The projects range from (but aren’t limited to) 400 Hp V8 VW Truck, an electric conversion of a VW Bus, a pedal electric motorcycle and even an Autobianchi Bianchina being converted to bike-power. Long-term readers might remember one of these unique creations from a previous post, the Hayabusa Reverse Trike. Don’t forget to join the discussion group if you haven’t already, you never know what you might find or who you might meet in there!
Click here for more builder spotlights. Click here for more video posts. Click Here to follow It’s Ben Modified on Facebook.
Continue reading “Builder Spotlight – It’s Ben Modified [videos]”
On this site alone, we’ve seen more than a few different types of MX5 engine swaps, including a 13B turbo, 20B PP, 2x LS3 V8s (here and here), and of course the standard engine converted to turbo (here, here and here) and even supercharged. More often than not, though, it’s the MX5 that becomes the donor vehicle, with many vintage chassis swaps using venerable Miata’s for their drivetrains. This build there, though, is one of the first times I can honestly say I’ve seen something entirely different applied to a Mazda roadster, in the way of a Mitsubishi Evolution 8 engine converted to rear wheel drive. Along with the very interesting engine choice comes a stack of gorgeous home-built fabrication work to set off the rest of the car, transforming it into a formidable track beast.
Click here for more Mazda builds. Click here for more MX5 builds. Click here for more engine conversions.
Along with the very popular and often replicated Bullitt Mustang, there was also a certain Dodge Charger featured within the same movie. The one in this feature here is set to be not just a replica, but a modern interpretation that would have no trouble leaving many a Mustang in it’s dust.
Starting with a clean base car that even had some un-touched factory panels, this very organised build quickly evolves to showcase an insane level of attention to detail, and a host of very impressive metal work. My favourite part would have to be the retrofitted air conditioning setup with custom lines in the front guards/fenders, along with their equally neat debris covers. Well, that, and the almost-too-cool custom wheels that were manufactured to mimic the original hub caps.
The car is yet to be finished, but has been seeing steady progress for almost 3 years and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Definitely one to follow.
Thanks to David for submitting. Click here for more Pro Touring builds.
A home-built ex fire truck, now fitted to a bagged S10 frame, powered by a 7.3L IDI International turbo diesel…this truck is cool as hell! Not to mention it gets driven hard over long distances. I’m not sure who submitted this, as it’s been sitting in my drafts for a while, but about 20 pages into the thread I noticed my buddy Dave from Stance Is Everything had featured this very truck on his site. I highly recommend heading over to his post to check out not only the fantastic photos he snapped (some which are featured below), but also the story he put together which sums up the build way better than I can.
When I posted a small update about my own Datsun the other day, it reminded me of a build that I’ve been meaning to post for a while. This car may share a model name and basic shape with my own, but that’s where the similarities end. This 510 has been cut, chopped, grinded and welded to within an inch of it’s life, now sitting on airbagged Toyota truck suspension with an angry rotary engine on tyre smoking duties. It may look rusty on the outside, but underneath that wonderful patina are some surgical-grade underpinnings.
Click here for more Datsun builds. Click here for more rotary builds.
Continue reading “Bagged, Body Dropped, Rotary powered Datsun 510”
Yes, this car is still around! In the last update, over a year ago, I made the trek over to Classic Auto Fabrications to have a custom short shifter made and fitted, which you can read about in detail here. Not long after, Lachy contacted me to let me know that he could now offer a CNC machined shifter to replace the cut-and-welded version he made for me. Well, my birthday was coming up, so who was I to say no?
![Builder Spotlight – It’s Ben Modified [videos]](http://build-threads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/14138102_509281699280191_8824660612048496077_o.jpg)
