Here’s another build I’ve had my eye on for a while which was recently completed. Like most people these days, I’m a fan of appropriately modified Mazda MX5‘s. But being such a popular platform, it becomes harder to get one to stand out from the sea of Roadsters, without ending up with an over-modded abomination. One way to break away from the pack – if you have the skills – is to create your own one-off special edition, something with more than a selection of bolt-ons. That’s exactly what The MX5 Restorer did to this once battered and bruised NA; he chopped, carved and sliced it up to create his own version of a Mazda Speedster, perfect for those windy roads on a warm summer day.
Group 2 Zakspeed Mk2 Escort
Yep, another classic British Ford, seems to be the flavour lately. This one is a MK2 Escort, taken from a granny-spec stocker all the way to a fabricated and widened twin-cam track tearer. I really like how far they’ve developed and modified the factory floorpan instead of simply ripping it all out and replacing it with custom tubing.
Thanks to Cosmin for submitting.
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow
Petri from www.pjp.fi in Finland emailed me this very interesting Rolls Royce build, not your typical cheuffurre driven Silver Shadow. I’ll let Petri explain…
car is coming to have all chromemoly sfi 25,2 double frame chassi with four seats (am not kidding we must give our sponsors a ride) .Engine is Oldsmobile 462 cid with Mooneyhamn 14/71 fullteflon supercharger and 200 horsepower nitrous.
I’m guessing you’re going to want to see this…
Ford Popular 100E
This Ford Popular build comes courtesy of Joe, the owner and builder who first bought this car almost 15 years ago. This little British sedan goes from stock standard to show quality, landing itself a feature in Retro Ford Magazine and placing 3rd in their 2011 Car of the Year, as voted by readers.
Steampunk Honda CB350
I remember hearing the word “Steampunk” a while ago, maybe a year or two back, and I had to turn to trusty old Google to see what it was all about. All I found was a bunch of Photoshop’s and renderings featuring lots of brass, chains, cogs, gears, and other vintage industrialist type decorations. I wasn’t sure if this was a real thing or just a fantasy subculture, that was until this very interestingly customised and beautifully photographed Honda CB350 made it’s way into my inbox…
Thanks to Chason for submitting.
K20 1st Gen Civic
Here is a perfect example of why I love modified cars. Take the shell of the first generation of specific car, then stuff it with all the goodies from a performance model of one of the most current generations from the same linage. I love it. Click here for more Honda builds.
Thanks to Nils for submitting, who is also undertaking a thorough restoration of a 240Z, look out for it in a future feature. Continue reading “K20 1st Gen Civic”
Niscort – MK1 Escort CA18DET
Many years ago I remember seeing what I still think is one of the best looking CA18DET’s ever put together. It was posted on a forum, and I liked it so much I pm’d the person who’d posted the image. That CA18DET wasn’t bound for the usual S13 Nissan or Datsun 1200 ute, it was built for Glenn’s MK1 Escort, hence the name “Niscort”. Apart from the crossbreed engine conversion, the little Ford receives a full rotisserie build with plenty of rust repairs and custom suspension work. Unfortunately it’s not quite finished yet, but I’ve been checking for updates for so many years I thought I should just go ahead and feature it, enjoy!
Toyota Supra – Complete Rebuild
I’m not sure where I sit with this one, I’ve heard about it many times over the years and have read the entire thread myself, but I’m kind of on the fence about it. On one hand, it’s great to see someone so thorough in their quest for modification perfection, sparing no expense in a build that is so meticulous it crosses over to obsessive. The parts used are all of the highest quality, and the work is carried out by skilled technicians. But at the same time it’s an exercise in excess, so much so that it turns me off. Firstly, the car gets shipped from Australia to America to be built (I assume at great cost), even though we have a thriving and capable automotive industry right here. Then, pretty much every part of the car is replaced with brand new factory-bought items, including the wiring loom, plastic trims, hoses, interior parts, transmission, diff, you name it. Anyway, I guess it takes all kinds of us to make up the car scene that we love so much, so the best way I could put it is that I’d love to take a look over the car but I don’t think I could sit down with the owner and have a ‘car chat’ over a beer. Give me a low-budget, bruised-knuckles, blood sweat and tears garage-build any day. Still, it’s a great build thread, which I guess is all that matters.
Custom built Streetfighter
In my years of ogling over bike builds, I can’t say I’ve ever seen a sportbike with a custom made frame. I’ve seen plenty of choppers and bobbers fitted with fabricated tube-frames, or stock frames paired with hard-tail rear sections, but this streetfighter is the first time I’ve seen a modern bike with a 1-off aluminium frame hugging the driveline. There is some discussion within the thread regarding the choice of material and techniques for building the frame. I’m not qualified to comment on that stuff, all I know is it’s fun to watch things being fabricated from metal!
Thanks to Dante for submitting.
A tale of two Silvias
I always bang on about the elements that make a good build thread, and having nice photos is usually top of the list. But another key element to a great thread is using it as a platform to tell a story, as a reader you want to get lost in the journey and feel like you’re along for the ride. That’s how I felt when I read both of Laurence’s threads a few years ago, first about his S14 and the other about his S13. I remember briefly reading about some of his exploits on another forum – including being busted, interrogated and fined by Japanese cops for street drifting – so I was excited to see he took the time to write his stories in full on JDMST.