• video
• builders

The Verge:

This 550-horsepower 1968 Porsche 912 is getting all of its power from an unexpected source: the electric motor from a Tesla Model S P85. It was made by two Southern California shops, Zelectric Motors and EV West, which convert old Volkswagens and Porsches into modernized electric cars. It’s a new way to rescue aging vintage cars — though not everyone is happy with the idea.

Get used to it people, this is only going to get more and more popular.

• builders
• video

Go behind the scenes as the craftsmen at Ed Pink Racing Engines build what is the pinnacle of air-cooled Porsche engines for Singer Vehicle Design.

via roadandtrack.com

• builders
• review
• video

ICON’s Jonathan Ward profiles a VW Bus they’ve brought bang up to date, while still keeping it looking completely in period.

The whole point of a derelict is to blend in and have a good time. To enjoy life. Not only are we working to further enable the user by reengineering the vehicle to have more modern functionality and enhanced utility, we also sort of trying to create a moment in time, a safe zone. If you have a modern luxury car there are so many preconceived notions today. Everything things: he’s a this or he’s a that or she’s all about the money. You just get beyond all that noise, all that nonsense. If anyone even notices this bus, they’re going to smile. They’re going to get positive vibrations, thumbs up, good feelings.

• builders
• video

A well executed take on the classic Mazda RX-3. Built by Savant Young, profiled on Jay Leno’s Garage.

• builders
• interview
• video

XCAR interview ICON’s Jonathan Ward about the genesis of his creations, how his cars are built, and what’s next.

• builders
• profile

Stanceworks profile Daniel Schaefer’s immaculatly restored and uprated Agablau ‘66 912.

• builders
• design
• video

Four years to hand-build from scratch what looks and sounds to be a very accurate replica to the classic 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO.

In a shed in Oamaru, New Zealand by three Kiwi blokes, no less.

• builders
• video

The good folk at Petrolicious profile Dorian Valenzuela and his super-clean 1970 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1300 Ti.

I actually used it as a resume piece for getting the job at Singer (Vehicle Design). I’m pretty sure it’s what got me the job…

Inspirational.

• builders
• profile

My Life at Speed tours Paul Chaleyer’s ‘Historic and Vintage Restorations’, as they restore an eclectic mix of motors ranging from an Aston Martin DB4, various MGs, a number of tweaked Alfa Romeos, and an incredible Maserati 450S recreation.

via @Build_Threads

• builders
• video

Watch as the good folk from Bad Obsession Motorsport shoehorn the oily bits from a Celica GT-four into an Austin Mini.

“Safely ensconced in a shed in deepest, darkest Shropshire, two men with their faculties dulled by liberal dosing’s of Jack Daniel’s finest No.7 brand embarked upon a journey that would change their world.”

With a little bit of fabrication along the way.

via AUSmotive

• builders
• review

Take one brand new, then seam-welded MGB body shell and add a properly tuned MX-5 heart (stroked to 2.5l, billet and forged internals, serious 50mm ITBs) and six-speed (‘snik-snik’) MX-5 gearbox.

Best part is that they’ve kept enough original bits to keep it UK homologated and registrable as a 1964-model.

304hp, 248lb ft and a 7,600rpm redline against a mere 897kg. 0-62mph in around 3.8 seconds.

• builders
• video

fifteen52 collaborate with serial Porsche tinkerer Magnus Walker to create a new wheel design, perfect for classic Porsches.

Be sure to watch the video.

• builders

Dino Dalle Carbonare of Speedhunters profiles a clean Datsun 510 coupe restomod project.

• builders

Not only did this BMW E91 318i estate get an S65 heart transplant from an E90 M3, it was also received extensively modified bodywork to match its mechanical upgrades.

Crying shame that BMW in all their “niche within a niche” model strategies hasn’t built an M3 estate to take on the likes of the Mercedes-AMG C63 and Audi RS4 fast estates.

• builders
• motorsport

Brad Lord for Speedhunters:

Toyota New Zealand’s official motorsport wing - Toyota Racing - saw potential in the ZN6 chassis as well, and in March this year announced that it would be developing a new one-make/showroom-stock series around the car that’s destined to become a future classic. It wasn’t talking about a car like TRD’s 86 Racing edition, but a proper track attacker.

• video
• builders
• profile

Car and Driver:

The best early ’70s Porsche 911 that never existed.

Related article.

• builders
• video
• profile

Nice long video review by Jay Leno interviewing Singer Vehicle Design’s Rob Dickinson and pouring over every detail of their “Dubai” car.

• builders
• video

/DRIVE host Matt Farah takes the Ryan Gates designed 311RS for a spin.

The attention to detail that has gone into this car and its limited-to-nine siblings is just perfect.

• motorsport
• builders

Autocar compares the road going GT-R against the new GT3 model built by JRM Racing in a picture special:

The JRM Racing Nissan GT-R you see here is a relative newcomer to the class, and it certainly stands out next to the Lamborghinis and Audi R8s. The GT3 GT-R costs £320,000 plus taxes (good value compared with some rivals), and a season’s racing should set you back around £1 million.

We love a quality motorsport build.

• profile
• builders
• video

Beautiful.

(See also)

• video
• review
• builders

Can’t get enough of ICON’s work.

• builders
• epic thread

Follow the off-frame restoration of this pretty little coupe.

• builders
• profile

Speedhunters profiles Magnus Opsahl’s insane LS1 swapped Volvo 240 wagon.

Because Gatebil.

• builders
• video
• profile

Jay Leno takes a good look at a ’50s Chrysler Town & Country fitted with the front-end from a 1952 DeSoto and modern Chrysler SRT-8 running gear. Built by ICON.

We like.

• builders
• epic thread

‘74 BMW 2002 Turbo restored to almost better-than-new condition using many extremely rare NOS parts.

(via Petrolicious)

*[NOS]: New Old Stock

• builders
• epic thread

Takes DIY to another level.

• builders
• epic thread

Take a complete though tired ‘73 BMW 2002 back to the metal, add a new interior, fabricate some flared guards.

What’s not to love about this thread?

• video
• builders
• profile

“everything is important”

Enough said.

• motorsport
• builders

Speedhunters spotlight the eclectic Idlers Games meet at Tsukuba. Don’t forget Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

• builders
• profile

Speedhunters’ Ben Chandler profiles the minty Rotiform 964:

“Some people walk the walk, whilst others talk the talk. Brian Henderson definitely falls into the aforementioned category – when it comes to cars, there’s not a great deal of talking and more a whole load of doing. In fact, with Brian, it almost seems like there’s no point in talking about what’s going to happen at all. There’s simply no time for it.”