20 Classic Cars That Boast Modern Tech and Performance

7. Kingsley Range Rover

Everybody seems to love those classic Range Rovers. Arguably the first luxury SUV that started the whole class was one of Land Rover’s best sellers for decades. However, despite the popularity, those early Range Rovers were uncomfortable and problematic machines. The 3.5-liter Rover V8 was famous for overheating and had other mechanical issues.

That is why Kingsley Cars Ltd. from England produced their own version of the classic Range Rover with improved to modern standards. Interestingly, Kingsley chose to stick with the original Rover V8 but totally rebuilt it with more power. Customers also have the option of a modern Chevrolet LS3 V8 with 430 HP.

The rest of the drivetrain is new and the Kingsley Range features powerful brakes with ABS. The exterior modifications are minimal, and the interior looks the same as it did in 1975. However, all the materials and upholstery are new.

6. Jensen International Automotive Interceptor R

Last but not least on this list is the Jensen Interceptor, another fantastic but flawed British motoring icon. Entering the car market in the 1960s and the ’70s, the Interceptor was a GT car with room for four passengers. It featured a sleek, elegant body and powerful V8 engines from Chrysler. They did a good job when conceiving the car, but it had problems with the build quality and rust. These problems forced the company to shut down production in 1976.

After 40 years, there’s now a new company called Jensen International Automotive. It started as a restoration firm, but now offers the Interceptor R. It is a special Restomod version of the legendary Gran Turismo coupe. They based the car on the Interceptor MK3, but every panel is updated. They also created a special tube frame chassis to accommodate the advanced suspension setup.

The interior is bespoke, with the finest leather, air conditioning, and an infotainment system. However, the real selling point of the Interceptor R is the engine. Under the long hood is a supercharged 6.2-liter Chevrolet V8 that delivers big power to its rear wheels over the intelligent six-speed automatic transmission with traction control.

5. Gunther Works 400 R

The appearance of the company Singer made a big influence on the restomod market as well as in the Porsche community. All of a sudden, there was a better Porsche 911 than you could buy straight from the factory and restomoded cars were no longer considered less valuable than originals. Gunther Works is a similar outfit but the guys from this company want to present the ultimate Porsche 993 by using advanced materials and the latest in technology.

The result is 400 R, a car based on an old 993 generation 911. Almost all body panels are carbon fiber, the 4.0-liter flat-six is tuned to deliver 431 HP at the rear wheels and every last nut and bolt has been redesigned to make the car faster, lighter, and more agile than anything Porsche ever produced from a factory.

4. Ares C2 Corvette

You might think that the Italian restomod company Ares would be involved in producing special Ferraris or Maseratis, but no, they invested a lot of time and effort into producing the ultimate C2 Corvette Stingray. Ares kept the original appearance down to the last detail but totally reworked the interior and chassis.

Practically, this is a C2 Corvette with the current C7 running gear and chassis bits. Ares managed to install suspension setup, brakes, and drivetrain from the latest generation Corvette along with LS3 engine with 535 HP and five-speed manual transmission.

3. Jaguar Classic XJ6

The classic Jaguar XJ6 was introduced in 1968 and it represented the perfect balance between performance and luxury with irresistible British charm and design. Despite having powerful engines, the classic XJ6 is no match for modern cars, but Jaguar Restorations decided to build a totally new and fully upgraded car to showcase the perfect blend of classic design and modern technology.

The result is a stunning car that features totally rebuilt 4.2-liter straight six-engine, new suspension, chassis modifications, powerful brakes, LED headlights, and a custom interior. From the outside, this might look like a 1984 XJ6 but in fact, this is a brand new super saloon from Coventry.

2. Volkswagen T1 Porsche

In the last couple of years, one of the most common restomod projects was installing Porsche flat-six engines into old Volkswagen products. From Porsche-powered Beetles to powerful Karmann-Ghias, almost anything VW-related got Porsche treatment. However, we feel that T1 Vans with flat-six engines are the most interesting.

The conversion process is relatively simple. They removed the old flat-four out and replace it with a bigger and more powerful flat-six from the 911. Mount a proper gearbox, install better brakes and suspension and you have a superfast van which could surprise many performance car owners at the stoplights.

1. BMW E9 S54

The BMW E9 is one of the best-looking two-door coupes from the late 1960s and early 1970s, but despite having a 3.0-liter engine under the hood it wasn’t that fast or powerful. That is why this car is one of the best candidates for restomod treatment. The car we will show you today stayed true to the BMW brand and got an engine and drivetrain transplant from the famous E46 M3.

This means that this E9 now has a 3.2-liter straight-six engine with 343 HP, 6-speed manual transmission, ABS brakes with performance discs, and can outperform almost all new BMWs.