Stop Calling These Restomods | Zack Klapman (The Smoking Tire)

A restomod is a car that keeps the original body/identity but modernizes key systems—often suspension, brakes, and sometimes the engine—to improve drivability and safety. In this episode, the host explains that the term became common in the 2010s and was used by the muscle-car crowd as a “restored + modified” idea.

Pro touring is a style of build focused on making older cars handle and brake like modern performance cars. The host links restomods to this muscle-car culture, where the goal is to keep the classic look while upgrading the chassis and running gear for better track-day behavior.

The host frames “restomod” as a contraction of “restored” plus “modified,” describing a spectrum of builds that start with an older car and then add modern performance improvements. This matters because the episode argues some high-end custom builds go far beyond typical “restoration + modification.”

Subframe connectors are structural braces that tie the car’s subframes (or unibody sections) together to reduce chassis flex. The host mentions them as a common restomod step for older muscle cars to make the platform feel stiffer without changing the car’s exterior shape.

Gunther Works is a high-end Porsche customization shop known for extreme restomods that go well beyond typical “restored + modified” work. The host describes builds where the body and interior use carbon fiber and the car is effectively re-engineered from the shell, making it closer to a ground-up build than a light update.

The SP40 is referenced here as one of the high-end custom Porsche builds the host groups with Gunther Works and Singer. The episode’s argument is that these cars are so heavily reworked—visually and mechanically—that calling them “restomods” can be misleading.

Singer is a Porsche-focused restyling and engineering company known for “reimagining” the 911 using modern engineering while preserving classic 911 styling cues. In this segment, the host describes Singer’s approach as selecting the most beautiful elements from different 911 generations and combining them into one build.

Reimagining (in this context) means taking a classic car’s design language and concept and updating it with modern engineering and design choices rather than doing a straightforward restoration. The host frames it as a designer’s thought experiment: if you had today’s technology, would you keep everything the same or tweak it based on what you now know?

Hypercar is a marketing category for extremely high-performance, high-cost supercars—often defined by advanced aerodynamics, cutting-edge powertrains, and very limited production. The host uses it as a comparison point: as supercars got faster, designers started “reimagining” what the next generation should be.

Porsche 911 (964) refers to the 911 generation from the early 1990s, commonly recognized as a key evolution of the classic 911 formula. The host notes that some modern “reimagined” builds may start from a 964 body shell but then get heavily modified, which affects whether the project fits the restomod label.

A restomod is a modified classic car that keeps the original body/identity but updates key systems (like suspension, brakes, and powertrain) for modern drivability. In this episode, the hosts argue that some Porsche-based builds shouldn’t be called restomads because they’re heavily reworked beyond a simple “classic with modern upgrades.”

Land Rover is a brand known for rugged, off-road-oriented SUVs and for having a huge aftermarket and collector scene. In this episode, “restomaded Land Rovers” refers to modernized classics that keep the original Land Rover look.

In this context, “Turbo” refers to a turbocharged variant—an engine that uses a turbocharger to force more air into the cylinders. That typically supports higher power output than a naturally aspirated setup.

The Gunther Works F26 is a specific, ultra-expensive restomod/creation from the Gunther Works shop. In this segment, it’s discussed as a “seven figure” car, with the host tying its design details (like wings and carbon) to an expectation of very high performance.

“Carbon” here refers to carbon fiber components used in the car’s construction. Carbon fiber is valued in performance cars because it’s very strong while being lightweight, which can improve acceleration, braking, and handling.

“Cages” refers to a roll cage—an internal metal framework designed to protect occupants and stiffen the chassis. In track-focused builds, it’s often paired with more aggressive driving and can improve structural rigidity.

“1000 horsepower” refers to an extremely high engine output level, typically associated with forced induction and/or extensive performance tuning. At this power level, traction, cooling, and drivetrain strength become major engineering priorities.

Knurling is the textured, patterned grip on a surface—often used to improve traction and control. The host dislikes the knurling shape on the steering wheel’s back, implying that even the grip texture can change how comfortable and precise the wheel feels.

Singer Turbo refers to a Singer Vehicle Design restomod based on a Porsche 911, built with modern engineering and high-end craftsmanship. In this segment, the host praises the Singer Turbo’s steering wheel ergonomics and overall interior precision as part of why the car feels so “perfect” to drive.

McLaren is a British supercar brand known for driver-focused ergonomics and race-derived feel. Here, the host compares McLaren steering wheel shaping and thumb placement to the Singer Turbo, emphasizing how small design choices affect how the car feels in your hands.

The Lexus LFA is a limited-production supercar famous for its exotic materials and obsessive engineering details. The host specifically highlights Lexus’s effort to create a new carbon fiber loom (weave/forming process) to build the car’s structure to their exact specifications.

Lexus is Toyota’s luxury brand, and this segment contrasts its mainstream customer base with the challenge of selling a niche halo car like the Lexus LFA. The discussion frames how brand expectations can affect whether buyers “get” a radical new product.

The Audi R8 is a mid-engine sports car that helped establish Audi as a serious performance brand. Here, it’s used as an example of how partnering with (or being associated with) other exotic brands can boost perception and desirability.

The Lamborghini Huracán is Lamborghini’s modern V10 supercar, and it’s referenced here as a comparison point to the Audi R8. The host claims the cars are “basically the same” in some ways, but suggests the Lamborghini badge would have made the R8 more popular.

The Audi RS 3 is a high-performance compact car in Audi’s RS lineup, known for packing serious power into a small, everyday-friendly body. In your context, it’s mentioned as part of a naming conversation about Audi model badges and how the RS designation fits in. That’s why it comes up—people are trying to understand what the “RS” models represent.

The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan built for everyday commuting and long-term ownership. It comes up in conversations about who buys what, especially when discussing buyers who move up to more premium brands. It’s significant because it’s one of the most common “default” choices in its class.

A single-clutch gearbox uses one clutch to connect the engine to the transmission at a time, so shifting involves disengaging and re-engaging that one clutch. The host pairs this with a V10 engine and carbon fiber to argue that explaining the full technical package to mainstream customers is difficult.

The Lexus LC 500 is a grand-touring coupe built around a V8 engine and a design that’s heavily influenced by concept-car styling. In this segment, the hosts focus on why people love it—its looks, its sound, and how well it holds value as a used car.

The Ford Mustang is an American sports coupe/convertible known for its performance heritage and classic styling. It’s frequently discussed because it offers a recognizable driving experience, including engine sound and feel. In the context you shared, the focus is on the idea that the right engine choice can be durable and satisfying.

The Aston Martin DB12 is a modern grand touring sports car from Aston Martin’s DB line, designed for high-speed comfort and performance. In your context, it’s compared to the idea of “Japan’s Aston Martin DB12 or DB9,” using it as a reference point for what that kind of car represents. That makes it relevant when discussing prestige and the role of flagship-style models.

The Aston Martin DB9 is an earlier grand touring model from Aston Martin, known for its classic GT mix of comfort and style. The speaker groups it with the DB12 to describe the “GT” character they associate with the Japan-referenced car in the conversation.

A “GT car” means a grand tourer: a car designed for comfortable, high-speed long-distance driving. The speaker contrasts that with a “drivers’ car” or track car, arguing that some cars prioritize cruising comfort, looks, and usability over sharp track-focused behavior.

A “manual swap” is when someone replaces an automatic transmission with a manual gearbox (or vice versa) to change how the car drives. In this segment, the speaker notes a first-gen Audi R8 that was manual-swapped, calling it “pretty interesting,” which implies a meaningful change to driving feel and engagement.

“Electric power assist” refers to steering assist provided by an electric motor (commonly called electric power steering, EPS). The speaker contrasts older steering feel with newer cars that have refined electric assist, saying they pay attention to steering more when coming from that kind of setup.

A “mid-engine” layout places the engine near the center of the car, typically behind the front seats and ahead of the rear axle. The speaker brings it up to emphasize that steering feel matters even more on mid-engine cars because the balance and handling characteristics are so sensitive to how the car responds.

Steering ratio is how much the steering wheel turns relative to how much the front tires turn. A “faster” ratio means less wheel input for the same turn, which can make the car feel more responsive and reduce the need for lots of hand movement.

The Nissan Skyline is a well-known Japanese performance car line with a long history in motorsport and enthusiast culture. In your context, it’s mentioned alongside other cars when discussing early “E-Pass” cars and the era of certain performance models. That makes it relevant as part of the broader conversation about what people were driving and why it mattered.

The Volkswagen R32 is mentioned as part of the “early E-Pass” electric steering era. The speaker’s takeaway is that early electric steering could have too-low effort and less direct feedback from the front tires.

The Volkswagen Golf is a compact car line that’s known for being practical while still offering performance versions. It’s mentioned in connection with early electronic “E-Pass” systems and the R32-era performance context. That makes it relevant when discussing how technology and performance features showed up across the Golf lineup.

PDK is Porsche’s dual-clutch transmission, designed to shift quickly with minimal interruption to power delivery. It’s often praised for fast, smooth changes, which is why the host contrasts it with preferring a manual gearbox.

Water-cooled engines use liquid coolant circulating through passages and a radiator to control engine temperature. The host frames “water-cooled” as a shift away from air-cooled Porsche engines, while acknowledging that later water-cooled setups became more acceptable over time.

Naturally aspirated engines make boost only from atmospheric pressure and engine design, without a turbocharger or supercharger. The host’s “naturally aspirated over turbocharged” preference reflects a common enthusiast belief that throttle response and engine feel can be more direct.

Hydraulic steering uses a pump and fluid to assist turning the steering wheel. It can feel “heavier” or more connected than electric systems, and many enthusiasts associate it with older cars’ steering feel.

“Loosey-goosey steering” is an enthusiast way to describe steering that feels vague or imprecise, often due to play in linkages, worn components, or low steering effort/feedback. It’s subjective, but it usually points to reduced on-center feel and less accurate response.

Power steering uses an assist system to reduce the effort needed to turn the wheel. In the context here, the speaker is contrasting how older cars can feel extremely light and “over-assisted,” making steering seem almost effortless.

“LS” refers to General Motors’ LS-family V8 engines, which are widely known for strong real-world reliability and broad aftermarket support. Here, the speaker contrasts that reputation with reported truck-specific issues.

The Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup known for durability and long service life. In this discussion, it’s used as an example of Toyota’s track record even as engines have become more complex with modern technologies like direct injection and turbocharging.

Direct injection is a fuel system where gasoline is sprayed directly into the combustion chamber instead of into the intake tract. It can improve efficiency and power, but it also adds complexity and can create new failure modes compared with older port-injection designs.

The BMW 535 (from the 5 Series) is being referenced as an example of an early direct-injection-era sedan. The host connects it to a known early-generation issue related to valve deposits on the intake side.

“First generation” here refers to early production of a new technology (direct injection in this case), before manufacturers fully iron out durability and manufacturing tolerances. Early iterations often have more teething issues, which is why the host links it to a specific valve-related problem.

“Coped up” is describing valve deposits/contamination on the back side of the valves. In direct-injection engines, less fuel washes the intake valves, which can contribute to buildup that affects airflow and can cause rough running or bucking.

In this context, the “intake” is the engine’s air path (and associated components) that delivers air to the cylinders. The shop manager says they need to remove the intake and clean it, implying there’s buildup or contamination affecting how the engine runs.

“Walnuts” is being used as a stand-in for a soft abrasive media used for cleaning engine components. The speaker later explains it’s “softer than the metal,” meaning it can remove deposits without damaging the metal surfaces being cleaned.

“Directed ejection” here refers to a specific engine/combustion-related technology BMW was using to address emissions or performance concerns. The speaker contrasts it with their negative experience, while acknowledging it’s a “huge technological jump,” implying it changes how the engine delivers fuel/air or manages combustion.

The BMW E39 M5 is a performance sedan from BMW’s E39 5 Series era, known for its high-revving V8 and M5-spec chassis tuning. In this segment, it’s mentioned as having a similar issue to another BMW motor problem, but attributed to a different cause.

The Jaguar XK is a classic British grand tourer line known for its smooth, charismatic driving feel and period styling. In enthusiast circles it’s often discussed as a “real car” alternative to more modern, tech-heavy performance.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a lightweight, affordable roadster known for being fun and easy to drive. It’s often discussed because it can make even a “not perfect” car feel exciting, thanks to its simple, balanced design. In your context, it’s used as a reference point for what feels cool or engaging behind the wheel.

Hedonic adaptation is the idea that people get used to positive experiences—like fast cars or expensive gear—so the emotional “wow” fades over time. In car journalism, it can make repeated exposure to high-performance vehicles feel less special, even if the cars are objectively impressive.

In performance driving, suspension setup (spring/damper rates, ride height, alignment, and damping behavior) determines how the car stays composed over bumps and during cornering. When the suspension is dialed in, you can better exploit traction and balance, which helps you put down consistent lap times.

The Porsche 911 Turbo is the 911’s factory turbocharged performance model, known for making big power with strong drivability. In this segment, it’s used as an example of how easy it is to buy a high-horsepower car and then push it even further with aftermarket tuning.

“Chip it” is shorthand for ECU remapping or reprogramming (often via a tuning “chip” or software flash) to increase boost, fueling, and ignition timing. It’s a common way shops extract more power from turbo cars beyond factory calibration.

“Stage two” is a tuning category that typically means the car has more than just a software tune—often adding hardware like an upgraded intake, exhaust, intercooler, or other supporting mods. The exact parts vary by tuner and car, but the idea is a bigger step up from a basic ECU remap.

The Nissan GT-R is a factory-built, all-wheel-drive performance car famous for its strong turbocharged power and ability to run hard with minimal modification. Here it’s referenced as an example of an already-extreme horsepower build that still became “boring” to the owner quickly.

The Porsche 911 Turbo S is the more performance-focused variant of the 911 Turbo line, typically emphasizing higher output and stronger acceleration. In this segment, it’s used alongside an EV launch example to argue that “peak” power moments can get repetitive if you can’t use them regularly.

The throttle is the driver-controlled valve that regulates how much air (and, in modern cars, how much fuel/air mixture) the engine can ingest. In performance driving, how much throttle you can use—rather than just peak horsepower—often determines how consistently you can accelerate and how long you can stay in the “fun” part of the powerband.

An upshift is when the transmission moves from a lower gear to a higher gear to keep the engine in an efficient or appropriate rev range. The segment uses upshifts and downshifts to describe how having “usable” power lets you stay engaged with the car’s driving dynamics instead of hitting traction limits immediately.

The Toyota GR 86 is a lightweight, driver-focused sports coupe built around a balanced feel rather than raw power. Here it’s praised for steering feedback, a satisfying shifter, and being “approachable” to drive fast without feeling heavy or soft.

The Toyota GR Corolla is a performance compact hatchback from Toyota’s GR line, built for enthusiasts who want rally-inspired driving. In your context, it’s mentioned because it was lined up at a big Toyota event alongside other performance models. That kind of appearance highlights how it fits into Toyota’s modern enthusiast lineup.

The Toyota GR Supra is a modern sports car that’s often compared directly with lighter, more nimble coupes. Here, the speaker contrasts it with the GR 86, saying the Supra is faster but feels heavier and softer, changing the driving feel.

The Mazda Miata (MX-5) is a lightweight roadster famous for steering feel and driver engagement. The speaker compares the GR 86 to what the Miata does well, implying the GR 86 delivers a similar “connected” driving experience.

“Torque hold” (as referenced here) is a drivability behavior where the engine’s torque delivery is managed to stay in a certain range, often to reduce wheelspin or improve traction. The speaker says the GR 86 “version two” fixed the issue that people complained about, implying an improvement in how the car delivers torque under certain conditions.

A power band is the engine speed range where it makes strong power and feels responsive. The speaker contrasts an older engine with a “weird” midrange dip versus a newer engine that has a smoother, more usable power band.

An opposed-cylinder engine is a configuration where cylinders are arranged in two opposing banks, most commonly a boxer layout. The speaker is referring to Subaru’s boxer engine design and claims it isn’t “famous for lasting eons,” tying it to their experience with reliability.

The Porsche Cayman GT4 is the more track-oriented Cayman, tuned for sharper handling and driver engagement. The speaker says they like the GT4 because it’s “a little more track-oriented,” even though they admit they don’t personally take their own cars to the track often.

A “hard top” is a fixed-roof body style (as opposed to a convertible). In this segment, it’s part of the host’s preference for a simpler ownership experience compared with dealing with a convertible roof mechanism.

A “convertible top” is the roof panel on a convertible that can be lowered or raised, typically using a powered mechanism. The host is discussing the day-to-day hassle of operating it based on parking location and weather, versus the visual/aesthetic benefits.

The Porsche Cayman is a mid-engine sports car, which is a big part of why it’s often chosen as a more usable alternative to pricier, more extreme 911 variants. Here, the host specifically says they’d choose Cayman because it’s something they could realistically afford compared with a 911 ST.