IMS failure is a specific engine problem where a bearing in the engine’s intermediate shaft can wear out or fail. On some Porsche engines, that can become a big, expensive repair—so buyers pay close attention to it.
Steering wheel adjustment is how you move the wheel to match your driving position. The host is saying this car doesn’t let you change the wheel’s height, only how far it’s pulled in (reach).
“Reach” means how close or far the steering wheel is from you. If a car only has reach adjustment, you can move the wheel in and out, but you can’t change its height.
“Rake” is the tilt angle of the steering wheel—whether it points more upward or more downward. The host is saying this car doesn’t let you adjust that angle the way many modern cars do.
An electric seat is the power system that moves your seat with buttons. Here, the host says it’s malfunctioning and blowing a fuse when they try to troubleshoot it, which usually means something in the seat’s wiring or motor is failing.
A fuse is a safety device that breaks the circuit if something is drawing too much electricity. If it keeps blowing, it usually means there’s a problem like a short or a failing part.
Term
electric setup
“Electric setup” means the power parts that run the seat adjustments, like the motors and wiring. The host is saying replacement parts can be expensive for older cars.
Pole Position is a company that makes aftermarket racing seats. The host is talking about how pricey they are and how they chose different sizes/widths to fit properly.
Brexit is when the UK left the EU. The host is saying it may have made imported car parts like seats cost more, which is why the same seat is now more expensive.
“Porsche 986” is the code name for the first Boxster generation. People like it because it’s a common, mod-friendly Porsche that you can upgrade without going too extreme.
“Club sports spec” usually means a more hardcore, track-style setup than stock. It tends to ride firmer and feel more aggressive, so the tradeoff is comfort.
“OEM plus” means upgrading your car in a way that still feels like it could have come from the factory. It’s usually not as extreme as a full track build, but it makes the car better day to day.
Recaro makes racing-style seats. “Sidemounts” are the brackets that let you attach those seats properly in your car so they sit in the right position and feel secure.
The BMW 435i is a BMW 4 Series model. Here, the host is talking about it as a used car that’s generally reliable, and they’re explaining what engine it has and why that matters.
The N55 is the engine inside the BMW 435i. It’s a turbocharged six-cylinder, and people often say it’s tough and dependable compared with other newer engines.
Overheating is when the engine gets hotter than it should. It often happens when the cooling system can’t move coolant, and that’s what the host is describing after the water pump problem.
“Under the bonnet” just means the area under the hood/hood area where the engine sits. They’re saying they saw vapor coming from there, which usually points to a fluid leak.
A bleed screw is a little plug/valve used to let air out of the cooling system. If it’s cracked, coolant can leak and the system may not circulate coolant properly.
The coolant reservoir is the tank that holds extra coolant. As the engine heats and cools, it uses this tank to keep the coolant level where it should be.
BMW 430i is a specific BMW model. Here, they’re talking about how people write car ads—like “BMW for 430i”—and then list what’s been recently fixed or replaced to make the car sound more attractive.
Michelin Pilot Sport is a brand/model of tire designed for good grip and sporty driving. Mentioning them in an ad is meant to tell you the tires aren’t worn out and are a decent quality set.
Michelin CrossClimate 3 is an all-season tire meant to work well in different weather, not just one season. The host is basically saying these are good “everyday” tires, but this car doesn’t have them.
A “winter car” is the car you use in bad weather. It’s usually set up for cold and wet roads so it can grip better and feel safer than a car meant for summer driving.
A “summer car” is basically the car you drive mostly in good weather. It’s often set up for warmer conditions, so it may not be as good when it’s cold, wet, or icy.
Road salt (often just called “salts”) is used to melt ice and improve traction in winter. It can accelerate corrosion on car bodywork, underbody components, and brake hardware, which is why the host avoids driving cars when it’s out.
A “resto mod” is an older classic car that’s been fixed up and then improved with newer parts. It’s meant to look like the original, but drive more reliably and more smoothly.
“Widowmaker” is slang for a car that’s really scary or hard to control if you drive it aggressively. It’s the kind of nickname people give to cars that can surprise you.
“930” is a nickname for the older Porsche 911 Turbo generation. They’re using it to compare how that era’s cars drove versus the rear-wheel-drive restomod they’re talking about.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a big car event in the UK. People bring rare cars and performance builds, and it’s famous for lots of driving demonstrations and displays.
Singer is a company that builds high-end restomods based on classic Porsche 911s. They’re known for using modern materials and making the cars feel great to drive.
“Flat nose” is a front-end styling look. In Singer’s case, it’s a particular way they shape the nose so the car’s front looks more classic and distinctive.
A track-only car is a vehicle intended primarily for circuit use rather than everyday road legality. The hosts contrast it with a road-going car, noting that it’s generally easier to build something for the track first and then make it legal for public roads.
The Jaguar E-Type Series 1 is an early version of the famous 1960s Jaguar sports car. It’s a classic that people love for its looks, and here it’s being discussed as a “restomod” where the outside still looks original.
Eagle is the company the host says did the restoration work on the Jaguar E-Type. The idea is that they improved the car underneath while trying to keep the outside looking like the original.
Concept
restoration firm
A restoration firm is a specialist shop that brings an old car back to a really good condition. Here, the host is saying they don’t just make it look good—they also improve parts you can’t easily see.
A fuel pump is what sends fuel from the tank to the engine. Using a modern electronic one is meant to make fuel delivery more reliable and consistent than older systems.
Cooling fans help keep the engine from overheating by pulling air through the radiator. Adding more (or better) fans is a common upgrade to make an older car run cooler in everyday driving.
Halogen headlamps are the older type of car headlights. They use a special gas inside the bulb to make the light brighter and last longer than the very oldest bulbs.
A restomod is a classic car that’s been fixed up and then improved with newer parts. It keeps the old-school style, but tries to make it drive more like a modern car.
The Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior is a classic Italian coupe that enthusiasts love for its looks and driving character. Here, it’s being discussed as a restomod—rebuilt and upgraded—so it can feel more modern without losing the classic vibe.
“Intake growl” is the louder, deeper sound you hear from the engine’s air intake. It usually happens when the intake system is upgraded to let the engine breathe more easily.
Term
quadrophilia stickers
Those stickers are a nod to a particular car fan group. It’s basically a way to show you’re part of that community or that you like that style.
Term
forebanger
They’re using a slang word for the older-style engine setup in these cars. The point is that it’s a classic four-cylinder layout, not a modern big-engine swap.
Term
Nord engine
They’re talking about a particular Alfa engine type that’s popular with classic-car builders. It’s chosen because it can be made to run well while still feeling like the original car.
A cylinder head with larger intakes means the intake ports/valve openings have been enlarged to let more air-fuel mixture into the engine. This is a common performance modification because it can improve breathing at higher rpm.
These are carburetors (fuel mixers) made by Weber, sized at 45mm. Bigger carbs can feed the engine more fuel and air, which helps power—though they can require more tuning than modern fuel injection.
“Carbs” means carburetors—parts that mix fuel and air for the engine. Some classic builds keep them because they feel more “old-school,” but they may need careful setup.
Car
Alfa Romeo GTA
The Alfa Romeo GTA is a special, more track-focused version of an Alfa Romeo. In this story, the host is comparing the driving feel of that classic car to modern fast cars.
A throttle cable is the physical cable that connects your gas pedal to the engine’s air control. The host thinks that makes the car feel more immediate when you press the pedal.
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a very performance-focused version of the 911. The host is basically saying the classic Alfa might feel better for him in certain situations than a modern GT3.
The Jensen Interceptor is a classic British car famous for having a large V8 engine and a classy “grand tourer” feel. Here, the host is describing one that’s been restored and modified, so it’s more like a modernized version of the original.
That phrase means the car has a V8 engine (eight cylinders in a V shape) with a big 6.2-liter size. Bigger V8s usually sound great and can feel punchy when you accelerate.
A cabriolet is just a fancy word for a convertible—its roof can open so you can drive with the top down. The host is saying it’s unusual to see this model in that form.
“Two plus two” means the car has four seats, but the back seats are usually tighter than the front. Think: fine for short trips or kids, not super spacious for adults.
This means the exhaust was custom-built, and made from stainless steel so it doesn’t rust as easily. People do this on restomods to get a better sound and a cleaner fit.
A limited-slip differential helps stop one wheel from spinning uselessly when you’re turning or accelerating. It shares power better so the car can grip and move forward more effectively.
AP Racing makes performance brakes. Here they’re saying the car has upgraded brakes from AP Racing, which are often chosen for stronger stopping power.
“Electric converted” refers to taking a car that originally used a combustion engine and swapping in an electric powertrain. This typically involves replacing the engine and fuel system with an electric motor, battery pack, and related control electronics.
David Brown Automotive is a company that takes classic cars and upgrades them with modern technology. Here they’re mentioned as the builder of an electric Mini restomod.
It’s an old-style car that’s been updated, but instead of using the original gas engine, it’s been converted to electric. So you get the classic vibe with modern electric driving.
The Volkswagen ID 3 is an electric hatchback meant for daily driving. The hosts are basically saying it’s a practical “city car,” even if a racing driver might not treat it like a track machine.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is an electric van. It’s designed to look like the older Volkswagen Bus, but it runs on electricity. People talk about it because it’s a practical EV with a distinctive style.
An infotainment system is the screen and electronics in the dashboard for things like music, maps, and phone features. The host is saying they don’t like how this one looks or feels.
The Mini Cooper S is the sportier version of the Mini. In this segment, they’re saying they’d never get rid of an original Cooper S because it’s a special enthusiast car.
Twisted is the company that modifies the car. When they say “Twisted Defender,” they mean a Defender that Twisted has customized.
Concept
end of production
“End of production” means the factory stopped making that model. When that happens, the supply of new cars dries up, so people start looking at special builds and remaining inventory.
Calipers are the parts that squeeze the brake pads to stop the car. Bigger calipers usually mean stronger braking, and the hosts think this one may be more brake than the power level needs.
A restomod is basically a classic car that’s been updated with newer tech and parts. It keeps the original vibe, but it’s meant to drive better like a modern car.
The Ineos Grenadier is a tough, off-road SUV meant to feel more old-school and rugged. The hosts mention it as an alternative for people who don’t like the newer Defender.
The Range Rover is a large luxury SUV made by Land Rover. A “resto mod” means someone restores the car and then upgrades parts to make it drive better. People talk about it because it can be customized while still feeling like a classic SUV.
The Ford Escort Mk2 is a classic Ford compact that’s well known from motorsport history. Here they’re talking about a very modified version—more like a modernized rally-style build than a stock car.
Cornering is what happens when you turn a car. It’s about how well the tires can keep grip and how stable the car feels while you’re going around a bend.
“Twin cam” means the engine uses two camshafts to control the valves. That setup is often associated with engines that can rev more freely and make stronger performance.
Instead of one throttle controlling the whole engine, each cylinder gets its own throttle. That usually makes the engine feel more responsive when you press the pedal.
The Alpine A 110 is a classic French sports car that also did rally racing. The host is using it as an example of the kind of rugged, race-inspired interior you might see in rally cars.
Term
group four
“Group 4” is an old racing class name used for certain production-based cars. Mentioning it helps place the car in the right rally era and ruleset.
“Tarmac spec” means it’s prepared for driving on paved tracks. The setup is different from gravel because the tires and suspension are tuned for consistent grip on asphalt.
A roll cage is a strong metal safety frame inside the car. It’s there to protect you in a crash and it can also make the car feel more solid when driving hard.
A carburettor is an older way of mixing fuel and air before it goes into the engine. It can need adjustment when the weather or driving conditions change.
Direct injection means the car sprays fuel straight into the engine where it burns. It usually makes the engine respond better and can be easier to run than older carb setups.
Camber is how much a wheel tilts in or out. Changing camber can help the tire stay in better contact with the road when you’re cornering hard.
LIVE
Welcome back to the gassing station the podcast that sifts through the piston heads forums like my co-host Sam Sheehan
Has been sifting through various different seats to purchase for his Porsche
986
Boxster if it's not one thing Sam, it's another I know I know and I said I wasn't gonna do anything major to this car
But I know a lot of listeners and viewers will be familiar with this you buy something you go
I just want something nice. That's reliable. I'll stick with it
I won't do anything to it. And so you bought a 96 Porsche Boxster
I did the most sensible thing ever which is buy a car with a high risk of IMS failure
But that touch wood is okay bearing failure in that is a thing
But mine seems to be okay, but it's just a classic thing
You know when you drive modern cars all the time you realize by the way
How far ergonomics have come on because a lot of people sort of lust after historic cars and I you know
We all do it and cars from the last decades
But you jump in them and you think all the seating position is a bit uncomfortable
Well, you can't adjust reach and rake on the steering wheel. We take all this stuff for granted now
Oh, yes, and proof of that is in a 986 box to rest because
There is no height adjustment on the steering wheel just reach which is the more the one I want more anyway
And most cars is to reach the height generally the middle is about right sometimes
But anyway, the issue I have is that the electric seat function on my car
It has a problem and every time I try and fix it. I blow the fuse so clearly. I don't know what I'm doing. Anyway
I looked online look for parts and because it is a product of Porsche and credit to Porsche. They still make classic parts
All the bits are really expensive
So even if I just want to get a new mechanism and a new electric setup for the car
It's like hundreds and hundreds if not thousands of painful. Yeah, so it's either new mechanism new seat
As in not an original factory Porsche one like get just get something totally different or just live with it being
Unadjustable and and not great. So I looked at pole positions. You know the recovery position
I'm I lost after them beautiful seat. I just think they're incredible everything can be improved with a pole position
They are the Jude Bellingham of always out of date. If I say that as no, but you know what I mean
It then who's Jude playing football star. Oh, okay, the Jude Bellingham of seats. No, all right. Let's give it
They are the I haven't got any modern actor references or actress references
They're good. Anything can be a great as Zara Picasso could be improved with a pole position
Yes, yes, it could. I bet I do know that's that's a cue for someone out there if you've got one
Can you confirm that in a future right in?
Can you put can you mount?
Pole positions as rear seats. I don't know. Yeah, but you know anyway, but you've been looking at them
And I know they realize how
Horrifically expensive they are
I know them well because I have a pair in my Clio and my old 182 and I fitted them
The first one went in five years before the second one because they were they are so expensive
But at the time which was 10 years ago
You could get a seat a pole position
Abe which is a slightly wider one not because I'm wider just because I wanted a more come I didn't need it to be snug
Um, you get about 600 quid
I think I bought mine off of a german website and they came delivered so it was like 660 or so
It wasn't that expensive
I guess this was pre-Brexit. I know because it's all free trade now. Anyway, isn't it? Anyway, long story short
It's about twice the price now
So inflation 1100 quids 1200 quid you're looking at for for the identical seat
I know rikara had some issues didn't they went under came back. There was there was a bumpy period. Yeah
Maybe that's bumped the prices
But anyway, yeah, so I I'm looking at that it still works out about the same price as if I actually repaired my seat
but
Um, I don't know. I might I might just stick with it being not adjustable
For the time being it depends what you want from your Porsche. Do you like it to be a
A club sports spec 986 or do you want it to be?
OEM
Plus OEM plus is where I'm at with this car
So it would work in that regard. I wouldn't go full clubs for I don't want it to be a rock
It's already quite relatively sports car firm already. So I don't want it any firmer
So I think I'm gonna keep it on my bookmarks on my tabs
Um and think about it and then see how far calana can take me
I was going to say actually because I just said oh, would you rather go club sport or um
Keep it OEM plus but then obviously
Porsche was shoving
Porsche made the
Whole position a big thing anyway, didn't they? Yeah really made it the popular thing
So I was thinking what you could do is you could buy one and then your boxer is silver. Is it not? Yeah, so you could then go and
Paint the back of it silver. So it would be like matching with yeah, I could do that would be pretty cool
It would be I mean you can barely see the back of it. But yeah, you yeah, that would be cool. I would know it's there
That's what I know it's there. Yeah, I've already looked I would get the recaro sidemounts that silver
Anyway, I'm probably boring people to death with seats
But it's worth it's probably worth me doing it if I keep the car long term if I don't then it's absolutely
Definitely not worth me doing it. So we'll see it's on the you know, maybe less
But certainly something I'm dreaming of you but on the other hand
Yours is even more essential on your Bimmer. My my my my BMW has been more of a case of
You
So that's a lot of exciting. Where do I where do I start? So I bought the listeners cams currently having a half that
When I bought it
I bought the 435i having researched it as the most one of the more reliable modern BMWs you can buy
Because the n55 straight six is supposed to be bulletproof
And having a little bit tested by that by the way, I don't have a gun to hand but
Well, I've I've maybe that's our next figuratively tested it next episode. I can confirm it's blooming tough
Yeah, because I can't remember if I bought it up on this episode. So I'll gloss over the first bit is
The so I bought it at 75 000 miles. It's now just approaching 80 000. So I've done about 5000 in the last
seven to eight months
it's um
A couple of months back it decided to
Um, it's water pump decided to let go. Yes. Now. These are um, it's it's one of those things where they go
Oh, this car is really reliable except this one extremely expensive thing that when it fails is
Ruinously expensive. Yeah. So this was a this completely ruined a day
That was a completely, you know, I woke up. It was a saturday. I was I'm gonna go to town drove to town car was
a bit
Kind of like just unhappy as I can tell it's usually pretty pretty damn smooth
And then drove to the supermarket afterwards
And then it it just I had overheating it got hot. Yeah, and it luckily it broke down in front of a garage
Yeah, so that got fixed 1200 quid later the water pump was fine and then
Uh
Couple of weeks ago. I was driving to so I went up and did after that I went and did
Our sunday service at car barn beam ish up in near new castle. Oh, absolutely fine. So it did
That was what five
600 mile round trip for me. Yeah, quite a quite a long way went up in there. Absolutely fine. No worries
Then a couple of days later went to go and pick my wife up from the airport. That is again a
120-odd mile round trip. So not not matter got to the airport. Fine
As I was literally pulling into the driveway at home
started noticing
Some vapor of some sort coming from underneath the bonnet. Oh, you'd run over someone with a vape. I yeah
You're like it smells like cherry. Oh my god
There's a guy under the car cherry and bubblegum why?
Um
No, it was actually worse than that believe it or not
So I pulled in saw some vape vapor coming up from the bonnet and I thought
Open the bonnet up and it's hissing and it's just
Spat cool and everywhere. Oh, no. I thought no
Wives and I was just like what is wrong? Yeah, what is wrong with this?
Took it to the garage and they I mean I I have they know me as a bit of a hypercontract because I know that I'm trying to catch
Any potential issue early because I don't know how expensive it could be
The water pump is something that there is no prior warning. It just let's go. That's it. You're done. Yeah, so great
So I took it to them
And they were like, yeah, we'll look at it. Yeah, okay
Concerned looks on the faces. I got a call the next day
And they were like you are
One hell of a lucky man and I was like, oh really? It was a five pound 80 plastic screw
There was a bleed screw on the
On the coolant reservoir. Yeah that had been split when the
Water pump had been replaced right and that's it. Yeah, and that so after it had been fine and then it let go
Oh, that's good. That's a good garage. You can trust them. Oh, absolutely
Yeah, and they said had this been pretty much any other engine you would have it would have completely destroyed itself
Oh, wow, and they were like but it happened at the perfect time as in it happened as I was pulling into my house
Yeah, so absolutely brilliant and the second thing is is that they they operate at such a hot temperature anyway
Really? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, so the the oil temperature
And I've I've checked this with many sources and it's meant to be this is just below 120 degrees C
So is that the middle line on your temp gauge? So my middle line is 120. Yeah, so it's just a bullet
Just below I actually don't know because I'm just thinking my reference is water temp
So I actually don't know what a water temp and oil temp
I've been told on those is meant to match each other relatively
This is meant to be about five degrees in it
So it's even the water temp is high because it's always always always 90 in cars. Yeah
I believe it's a bit higher than that, but I might be wrong. wrong
This is just I'm I'm saying this from what Garages have told me so it operates high and they were like it is
That's what's done it. So some cars have a hot V. You've got a hot everything everything everything
But it has since I've had that done it is now
So good. That's so fine. And I I've did a
I've been doing a lot of miles in it because I did all of good wood in it. I did
Grand Prix in it. So I've put on probably about
A thousand of those miles have probably come in the last month and
it has
Not mr. B and is running super smoothly and I'm just a real happy guy at the moment. So it's
So, yeah, it's but it's just one of those things of where the the issues that
Because the the age I've got it at about 80,000 miles 75 to 80,000 miles. That's where everything goes wrong
Yeah, and that's where everything is going wrong at the moment. Um, and so I
I was kind of feeling a bit rubbish. I was like, how do I just
Get this sorted and sell it on because it's headache and so I've been doing some
Yes, using a bit of AI backwards and forwards with the various AI programs
And they were like, why would you get rid of it now? You've just spent
Is there a thousand on it? Yeah, the yeah the AI were like, why would you do that?
It's that's a terrible financial decision. That's hilarious. AI is telling you to keep your car
AI is telling me to keep my I agree big old straight six BMW barge and I was just like
Good enough for me. I think that makes perfect
Well, yeah, it does it. AI is driving our thoughts
But yeah, I would have said the same thing like you've just put a load of money into this car
You're not going to get that back in the sale value 100%
Yeah, I was because it's it's if I sold it now
I could probably get
Near enough as much as I paid for it because there was a couple of little niggles. I wanted to fix on it when I bought it
That's minus the
Yeah, but then obviously I've so by the time, you know, if I put another 20,000 miles on it's going to lose
Foreground, do you know what you could do you maybe not that you I'm not saying you should sell it
But I'd have seen this and I'm like that's that's worked really well people when they write ads
They'll put like, you know, BMW for for 430i
Yeah, and then it will have a plus symbol and then in bold capital letters. It will say new water pump
Oh, that's interesting. Yeah
That's kind of worked. I've clicked on you. Well, it needs a it's it's going to have a ph philly seller advice there
It's not only got new water pump. It's got a lovely fresh set of michelin pilot sport
There you go. No michelin cross climate 3s cross climates, which are best all-round tire such good tires
There's other tires out there, which I haven't tested so I can't actually give an opinion on it
But I know the michelin I'm going to talk about the ones that are on my car and they are
I mean one of the best I think for the uk if you're driving your car all year round. My god, it's brilliant
Yeah on an all-round sensible car like it. I think if you've got like a you know
911 turbo s or something. Oh, yeah, you might you might lose a list or anything
Really really hardcore you'd probably lose a little bit in the way of feel etc. I think quite squishy 99% of people
Yeah, it would probably be fine. But yes, you are right
Yeah, I think if you're the sort of person that has a if you're a sam shian that has a summer car and a winter car
um, then uh,
Yeah, I think it probably makes my two summer cars bikes number. Yeah, do you have a winter car?
No, well the the cleo is a motorbike motorbike, which is yeah, which I actually ironically gets used the most all year round
Because I mean because we're in the southeast it we don't get like snow and stuff that often so actually
I don't like taking my cars
Plural out on the road when the salts are out
But I don't mind taking the bike out because I can see everything and I can hose it all out and clean it
Yeah, so and it's a naked for the bikers who are listening the 12 of you
Got very little in the web body work. Oh, I see right loads
But the bike doesn't and therefore I can get into that's when when you arrive
You're just like give me a minute. Yeah, you're getting dressed. I'm dressing right. Okay. Well, if you're enjoying this drivel
Then we have a new youtube channel that we're posting the gassing station podcast on to so if you're like watching our channel
And you aren't on spotify because the video goes up there too
Make sure you head over to youtube type in the gassing station
Subscribe so that you are the first to hear about when a new episode goes live
And you can also do that on your podcast platform of choice too if you just hit follow
Or subscribe or whatever it says, uh, then as soon as an episode lands
Which is always Tuesday mornings unless I've been
Doing an event that means I've had to push it back a day, uh, you will have it fresh and ready in your
Not inbox notifications notifications pocket library of podcasts. Yes for that commute on a Tuesday morning
Resto mods Sam Sheehan. Oh, I love them. You love them
I love them and holy moly. Have I seen a lot of them? In fact, you've just driven one
Yeah, we're talking about dagunter verks in the last episode, uh, which is the carbon-bodied
Radical 993
Yes, I mean I didn't ask back then it was it rear wheel drive or front we'll drive
I should have emphasized that last step. It's rear wheel drive, which is why it's so daunting
Is it a turbo or is it a gt2?
It's essentially kind of like a carbon-bodied gt2 style, right? The og turbo og og like 70s
Yeah, those were rear which is hence the widowmaker
Um, and then obviously that era the 930 era was all wheel drive, but this is rear wheel drive
So, yeah, it's a resto mod, but it's one that puts hairs on your chest or whatever the, you know
Absolutely, and that is but yeah, so there was a lot of resto mod stuff at, um
The goodwill festival of speed. Yeah singer was the celebratory
The the the celebrate tea. Yeah the one that was being celebrated. They were on the big thing
It's fascinating that plinth, isn't it? Yeah, exactly. And they're all real cars
It always blows my mind. It just terrifies me of just a wood one drop and what would happen
So you had these three beautiful singers up there. They also had uh singer had its own area where it had a
The the new singer flat nose. Mm that one they could get through the mo2. Yeah, well, I assume they will or they've given the
mot guy five quid
Yeah, probably because they I think they've got five quid to spend five dollars. Yeah, uh, and I've heard or I've read that
They're thinking about doing their own
Stuff now their own supercar building their own platform. Yeah ground up exactly
And I also noticed that
Jensen the jensen interceptor
Yes, that has the name that will never go away. No, and it's right. So we love a jensen
Jensen interceptor. It's a great example of britain coming together with america and creating something fantastic in the sense that it's powered by american
Yeah, well, they've just announced as well or it has just announced that they it is going to be uh producing a track
Focused car or a track only car for its next model which sounds a bit strange
But as someone has rightly pointed out in the forum that it's a lot easier to build a car
That is a track car. Yeah, then it is a road going car and making it legal
Yeah, so I thought a rest of mods are sort of kind of it just won't go away at the moment
So I thought it would be a good idea to go through the classifieds and see good idea what?
Rest of mods can you buy for usually we say every budget?
Um, this one I think the cheapest I've managed to get on here
Not including two of the cars that have sold on piston heads auctions
Uh is
About 90 grand. Yeah. Oh, okay. Do you know what that's a lot of money?
But given that some of the rest of them was a like one and a half million quid. Oh my goodness. Yeah, exactly
That's an all right rest oh my god. I was talking to the petrol lot last week
Because we're going to be getting them at piston heads annual service get your tickets where you still can I can't wait to talk
Can't wait for us to talk to them
And their resto modded their m3 touring is one of the cheaper ones at about a hundred and
Why is it 160 odd grand? I think and that yeah, that's an affordable rest of mods. So we've got some options here
Um inverted comments. Yeah. Yes, exactly
But I'm not going to start with that one. I'm going to start
Sam with the og
Yeah
Rest of mod firm you're right. It was that they were before it was everyone was doing it
Yeah, it is a jaguar e-type series one by eagle. Yeah, and I might be right. Please correct me if I'm wrong
I'm I'm sure you will
that that you know, I don't believe that
They were necessarily the first they were obviously weren't the first restoration firm
but there was certainly one of the the first companies to popularize the
uh concept of taking a classic car
Updating the bits that you can't see
And trying to leave the exterior as original as possible and that's exactly what you have with this example here
So it's again. It's 66 series one e-type
um, and from the outside it looks
Just like a standard e-type right beautiful and historic a hundred percent
It's in a kind of like a dark metallicy gray interior of my god
And oh my goodness my god for the listeners
So get looking at the yeah, it's just bathed in that interior. It's unbelievable. I just want a glass of whiskey and a cigar
And to lay down that is a very
gorgeous
rich red leather interior that contrasts nicely. I was going to say it's it's gray
It's almost got a hint of brown in it the outside as well. That might be one of the most
Inviting that's like a front room of an aristocrat's house. Wow. Anyway, sorry. I've stolen the car. No, please
This is this is with the whole reason we're doing this is to gush over these cars
This is such an absolutely beautiful thing
But this is what eagle did so well to begin with is
Because it was a restoration firm you would look inside those things and go that looks fantastic as good it would have done
When new probably better. No, that's it. It would have been better. Yeah, it would have been a heck of a lot better
So you saying they didn't build cars particularly well in uh, the uk through
Well 60s, but especially in the summer drew
I I am not saying that in the slightest
I am saying that it has been assembled to modern day standards. Yeah, which is the big thing
So eagle would actually end up going and building. Do you remember seeing the the eagle speedster that was on
Topgear or those years ago. I remember that thing was was very much a resto mod in the modern
Kind of you know with the big emphasis on mod modern
Not modification
Uh, where it's kind of the wheels filled the arches
It was the what arches themselves are a little bit kind of beefier. It just looked a little bit more hunkered down and
This is very much sympathetic to the original look, but the electrics have been done the brakes have been done the hydraulics have been done everything that could
Go wrong
He says touch yeah
Has has been sorted so it's it's really it's that idea of a yeah
E type that you can actually go and use and enjoy
And it's lovely
Do you want to did they change the gearbox isn't these because that era of gearbox?
Even if you read in period car reviews
People would comment because I've done that randomly recently for any type
Um would comment on the gearbox being you know, they weren't the friendliest and they were quite harsh
I can't doesn't mention it
So I don't actually know what it does have though because they've got a list of of upgrades that they've done to it
Halogen headlamps. Is that I mean what were they before candles? I think yeah, yeah, absolutely
And it does say
Additional heat resistant material fitted to inside the body shell and around the gearbox. Oh, yeah, because they they did get really hot
That's another thing I read
Maybe that's part of it
And yeah, I don't know if it was the the transmission itself getting I think it's the heat the heat cycle is just crazy
They're just poorly insulated, but I mean it's it's a it's
It's an extensive list of upgrades that fortunately has not had an impact on the look of the car
I feel like rest rest oh mods like this you don't see as much anymore because it's a bit of a race of how can we make this more
extravagant than the last
Gorgeous, I think there's a subtle thing
I think the wheels are a little bit wider than they would have been a standard but not by much
But it's still tucked well. Yeah, it's still very in in water the heart. Yeah
Next up. I think this is something that we all
All would absolutely want
um
So actually just to finish that cap that off the eagle was a price on application
Because it'll be expensive
This one, however, it's so much cheaper to only 149 995 bargain. Yeah, it's an alfa rameo gt
1300 junior
But has been completely overhauled by the legends at alphaholics
I can hear the intake growl now in my head beautiful
That lovely that that lovely intake sound that they all make. Yeah, it's an absolutely gorgeous looking car. So this one is
is red
iconic alfa rameo red with the quadrophilia stickers down the side
The arches are so
Hmm
Blisted just so stretched and it's such a muscular thing. I love how it sort of squats on its arse a bit only subtly
Oh, absolutely sit back. Don't they do you know it's aside from the
Kind of those ferraris that ran four-cylinder engines
It's hard to imagine a forebanger that you would spend 150 grand on really, but this seems almost like a no-brainer
But as you actually pointed out before we went on air
This although it's listed as a 1300. It's it's engines a little bit bigger. Yes
It's a two litre. It's got the two litre Nord engine which has alphaholics
2000 con rods forged pistons forged rods. Yes
Alphaholics cylinder head larger intakes alphaholics manifolds
alphaholics ptf e-lines
twin
45 millimeter webbers
High-voli. I mean it's extended. Yeah, still carbs. Yeah, I mean, I think that's the the great thing about the
Alphaholic stuff is that it's so sympathetic to the original car
But I look at this and it's it's the kind of thing where
It's a bit like the e-type of where
There are so many classics now where you think god that is absolutely beautiful. I would hate to run that
That would be an utter night. It's not a turnkey experience ball egg to run
Whereas this is just like I know that if something went wrong on it
Yes, you're spending a lot of money on it if something went wrong on it
You could then go and take it to the experts that if they can even fabricate something. That's the great thing
It's just we'll we'll make it for you
I mean
Spending a hundred and fifty grand on a on a little Alfa Romeo is probably not everybody's taste
But I that would be right up my street. It would be too. I mean, it's one of the I'm not driven
I've not driven that but I've driven the gtam
Like the original gta. I'm not the the modern julia
um up the goodwood hillclimb hillclimb and uh
That admittedly I cooked the clutch on it because
Not because I was slipping the clutch. Yeah, because we were it got so hot rolling up to the start point
Uh that I think the heat so just I don't know what I cooked it because I wasn't I think I was in neutral the whole time
They were pushing me but they were asking me to
I know they were pointing when I was driving anyway, long story short
It was such an exciting experience and to feel the throttle response of a carburetor engine with an actual
Throttle cable in a car that looks not dissimilar to this one
And is so tiny
Maybe I would prefer that to a modern 911 gt3
I think I can imagine that being the case because it's about the same price, isn't it? So
I think I'd run a gt3 if I were to use it all the time
Yes, but if it were just the car I used every three weeks on a sunday a little fun sunday car then maybe this would be
Preferable my dishwasher has been playing up a bit recently interesting
And I think I would be much better off
So here we go with this eating out of this engine bay than I would the plates from my dishwasher
I was like, uh, are you going to compare the car to a bloody kitchen appliance? It is
Sacrallage
Yeah, I see what you're saying there that that head. Yeah, it's given good head. Yeah
What?
They haven't spot this. Oh my god, I was right
God
I thought I'd have to like hit the bleep button there Jesus. Well, that was you know
A lot of attention and care. Well, it's a very very tidy head. Why you happily eat off
um
Jensen interceptor
raw
These are the noise of yeah, okay. That's the that's the sort of sound that jensen interceptor
Owners make as they're pottering around in their 6.2 liter v8 engine
Hybrid of american muscle and british beefiness. Yeah, it is
A stunning thing in any form
But this is a jia jensen international automobiles
Interceptor r which means that it has been
heavily modified. It's basically
a restored rest oh modded version of
A jensen interceptor. This one is a cabriolet. I was about to say that's how
Utterly gorgeous is this thing. Yeah, it is in a kind of a
Silvery blue
It looks very i've not seen one in a cabriolet before with a with a midnight blue roof. That's lovely. Oh my goodness
This has got me extremely excited and then you've got a cream leather interior with dark blue piping. I yeah
It's just absolute perfection
It and that looks extremely comfortable as well
So that's going to be the sort of you know in contrast to the alpha which you would drive like your hairs on fire
And like you're on a goodwood. Oh, yeah, period race
This you can just cruise around in
Roots down. Do you know what it's I?
I've seen clean shaven people get in these and come out of it half an hour later with it full beard
Yeah, it's just full. It's just it's such a yeah
It's such a cool
Muscley car. This one's quite interesting though. It's actually cheaper first of all than the Alfa Romeo and yeah
Almost certainly the eagle. Yeah 139 995 bargain. You have uh seat
You have room in the back. I think you've got room in the back for yes
You do you have room in the back for two people. So it's a two plus two right
But uh, this one actually featured in top gear and
the grand tour
So it is a bit of a start. Yeah, absolutely. I wonder if this was part of the intercept the
Oh, yes, amazing skit that they did the intercepted
It probably will because it's not that's definitely not been battled around in like north africa
Like half of their cars end up being so I mean, it's obviously been heavily restored
So I don't know if that's six and a half thousand mile range or six and a half thousand miles since the restoration
He's since the restoration almost certainly. Yeah, but my goodness. It's a really very lovely thing
Things that have been changed on it a bespoke stainless steel exhaust system
Limited slip differential
revised heating and air conditioning, which is very very handy ap racing brakes ap racing brake and hold back on that
I love that. I always think of this idea of cars that are overbraked
Yeah, the chassis can actually hold that much braking force
Um, but there you go. I mean, it's what a fantastic car. What a great way to spend a hundred and 40000 pounds
And that would be so much fun. Like, you know, if you've got a partner of your kids or something
You think oh, let's drive down to the pub get a roast dinner for lunch. Yeah, that'd be a nice thing to do
And as would this yeah, we'll be more in a city setting
I would love to get everybody's opinion on this not just sam's but sam as you're the only one currently in the room
Um, well apart from the 40 people in the there's no one there. Yeah, exactly the silent people behind us
What what's your opinions on electric converted original?
It says original pre-bmw minis because I've got one here a david brown automotive e
Mastered which is an electric resto mod of a mini. I'm in two minds
If it's a car that is not running particularly well
Or it's definitely or it's a very low spec mini that had, you know, the engines were just a
Utensil they were just there to power the car. They weren't partly experienced then I'm less
Offended by it. But if I would never ever ever ever take an engine out of a cooper of any kind
Yeah, I taking an engine out of a cooper satchel. Yeah, do not do that
But if it was just a basic one with like one of their 50 horsepower or something
And this keeps it on the road for let's say it needed a little work. I don't know then I don't mind
I can imagine actually if I was a millionaire and I just had a
selection of cars
And I lived and I had one of my properties was in a city
Maybe this could be my runabout
Do you watch drives to survive by any chance the the netflix? I've not watched it properly
But I've seen the first series which apparently is quite different. Yeah, I mean it was much better back then
But I think it was one of the last couple of seasons. They start the the season off with
Lando Norris
pootling around Monaco in a
Fiat jolly, you know the one that it's the kind of the the fiat 500 without
It's it's like a mini moke version of a fiat 500. It's extremely
And that's like that for me is what I would love to do with my
Just roll around just roll around and be
Be a rich former one driver. Yeah, exactly. So this isn't quite as beach friendly as that
But as a running around london or your city of choice in wherever, uh, this is fantastic
It's you just made me think of the volkswagen id
3
Yeah, Andy Wallace. He drove the silk cut jack. That was there. I just typed in Andy Wallace just to double check out the name
Right. He drives his daily certainly was a few days ago years ago
Is an id 3
Really? Yeah, I know that's quite disappointing that isn't it? But I think it's
A lot of racing drivers seem to just not care about having some do you're correct
But some just seems just yeah, they think that every road car they drive is not their racing car
So they're like, well, I'll just pull around in this then and if you fancy spending three times that yes
Smaller considerably less safe, but much cooler city runabouts
Then I advise this one of three
Emastered minis. It's dark green with a tan interior. So it's perfect. Um, and a
Obviously a wooden steering wheel. What's it? I see in the in the interior. It's got like purple lighting. Is there any?
Oh, it's got an infotainment system
It
Yeah, that doesn't work for me that looks a bit. I don't like that. It looks a smidgen aftermarket
But then again, I mean if you're spending 90 grand on an electric you can probably
Go somewhere and get it done a bit better. Yeah, so wonderful little thing
Um
Would it be for me? Yeah
I think without without if it was a regular cooking model with a rubbish engine
Sure, get rid of it. If it's a cooper absolutely not. No. Oh man an original cooper s. Oh, that's a dream car for me
But they're worth a fortune as well
Twisted
Driven a few of these very very very cool. Yeah
They famously bought loads, didn't they when the defender production ended?
Yes, and I've just realized that this is actually the cheapest one on the list
It's no longer the many it's this for 50 grand you can go and get yourself a twisted defender now
It's still got the 2.2 td ci engine. So it's it's not like it's got a massive v8 under it
But talky. I mean, it's it's fine. The thing is is that it's it's talky. Yes, that's correct
So if you're actually off-roading totally fine, but it's just been lucked up a little bit. Yeah
Yeah, it's got the full it's got spotlights on the top
It's black with black wheels and a black interior. So it looks quite menacing bomb baddie
Look at the twisted brakes on it. Oh, yeah, just massive calipers
Yeah
On there it's which is well probably overbraked to be honest because it's only got a hundred and 22 horsepower
But a fantastic looking thing
This is a bit more of a
Well, first of all, I think it stretches the term
rest a mod
Because it's a 2014 car that was bought new and and then twisted by twisted. Yeah pretty much instantly. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah
It's very true. So it's it's yeah, it never had a period of life in standard form really pretty much. Yes, but it is
A luck-stopped version of one and if you kind of look at a new defender and you go
I don't want that and you've seen the Ineos Grenadier and you go don't really like that. This is a great alternative. Yeah 49
990 I do remember. Do you remember when Land Rover announced the end of production and then twisted?
Secretly bought obviously Land Rover knew they were doing it
But the public didn't secretly bought I think like 200 cars or something really
So even after production had ended for the old defender
Twisted was still pulling brand new cars out of their storage warehouse, you know
With zero miles on the clock to then do work on for like 23 years
It makes a lot of sense. Actually, it's a bit like catering stockpiling
Duratec engines and being like, oh, what's gonna happen when we run out? Yeah
uh, so yeah, it's it's it's uh
The thing is you can get much fancier defender
Resto mods than that
Kingsley will do a lovely Range Rover for you. Um, and twisted also do a really really nice
Uh Range Rover classic
Still do it as well. Yeah
Carnes I go
Carnes more of like a modernized
Yeah
Tuna I would say I would put they are harness tuner twisted
I felt straddled the two, but he's definitely more on the rest of one side. I would say so. Yeah, that's a cool take. Um
mst
Love these absolutely love these. Hello. That's got racing Pete written all over it. Oh, yeah
So this mst is a 2022 mst mark two
So these are for it's obviously a Ford escort mark two, but it has been so heavily
Has more lights than lights
It's got four cibbies at the front and
That's
It's just really getting the weight down on the nose to pin that in for cornering
Mini lights or whatever the equivalent is. Yeah in cold. I found another plate to go along with my edge. Look at that
Now that's giving it. Yeah, that beautiful twin cam
Oh, it's just amazing. Twin cam independent throttle bodies. Is that? Yes. Those are those are surely itbs
Fantastic looking things. So it's in blue with gold wheels. My god
And what I love about this is that all the others that we've seen even the alcoholics one to an extent are
Luxe luxe up. Yeah, the alcoholics is maybe less luxe up, but it's very much a if you took a classic
uh
Alfa Romeo racing car and you looked inside of it. It would be
Dog eared. Yeah, but like I remember seeing uh
uh an alpine a 110
group four is that what they were group for rally car at
uh
Friday service at the motton and it was just so
War torn inside which is great because it was like that's what you want to see. It's purposeful
You don't want to get in that in on a monday morning, you know
Precisely, but if you want the race car look but that feel then you get some like the alcoholics
This is very much a no, this is the best that this is the best
mark to
Road going rally car that you could get
Uh, and it's it is very much a no for us. The interior is definitely smartened up a bit. I'd say the interior is quite nice
Yeah, it's it's got like mechanical like that. What was that an exposed gear exposed
Yeah, I'll know it's just it's just got a very long gear. It's a very very long with a big linkage
Because that's what you want when you're rallying exactly, but it's still got cloth on the doors
Like it's not completely uh exposed panels and stuff. So that's still going to be relatively refined
I would say though that you're going to get out of that
It's carpets and everything with us having broken a sweat because any journey that you do will become a rally stage
Yeah, and that's why that that and the alpha are both cars. I can see
Like I would potentially choose one of these over a brand new. What's that? What's this going on? Okay?
Yeah, again, it's 911 gt3 ish money. So it's 174 950. I could see myself choosing one of those over a
Proper modern sports car just because you drive the nuts up for this thing built a full group for rally specification
And currently in tarmac spec, but yeah, it's got fi a grade
Roll cage. I'm pretty sure these can be used in
In competition because I guess that's a that's a huge part of it
Oh my goodness. It's still just a monk to carburettor. It was injection by them, isn't it?
I'm just thinking for turnkey, you know, it doesn't matter the climate
Because my dad's got an alan se s3se and he loves it to bits and he is a retired mechanic
But there are some days when I'll call him up and I'm like, have you started the land today?
And he's like, yeah, start it up. But I've just been playing with the carbs 25 minutes and I'm like
Wonderful car, but I'm not sure if I could go through the
Tweak in the carbs every time that absolutely my conditions change
I don't think you've got to do that with this. Yeah, I think it's direct injection the the
Interesting thing though. I just wanted to point out. It's a really observation. It's a 1972 car originally
How unbelievably modern does that look for a 1970s car?
I think the stance and the wheels and everything have just completely transformed the way it looks because that's one key thing
Actually in the e-type was double evidence of this stance
That's quite a modern thing. Yeah, but like if you think back to even like a 90s performance car
They would they could look low, but they wouldn't always have the the camber on the wheels and stuff like that
That's all quite. I mean, they had camber on cars back in those days, but it was more track car stuff
Yeah, you didn't really get on road cars with now you do
And the thing you've just shown now has just that
But a camber and stance potentially the
Because we all dream about
We've all got our dream rest a mod, right?
The car or we all daydream about the cars that we would do a rest a mod on
For me, it's
A part of me really wants to do a
There's various lancers, but that's quite a well covered thing. It had then turned to I'd love to do an e46 m3
That's now quite well catered. So I need a new thing to look after
But I can't think of any cars really that have the broad
The the broadness and the and the kind of the the wealth of parts that you can use and styles that you can go off quite like
A Porsche 911, which is why this
Is why singer does it so perfectly. Yeah, I don't think anybody else can do singer quite like singer
Yeah, I mean like we said in the last episode like they the design details
The the fact that they wrap leather over the roll cage if you get one fitted like if the detail
Of every single panel every single join is like artwork
Because there's such it's such a versatile
platform and shape that there are
It just does that thing of way if you wanted a luxury version of it
This then you can have a more luxury version if you wanted a track focused one
You can have a more track style one if you wanted a
One that looks hyper futuristic. It's still somehow works
Whereas this one that we've got here
is much more a
It's very it's very sympathetic to the original design. So it's a it's a very it's a dark blue car with
Foosh wheels that fill the arches perfectly
It's got a is that white or is that a chrome stripe just down the bottom?
I think it's a chrome stripe that that that runs down the bottom of the car
And it's all just got little kind of chrome little accents around the place
But it's otherwise quite a subtle thing. It is I saw a singer driving in to the festival of speed
And it was one of those ones where I needed to do a double take like is that a singer and then the gray one
Might have been it might have been a gray one. I saw one driving through the car park
Yeah, and I had to look at its backside to be like, oh, it's it's it's a
If you can quite like yeah, yes, it was a uk plate. Yeah, it was a uk plate car
So it was a fantastic looking thing. This is my perfect spec. Yeah, it's absolutely brilliant
It is however 925 000 pounds. Yes
That's the downside of the other ones combined
Yes, it is. However, well, we don't know about the e-type. That's true. E-type's probably up there. You know that one. Yeah
However
We have a lot of different singers up for grabs at the moment on on ph
So if you don't like this one, there's another one to go for and they're all very different
They've all got their own different styles
I think that it's the the tough thing of when you commission a singer and you want to sell it on afterwards is like
How do I make something that's personally mine that someone else isn't going to think? Oh, that's a bit cack. Yeah
I think this is one of the most tastefully specced ones. I've seen it's very very just
911 as you imagined it when you were a kid in the 1960s or 70s. Yeah, yeah
Lovely it is beautiful. Although I'm not sure it's it is gorgeous. I'm not denying that but maybe it's just because
I don't know. I think that escorts
If it was if they were both if the escort
Was the same value and somehow could be justified to that. I still think I'm throwing an escort
Is that weird? I know that you quite like an escort
I just like the idea of something that you can drive like a complete rally legend
And I think the 911 I guess to be fair the 911 you were just using a different way. I love both. I am
more of a
versatile
I'm a singer. I am a singer guys. You're a singer guy
We've actually had a couple of restomods sell through the piss in his options as well
I know that they've already sold and you can't buy them anymore, but I just thought they were too cool to to ignore really
So we had a datsen 260 restomod that had an rb
26
d e t t
Straight six in it from
Do you know the car?
I'll be 26. I'll be 20. Oh, it's a it's it's going to be a nissen. So it would be an r33
close
R34 gtr
It's got an r34 gtr engine, you know, basically so this one is it's it's red with a black
With a black bonnet and it's got the kind of matte black air dam at the front matte black bolt on the arches at the side
It's just so cool. Yeah, that is cool
But what's great about this is that, you know, a lot of the I say it was it was a black bonnet
It's carbon bonnet and carbon arches as far as carbon come on cam you idiot
But it's it's so it's a beautiful looking thing
It's got carbon on it. Whereas all the other ones that we've been talking about are
Silly money. This is admittedly a home-built restomod. So it doesn't quite carry the
Cache, let's say of some of the other ones, but it went for 48 240. That's amazing. That's a cool
I think that's that's a good return for the seller
I was about to say and that's a good piece of evidence that you know modified cars typically just lose value
Yeah, most always
But if you do it like that, clearly you add value
Absolutely
And I wondered if this one counted as a restomod, but it's an ac cobra mark for yeah, so it's a but it's a so it's a
2021 ac cobra
So it's not actually an old ac cobra chassis. It's a new
ac cobra built by
ac cars
In 2021. Yeah, and this one is like it's what's the actual term? It's uh, is it nitrous blue?
Which I think was the color used on the mark three focus rs. Yeah
With black stripe. So it's a real interesting mishmash of classic ac cobra design with
modern
kind of touches
Black elements where there would normally be chrome
That sold for a hundred and 17029 in both of that both in cars from the auctions include the bias fee
as well
So, yeah, that is amazing
That yeah, and for a brand new for a modern car as well. That's more than I thought it'd be not I'm saying it's not worth it
Because that looks awesome. It's a photograph on a track, right? Yeah, 100. I would want to have a go at that. Yeah
Right from the extremely expensive to the
mildly expensive
Uh all cutsie of spiky mickey
12 000 and they ask
Okay, so my plan of a 992 Carrera s may have gone up in flames as wife wants a new car too
After ideas on something I can keep in the garage as a summer toy needs to do the following budget 45 000 pounds
Must be fun and fast preferably over 400 horsepower easy
easy
Has to fit inside standard single car garage
Not sure I've taken that into account, but we'll have a look comfy enough for european road trips reasonably reliable
Preferably preferably six cylinder and above. Yeah, absolutely ideas. I've had our 991.1911
Aston Martin Vantage or db9 a late f type r and any other suggestions welcome
Of course we have some suggestions spiky mickey
And sam sheen is going to keep things off
Well, I've actually gone a little bit because the the power request there preferably over 400 horsepower, but I've gone light
I think lightness is more important than power
Yeah, toy. I know I understand that power is power, you know, but
As lotus is so good at adding lightness
Well, they certainly used to be before they made massive electric suvs in china
I've gone for as my opening car a 1994 lotus esprit s4 s. Oh, this is cool
It's gorgeous. Is it an s4 s? I just they just typoed that
Did they do it or is it s4 plural?
There's just multiple cars. There were so many versions of the esprit
This one is in uh, what was this one mustard yellow? It's definitely a mustardy yellow. It looks absolutely marvelous
Very vibrant yellow
224 horsepower. This is not a turbo car. This is a 2.2 liter four banger
But they don't weigh a lot and it's a lotus. So it's going to feel
Fantastically quick despite not having that much power. I mean, let's be frank
It's not going to be massively quick by modern standards, but look at it. It's a wedge-shaped pop-up headlight yellow lotus
With a dub like a wing and then a spoiler and oh, it's just gorgeous
I was gonna say is it bad that the thing that I get most excited about with this is the
The spoiler or the wing that's located halfway up the rear
It's not window, but it's kind of the yeah
Where the buttresses would be if it has buttresses. Yeah, it kind of does actually yeah, there's are there's our buttresses
It's the kind of can
It's come connecting either side of the buttresses
Whether it did anything aero wise don't know don't put it out. It's cool. It's great very similar to the wing of that
OGA edition I was driving recently. Oh, yeah. Yes. Yeah, so it's it's it's a marvelous looking thing and it's a cool interior
They're quite basic, but it actually it's kind of aged. Well, you know, I mean the light is probably being generous
Miss a sports car a british sports car
Whose
Dashboard is just an assortment of dials. Yeah analog dial big clicky buttons. It's like a cockpit in an aeroplane
Yeah, it's lovely. I think this is great. And I mean, I know it's not 400 horsepower
It's almost, you know, half that but it's it's lovely and for 40 five pounds back for 40 grand from 40 grand
So that's pretty good. Yeah, it's it's definitely I mean, they didn't say it had to be six cylinders and above. No
Do you know what they did? I have basically broken it had to be on that one. I'm around around
400 horsepower. It's close to a multiple of 400. Yes. It was 200 is I guess a anyway
What's next? I've broken all the rules and I'm but I'm going to continue to break rules
But in a slightly different way that's I'm shitting because well, I just saw it
And I thought it's got more cylinders than he needs because it's got a va a 4.8 liter bmw v8
But it's not a bmw
It is a and I've just noticed the power for that engine size. It's not anyway, we'll put that to one side
It's a 2009 Morgan aero 8
critically this is one of the ones where they fixed the
Um cross-eyed the original. Yeah, well, it does still look a little bit cross-eyed. It's just just a smidgen
so the originals had the lights from a
Uh beetle
Yes, it was it was a new beetle and they flipped them upside down this one. However, are they mini lights?
I believe they're mini lights. Yeah, they are mildly cross-eyed, but nowhere near to the extent of the originals which were
I don't really know why they they did them like that. But yeah, this one looks infinitely better
If you had a mini and you bashed it on the head and it sort of that was it coming out of the
Being knocked out. That's kind of what it looked like slightly eyes are slightly not in line
Kind of like if a mini scrunch, yeah
Scrunched his nose up and had a mild concussion. So yeah, but it you know, this is a weekend toy, right?
So
It's good. I think that means it's got to be you know for
To to take this to the south of france
You're not going to come across many of these. It's going to feel so special
It's going to make a lovely burbly va sound again. It's only 282 horsepower, but these are light. They're not heavy cars
And you know, it's got a CD player
It's got a radio. It has airbags. Yep. I mean, what more do you need air conditioning?
100% and it said that that they cruise control Mercedes quartz blue. So it's a very faint silvery blue
Yeah, what's the interior color? Let's have a look interior color is is it black or a dark blue?
It's a very black. It was that aluminium with aluminium highlights with wood
It's very early 2000. That's early 20th century wood as well. That's that light that is
What's the what's the old?
Dfs that still exists tfs, isn't it that light colored wood where it wasn't varnish dark
It was just like a pale wood. Dfs is a
Is a sofa don't they? Yes, are you thinking of mdf?
I'm just thinking of all the generic mainstream furniture
Oh god, that would look so good. I feel like we're potentially saying negative things about this car
When we actually really very much. Oh, no, I love it
But I think I'd varnish the wood or something because it's it's in that light. It's it's a lighter wood
It's it is however what I would say
If you look at modern morgans now, even when they've done the super sport, they look quite dinky whereas this thing is a
Yeah, it's a really smart. Yeah, it has such presence to it. Does that have a boot? I don't know
Probably I don't know if not just tie your bags to the back coat for the best looks good
Anyway, do you have something that comes close to the requirement? Well, yes, I do. I think I make up for it with one car
Oh my lord
Yes, because I think this is not only a smart buy for the requirements
But dare I say it and on the last episode we spoke about cars
One of the ph's has suggested cars that were called and then became uncalled and I think this is now becoming called again
I think it's done
I think this one in particular has been called full stop. Yeah, I would agree
But before I review what it is, it does have a 3d printed gel rear plate
Which and it's cut short. It's like a narrow one or so it's it's it's got hints of when it was cheaper
It was although. I don't think it's pretty
But anyway, what I'm trying to say is it's a Mercedes
C63
AMG and yes, it's said in that way around because it's before they went love it. Yeah
And of that means it comes with a 6.2 liter v8 or was it was this did they actually have it was a 6.2?
Wasn't it and it was bad as a six point you've you've missed the big thing about this. Oh, yeah
This is the run out the 507. This is these are extremely rare very very hard to come by
Yeah, and they are so it's 39 995
So it is much more expensive than the equivalent standard C63
And that's why I think they're so cool is that they were ridiculously powerful with 507 horsepower. Yeah
But it's that it's a very much an if you know, you know kind of car
Exactly and because it's the run out as well. That means you had did it get limited slip diff? No, it didn't did it
I if I remember correctly, none of them did
But 507 horsepower
0 to 62 in what like what were these four seconds?
I actually haven't got that start in front of me. So will it not be too busy chewing its rear tires?
Yeah, but you know as part of the fun, isn't it? Yeah
4.2 4.2. Yeah. Oh, that is rapid. That's quick for a rear drive car. Absolutely rapid
I mean these were ferociously fast cars
Monstrously, I think it's it's very much a you know, obviously if you can't get your hands on a black series
Which you absolutely can't do for 40 grand. This is annoying
I was really hoping you weren't going to bring something like this up because I was like
I've got this in the back so easily and then you do that
Well, I had to because the other two technically didn't really fit the bill but
You know
I would still
Fall in love with that Lotus, but yeah, this is a car. I mean this has been a dream car for me
Not the 507 is obviously the dream dream, but even the normal one
Lovely thing
This is a dream of mine and it has oh that's pretty bought this up on a
One of the really really really early gassy station podcasts and we couldn't actually use the pictures because the car was a
um, it was put up by a private user that means we don't have
Access to their to their images or rights to use their images. This one is not by a private user though
It is a 1998 tv r Serbra
4.2 litre v8 with this one. These are
ridiculously cool with a
racing derived
Flatplane crank v8. Oh and those wheels look bigger than I remember. Oh, yeah, so these are well first of all
These were proper supercar destroyers in the 1990s. I mean they are it looks like a gt
But as a flatplane crank v8 would suggest it's a proper racing car
It is a fantastic thing
It's 34 9 9 5
Which is not too bad for a serbra, but the big thing to bear in mind of this
Crew
Kyrton green kyrton green. I think that's how you pronounce it with an ivory hide and green carpets. It's a fantastic spec
Is that it has been restored?
It has been through a fairly. I mean it has I don't know how much it's been
Uh
modded. Yeah, but it was given a
A body a body of refresh in the early 2010s and
Hasn't done a huge amount of mileage in between them. So it's got 39 000 miles on the clock. It's just
Such a lovely car and the the ad says that they've tried to fix all the little niggles with it
So it is a tv r. I was about to say that's tv r. That's endless never going to be cheap to run
um
Gorgeous, but it is fantastic. Also when they say that they've got a single car garage
That's still a standard single car garage. I don't know how big that is because I had a single car garage in my last flat
And I could barely fit my fiesta into it. Yeah, is that a standard size?
I rent one like you know and my cleo is is pretty much the entire width of the garage
But I presume given that he was looking for a 992
Yes, hopefully that would fit it. There was no chance. I would have fit a 992 in my own car
Um
Next up, you know, I like a bit of americana. Yes
A vet and this is going to bring the power and the noise. Yeah
Much like the interceptor army mentioned earlier. This has a 6.2 liter v8 because it is a c7
Chevrolet Corvette now this is before they went
Right hand driving you could get them in the uk in full uk spec
So it is an import which I think makes them that little bit more special
Because they're rarer and you go oh god
We never got those and if you're doing european holidays was that what it did say holidays onto europe, didn't it?
I'm not dreaming that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, you're on the right side. You're on the correct side
It says comfy it comfy enough european road trips, but you know being on the correct side in france. Yep
adds to the comfort absolutely and it is a
Conversable you could hit the roof off which is very lovely
Is that true? It says it's a convertible guys. I think it's a target top. That's why yeah
So it's yeah, it's got the target top which is brilliant. There's space in the back for
I would say you could get a two very small so cases one very large suitcase or
several overnight bags
Put mattress in there if if you wanted to but
The the big kind of appeal of this is there's the last so far front-engine corvette
What many would consider the last true corvette?
Yeah
Crossplane crank
Thunderous v8. This one is black with chrome reels and big old red calipers on it. It is a proper vet
I really love these 45 000 on the nose
brilliant
Yeah, that is a very nice thing and I think the left hook stuff actually given the requirements makes it actually potentially more appealing
Oh, hello. Yeah
This it's got more than 400 horsepower and you want a v6?
I'll give you double that. Yeah with my astin martin
vanquish v12 from 2003 still think it's the best looking astin of
Probably post, you know db5
So spiky mickey suggested a db9. Yeah, which is
It's going to be a better car. It's going to be feel a more well-rounded car
And I think the interiors of the db9 were quite a big step above the vanquish. However
Perhaps it's the generation that we grew up in for me a vanquish has such
presence and authority
whereas a db9 for me feels like a
Watered down slightly more polite and a little bit more timid
Vanquish, well, it literally is because they took they took the design language
Didn't they this kind of set the theme db7 and then this set the theme for the design language and then db9
Was literally that this is so muscular even by modern standards
Oh, yeah, because even the latest vanquish it well the latest latest one is very different
But they've always they've gotten with the aero focus, haven't they until they've got their slenderer and more super car
Like whereas this is just big and brawny
Oh 100% and they do drive so I drove the vanquish s of this a couple of years back. Did that the robotized?
Oh, they've both got the robotized manual
It's
It's a gearbox
Yeah
Yeah
But you do have a fantastic 5.9 litre v12. I mean come on. It's such a lovely sound and it's that kind of like
It's not a screamer. It's that it's that kind of
deeper
Grand tourer. Yeah, it's perfect for road trips. Yeah, I think you might have yourself. Yeah, that's cheap to run
Probably not
But as something that is going to be a modern classic. Oh my god, how incredible is this? Yeah
So it doesn't necessarily feel like the smartest option
Yeah, but they said, you know
reasonably reliable
There's wiggle room for
A purchase of the heart in there. Yeah, I mean, there's some Ford elements in it. Yeah, they're right. It was from that era, wasn't it?
Yeah, yeah, but I think I'm going to go for it 44
995 Aston Martin vanquish. Well, I mean the only thing I do as much as my I love that esprit
But it just, you know, let's go with the c63
wherever it's gone
That that's annoying because I
Yeah, but you know what we'll do come on. I think there's going to be a larger number of people who would say
Do you know what for a long road trip? Maybe that would actually be the nicer car
Whereas this is I mean, this is still this is going to be exceptional for a road trip
Yours is fast and hooligan ish mine is
Squishy sophisticated soft soft seats. Yeah, you know, and it oozes
Expensiveness in both appeal and
Maintenance and you could get the metal chrome uk badge you put on the back like a hair like a vintage car
And it would look in a lot that says gb. Well, they did say gb didn't they you have to have uk now
But you I'm sure they do a uk version
AB does look better. It Yeah, the only thing it needs is black plates with silver
Yeah, why did we get rid of that and those guns that bond had where it drops down and then the little shooters come out of the
Yes, yeah, absolutely. Yeah rockets because this is in james bond spec as well. It is the same color. Thanks for helping me sell it
About this episode
From IMS-risk Porsche buying to the real-world cost of cooling-system drama, the hosts work through what makes a used car “safe” to live with. They then pivot to restomods: Singer-style 911s, Eagle’s E-Type approach, and Alphaholics’ Alfa builds—plus electric Mini ideas and whether a modern AC Cobra counts. Along the way, they compare drivetrain philosophies (RWD vs AWD), talk UK winter tyres and salt avoidance, and benchmark prices against fast GTs around £45k.
Rehashed 964 Porsche 911s aren't the only restomods available these days. From rallied-up Mk2 Escorts to plush Land Rovers, Cam and Sam check out the restomod roster on the PistonHeads Auctions and Classifieds.
With so many cars featuring on their shortlist, there's just enough time to squeeze in a buying challenge. This week, the two try to find a GT that can both cruise down to the South of France and set your trousers on fire on the right road. All for just £45,000.
🏎️ Sell your car on PistonHeads auctions: https://www.pistonheads.com/sell/auctions
🎟️ Get your Annual Service 2026 tickets: https://www.pistonheads.com/events/annual-service
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Sam and Cam garage updates
14:14 The best used restomods you can buy right now
45:54 £45k fast GT challenge
TOPICS:
The best used restomods: https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-six-of-the-best/restomods-to-try-before-you-die--six-of-the-best/51206
