Buyers who love classic cars, equivalent to Lotus fashions, need to drive them and are more and more conscious that cautious modifications to treatment a automotive’s inherent weak factors, or just to make it extra comfy and simpler to make use of, make good sense. It’s a motion that has been constructing because the early Eighties.
An early instance was Tony Hart’s firm, Hart Racing Services, which provided numerous modifications to enhance Triumph Stags. The Vicarage Jaguar Mk2 elevated the “restore and improve” idea, including trendy luxuries and even making a convertible model Jaguar by no means produced. Eagle E-types proved demand existed for fastidiously improved examples at far larger costs than many initially believed sustainable.
A constructive Top Gear overview in 1999, adopted by glowing journal protection, helped cement the thought throughout the basic automotive world’s consciousness.
Singer Vehicle Design: From Niche to Mainstream
Singer Vehicle Design has lower via that world to the mainstream with its beautiful, ‘reimagined’ air-cooled Porsche 911s. Founder Rob Dickinson, who’s initially from Norfolk however is predicated in California, already had some notoriety as a singer-songwriter within the band Catherine Wheel, which presumably helped his media profile when he based Singer in 2009. A educated automotive designer, his creations are magnificent to take a look at and to drive. Singer has a number of high-profile clients, together with three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, a person who, unarguably, is aware of learn how to arrange a automotive and adores his Singer.
Encor Series 1: A Modern Take on the Lotus Esprit
If you’ve at all times needed a basic Lotus Esprit, however feared reliability points, Encor Design could have the reply. Even with out submarine ambitions, issues had been typically justified. Their Encor Series 1 blends the long-lasting 1976 design with trendy know-how. Each automotive, together with the Salon Privé London 2026 instance, begins as a Lotus Esprit V8.
Lotus produced this mannequin from 1996 till it ended all Esprit manufacturing in early 2004. Encor absolutely rebuilds and refines the flat-plane crank, twin-turbo 3.5-litre V8. The upgrades enhance each energy and drivability. Originally, Lotus detuned the V8 to 350bhp to guard transmissions. That leaves important headroom in such a light-weight automotive.
Encor retains the unique spine chassis however matches a brand new carbon fibre physique. It mirrors the Series 1 form however is stronger, extra inflexible, and extra exact. Surfaces are CAD-refined and aerodynamically enhanced. Even the pop-up headlights are reimagined as low-profile LED projectors.
Each automotive is bespoke, tailor-made to the proprietor’s style. The design stays true to the Series 1 spirit whereas introducing trendy consolation. The inside blends retro styling with up to date usability. Encor’s crew brings expertise from Lotus, Aston Martin, Pagani, and different main producers.
Prices begin at round €430,000, plus a donor automotive costing roughly €50,000. Buyers can customise extensively, making specification decisions a part of the attraction.
Here’s our video from Salon Privé London 2026 with Encor Design, discussing the automotive and its philosophy.
Analogue Automotive Elise SuperSport: Lightweight, Reengineered
Enthusiasts who fancy a later Lotus can take a look at West Sussex-based Analogue Automotive’s Elise SuperSport. The firm begins with a donor S1 Elise aluminium tub chassis, strips it naked, and treats it to ensure it for an additional 5 years.
Analogue strengthens the metal rear subframe and powder-coats it for longevity, then matches all-new aluminium wishbones in any respect 4 corners, which widen the observe, enhancing the stance and driving dynamics. Adjustable Nitron coilover struts are fitted with new, firmer bushings and rose joints. A faster steering rack and Quaife LSD enhance the responsiveness nonetheless additional and match the tuned, rev-hungry MG/Rover Okay-series, which has been massaged to supply 210bhp reliably. In a automotive that may weigh as little as 680kg if all of the carbon fibre choices are ticked, that’s ample energy.
VHPK: The Ultimate Single-Seater Elise
If that’s not excessive sufficient, Analogue lately introduced the VHPK, a central driving-position single-seater Elise constructed to have fun the mannequin’s thirtieth birthday final 12 months. Analogue Automotive will launch this unimaginable automotive throughout Salon Privé London. It options full carbon bodywork, weighs simply 600kg, and makes use of an excessive, increased-displacement Okay-series producing 250bhp, revving to 8500rpm. It’s not low cost at £350k, however significantly lower than a McLaren F1 in case you really need that centre-steer sports activities automotive feeling. Just 35 might be constructed, so that you’re unlikely to see one other at your observe day.
Magazine street checks have heaped reward on the SuperSport as a driver’s automotive, so the omens are good. Analogue provides all types of bespoke Elise permutations, however maybe essentially the most unlikely is the Terra, the off-road model, which sits 60mm larger and has Kevlar underbody safety in case drivers burn up all 200mm of floor clearance. It sounds weird, nevertheless it’s positive to be nice enjoyable as an off-road track-day instrument.
Here’s our video that we took at Salon Privé London 2026 with the crew at Analogue Automotive speaking about their automotive and the philosophy behind it.
Beyond Lotus: The Wider Restomod Scene
The restomod scene encompasses vehicles as various because the fearsome TWR Supercat and the Tolman Edition Peugeot 205 GTI. The Jaguar XJS-based Supercat makes use of a 6.6-litre supercharged Jaguar V12, giving 660bhp and 730Nm of torque. Its wild design is the work of laptop recreation designer Khyzyl Saleem’s LTO (Live to Offend) studio and is his first full actual automotive.
The challenge is the brainchild of Fergus Walkinshaw, son of the late Tom Walkinshaw. His father’s firm helped return Jaguar to successful methods within the Eighties. Former Ralliart mechanic Chris Tolman honed his abilities on Mitsubishi’s works rally vehicles. His firm, Tolman Engineering, is now identified for beautiful restomod Peugeot 205 GTIs.
Like many restomod initiatives, his work stems from real affection for the 205 GTI. He goals to protect its agility whereas enhancing efficiency and reliability. His vehicles have obtained rave critiques.
A Global Phenomenon
It’s not only a British and American phenomenon both. French transaxle Porsche fanatic Thierry Nardone created a staggering Porsche 928-based restomod. Although the 928 gained ECOTY in 1978 and led its time, fans took years to recognise it as a basic and nonetheless overlook it in favour of rear-engined fashions.
Kimera in Italy has reinvented the Lancia 037 Group B rally car as a contemporary supercar, whereas their countrymen at Automobili Amos supply a Lancia Delta Integrale because the two-door Lancia ought to have, however didn’t, make.
The Future of Restomods
The restomod idea is certain to stay a rising and ever extra accepted a part of the classic car world as a result of it does, fairly actually, supply the very best of each worlds. Whether you want restomods or not, they’re right here to remain. As lengthy as these vehicles can keep on the street, it’s all good both method. As they are saying, every to their very own. What do you assume? Let us know within the feedback under.
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