ELECTRIC CONCEPTS
Bentley Bentayga Safari Concept.
a vehicle is changed from how it fi rst left
the factory, the more that link is broken
and, hence, the more it loses its value.”
The result of this, he argues, is that
many classics are practically too precious
to actually be used by all but those owners
with the very deepest pockets. So, what
are the options, if you simply don’t dare
drive your four-wheeled slice of history?
“Jaguar and Aston Martin have created
‘continuation’ versions of classic models
such as the XKSS, Lightweight E-type
and DB4 GT – which must represent the
next best thing, surely? These cars aren’t
original per se, but they are being made to
the original drawings wherever possible,
using original techniques and by the
original manufacturer.”
SHIFTING BOUNDARIES
And if a manufacturer can’t be persuaded
to perform their greatest hits again, other,
smaller companies often step into fray.
“Bob Petersen Engineering in the UK will
build you a new Blower Bentley (if you can
fi nd them an old chassis). And they won’t
stop there; the Devon-based company
has produced their own unique bodies
for vintage Bentleys, inspired
by the work of contemporary
coachbuilders. Aston Martin
has even recently announced
‘continuation’ models of a car
is actually authentic are starting to get a
bit blurry. It also follows that, if you are
going to build a new car anyway, why not
make it as good as a modern car? Why not
benefi t from modern chassis, engine and
suspension design, not to mention state-ofthe
art electronic control?”
This, then, is crossing the line from
restoration to modifi cation, he accepts –
welcome to the world of resto-mods. “It’s
where companies such as Singer come in,
boldly reworking Porsche 911s and fi nding
a soulfulness and spirit that even Weissach
the birthplace of all Porsche
models seems to have
forgotten how to conjure
up. Also, in California,
Icon 4x4 have built
fantastic resto-mod
that are pretty much the classic blue
jeans of car culture. In the UK, Eagle have
produced some refi ned new versions of
the Jaguar E-type, staying true to Malcolm
Sayer’s classic lines, whilst updating
performance to modern levels.”
This more open-minded approach to
contemporary classics has fi nally caught
on with OEMs, he adds. “Porsche,
presumably, tired of seeing Singer rocking
on their Pfennig, has decided, if you can’t
beat
that never really existed – the DB5 featured
in the James Bond fi lm ‘Goldfi nger’. Yes,
it does have a revolving number plate. So,
as you can see, the boundaries of what
Toyota FJs and
Ford Broncos, adding pinsharp
21st Century detailing to designs
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