Which 'modernized classic - car and engine combination?

[g7jhp]

I'm always interested in "modernized classics" and liked the look of the MG Abingdon Edition which was previously featured on Pistoheads and appeared on Top Gear this Sunday.



Power: 304bhp
Power to weight: 339 bhp / tonne

I didn't realise it was a "2015 Mazda 2.5 litre 4 cylinder aluminium engine".



Got me thinking.

Eagle have done the E-type.
Singer have done the 911.

Which classic would you like modernize and which engine would you stick in it?

[loose cannon]

A rover sd1 with an Ls engine and irs from something modern.
And to keep it company a series 3 xj with series 2 bumpers
And a modded supercharged 6 from an x300 xjr

[anonymous-user]

In an unlimited cost sort of way I'd like to put a 63 6.2 V8 AMG engine in an original SL Gullwing - obviously doing up the brakes and suspension..drivetrain etc. I think Leno was going to put a SLS 6.2 into his Gullwing but instead left it standard.

Also, the maser-fezza-Alfa 4.7 V8 from the 8c into a GT Junior body..

[ZX10R NIN]

One of these with the running gear from an E63

[Lagerlout]

I always thought a good small business model would be to reproduce the original Mini with a modern engine say the 3 cyl from the Fiat 500.

[Thorburn]

Lagerlout said:

I always thought a good small business model would be to reproduce the original Mini with a modern engine say the 3 cyl from the Fiat 500.

Saw one at Brooklands recently with a Ford Ecoboost 1.0T.

[Meridius]

E9 Coupe with the new M3/4 S55 engine maybe

[Meridius]

or a Jaguar Mk2 with the F-Type supercharged V8

[Mr Tidy]

A Ford Sierra XR4i with a 5.2 litre Voodoo engine with the flat-plane crank!

Including some suitable suspension and braking upgrades!

ETA a close second would be a Capri with the same power-plant.

And then I saw Meridius' post - that MKII does look fantastic, but I've always had a soft spot for fast Fords!

Edited by Mr Tidy on Tuesday 5th July 23:44

[coppice]

Elan or Europa with S 2000 engine would be peachy I suspect ; a Frogeye Sprite with a modified 1.4 K (as in Caterham 1.4 Supersport ) would be divine . Singer and Alfaholics cover this so well already re Stuttgart and Milano's finest. Bristol 409 or Jensen CV8 with current Corvette power would be a lovely sleeper too...

And obviously a 125 bhp Ecoboost three in a Bond Bug would focus(geddit?)the mind ...

[Simes205]

Jay Leno has done a 1911? Electric carriage with all the electrics from a Nissan Leaf, it also has AC!

[shirt]

Elan 26r rep with a bda look zetec

Dolly sprint with either a hot k series (BL link) or Saab turbo (slant 4)

Both with 6 speed box, lsd, coil overs etc

[anonymous-user]

E-type with XJR running gear and manual gearbox
Toyota GT with LFA running gear
Mk1 Escort with FRS running gear
2002 with E30 M3 engine
Jazz with B18

[PowerslideSWE]

E38 with the new BMW twice blown 12 mated to a modern ZF 8 speed would be nice.

[g7jhp]

Kierkegaard said:

In an unlimited cost sort of way I'd like to put a 63 6.2 V8 AMG engine in an original SL Gullwing - obviously doing up the brakes and suspension..drivetrain etc. I think Leno was going to put a SLS 6.2 into his Gullwing but instead left it standard.

Also, the maser-fezza-Alfa 4.7 V8 from the 8c into a GT Junior body..

There is/was a 300 SL gullwing at Mercedes Benz World with a modern AMG engine.

Not sure if it was the same as this one. Wheels aren't to my taste, but would be an easy change.

[tankplanker]

Lagerlout said:

I always thought a good small business model would be to reproduce the original Mini with a modern engine say the 3 cyl from the Fiat 500.

I'd rather they put the 3 cylinder 1.5 BMW lump in it, anything up to 220 BHP is available straight from BMW. Sadly if Z-Cars could make that market work then I'm not sure anybody else can.

Anybody offering "new" turnkey mark 1 & 2 Escorts? I'd expect those would sell very well.

[james_gt3rs]

[Dapster]

Simes205 said:

Jay Leno has done a 1911? Electric carriage with all the electrics from a Nissan Leaf, it also has AC!

And a W100 600 with a supercharger!

[Dapster]

ZX10R NIN said:

One of these with the running gear from an E63

That pic is from the Machatronik website who will actually do one for you





http://www.mechatronik.de/en/engineering/the-m-cou...

[SuperchargedVR6]

g7jhp said:

I'm always interested in "modernized classics" and liked the look of the MG Abingdon Edition which was previously featured on Pistoheads and appeared on Top Gear this Sunday.



Power: 304bhp
Power to weight: 339 bhp / tonne

I didn't realise it was a "2015 Mazda 2.5 litre 4 cylinder aluminium engine".



Got me thinking.

Eagle have done the E-type.
Singer have done the 911.

Which classic would you like modernize and which engine would you stick in it?

The engine bay doesn't look very 'modernised' for £100K? I appreciate the craftsmanship, but the panel gaps and overall look are still a bit 60s. It looks like a nice DIY restoration compared to some other remakes out there.