Retro mod daily’s
Discussion
Was watching Wheeler Dealers the other day and they built this.
What an amazing looking thing. Love the retro mod styling. And tbh could really see myself buzzing about in something like this. Although reality means it’s unlikely to happen.
Was the Datsun 510 available in the UK? And what other cars offer a similar sort of style and resto mod opportunity without being stupid money (yes MK1/2 Escorts I’m thinking of you).
Anyone else dig cars like these?
What an amazing looking thing. Love the retro mod styling. And tbh could really see myself buzzing about in something like this. Although reality means it’s unlikely to happen.
Was the Datsun 510 available in the UK? And what other cars offer a similar sort of style and resto mod opportunity without being stupid money (yes MK1/2 Escorts I’m thinking of you).
Anyone else dig cars like these?
The highly believable HowManyLeft claims 4 registered on UK roads. There don't appear to be any for sale though. There's a couple on CarAndClassic but in sunnier climes such as Greece and Portugal.
A (much more expensive) alternative would be an early Nissan Skyline (non-2000GT). The phrase "Rocking Horse Poo" also comes to mind.
A (much more expensive) alternative would be an early Nissan Skyline (non-2000GT). The phrase "Rocking Horse Poo" also comes to mind.
My favourite sort of cars are ones like these. I doubt I'd use one over the winter months though even if it was a daily during summer. There are reasons why there isn't much choice now, and salt on the roads is a big one of those reasons.
Japanese imports still allow a bit of flexibility, because of the lack of salt on the road a fair amount more have survived.
I bought a Mazda 323 last year which would respond well to a resto mod I think, it was garaged all its life and 56k miles. They can be had under a grand. The bloke who bought mine just tried to flip it with a few hundred pounds extra, but think he didn't have much luck.
Japanese imports still allow a bit of flexibility, because of the lack of salt on the road a fair amount more have survived.
I bought a Mazda 323 last year which would respond well to a resto mod I think, it was garaged all its life and 56k miles. They can be had under a grand. The bloke who bought mine just tried to flip it with a few hundred pounds extra, but think he didn't have much luck.
Not sure you'd find many Japanese imports:
a) They get a lot more snow than us in much of the country (though none in other parts) so probably use more salt.
b) For cultural reasons second hand cars just aren't popular, with the average Japanese buyer rather having a s
ttier new car than a better second hand one for the same money. As a result a lot get shipped overseas to places like Australia and NZ after 3-5 years.
c) Because a car's life is quite short in Japan (and probably part of the reason people prefer to buy new than second hand) JDM cars don't generally get any rustproofing, or nothing like the quantity/quality the same car built for the export market would get on the same line.
If you're after 70's Jap. metal you're probably better off looking at the dry parts of the US or Australia.
Plenty of Euro metal you can give the RestoMod treatment to though. Screw Escorts - overpriced and far too common at shows these days but what about a Mk1 Vauxhaull Astra/Opal Kadet, or Chevette, or a Triumph Dolly/2000 saloon, or a Austin, etc Princess/Ambassador, or if you really want a car to turn heads an Allegro...
a) They get a lot more snow than us in much of the country (though none in other parts) so probably use more salt.
b) For cultural reasons second hand cars just aren't popular, with the average Japanese buyer rather having a s
ttier new car than a better second hand one for the same money. As a result a lot get shipped overseas to places like Australia and NZ after 3-5 years.c) Because a car's life is quite short in Japan (and probably part of the reason people prefer to buy new than second hand) JDM cars don't generally get any rustproofing, or nothing like the quantity/quality the same car built for the export market would get on the same line.
If you're after 70's Jap. metal you're probably better off looking at the dry parts of the US or Australia.
Plenty of Euro metal you can give the RestoMod treatment to though. Screw Escorts - overpriced and far too common at shows these days but what about a Mk1 Vauxhaull Astra/Opal Kadet, or Chevette, or a Triumph Dolly/2000 saloon, or a Austin, etc Princess/Ambassador, or if you really want a car to turn heads an Allegro...
300bhp/ton said:
Was watching Wheeler Dealers the other day and they built this.
What an amazing looking thing. Love the retro mod styling. And tbh could really see myself buzzing about in something like this. Although reality means it’s unlikely to happen.
Was the Datsun 510 available in the UK? And what other cars offer a similar sort of style and resto mod opportunity without being stupid money (yes MK1/2 Escorts I’m thinking of you).
Anyone else dig cars like these?
Matt Farah reviewed a retro mod 510 in his iTuned seriesWhat an amazing looking thing. Love the retro mod styling. And tbh could really see myself buzzing about in something like this. Although reality means it’s unlikely to happen.
Was the Datsun 510 available in the UK? And what other cars offer a similar sort of style and resto mod opportunity without being stupid money (yes MK1/2 Escorts I’m thinking of you).
Anyone else dig cars like these?
You might like to watch the vid as it is nicely filmed
https://youtu.be/hAlf7iWV7Wk
Something like that will be a fair bit though so not sure of your definition of stupid money
What about a KE70 for £6k? There's 3 or 4 on EBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Or were you thinking of a lot less?
300bhp/ton said:
And what other cars offer a similar sort of style and resto mod opportunity without being stupid money (yes MK1/2 Escorts I’m thinking of you).
Loads......And if retro Jap cars are your thing (even if they weren't sold in the UK, importing from places like South Africa and the home market of Japan is a better option anyway, as more have survived and they are RHD anyway) just pick something that isn't in demand for use in historic rallying which is the main reason reason why Escort prices are what they are, which 99% of people on PH constantly ignore, because they just like to rant about it.
aeropilot said:
just pick something that isn't in demand for use in historic rallying which is the main reason reason why Escort prices are what they are, which 99% of people on PH constantly ignore, because they just like to rant about it.
Yea, all those over-polished fake Mexicos, etc you see filling the classic car show fields these days are only there because they don't have a rally that weekend and will be out on the gravel the following day...Was a Crystal Palace the other weekend and a good 4x the number of Escorts in the show field vs hill climb paddock.
//j17 said:
aeropilot said:
just pick something that isn't in demand for use in historic rallying which is the main reason reason why Escort prices are what they are, which 99% of people on PH constantly ignore, because they just like to rant about it.
Yea, all those over-polished fake Mexicos, etc you see filling the classic car show fields these days are only there because they don't have a rally that weekend and will be out on the gravel the following day...s m said:
Matt Farah reviewed a retro mod 510 in his iTuned series
You might like to watch the vid as it is nicely filmed
https://youtu.be/hAlf7iWV7Wk
Something like that will be a fair bit though so not sure of your definition of stupid money
What about a KE70 for £6k? There's 3 or 4 on EBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Or were you thinking of a lot less?
Thanks for the link.You might like to watch the vid as it is nicely filmed
https://youtu.be/hAlf7iWV7Wk
Something like that will be a fair bit though so not sure of your definition of stupid money
What about a KE70 for £6k? There's 3 or 4 on EBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Or were you thinking of a lot less?
KE70, that is actually a new one on me. Didn't know about those. Looks a little more modern and straight lines rather than rounded edges, but still pretty cool.
Don't think it has to be Jap, but the 3 box saloons do seem to suit this treatment very well.
£6k seems pretty fair money tbh. Like I said, I love the styling and at least the thought of dailying something like this. But reality is for 70 miles a day they probably aren't the right thing. Doesn't take away from the cool factor though.
300bhp/ton said:
s m said:
Matt Farah reviewed a retro mod 510 in his iTuned series
You might like to watch the vid as it is nicely filmed
https://youtu.be/hAlf7iWV7Wk
Something like that will be a fair bit though so not sure of your definition of stupid money
What about a KE70 for £6k? There's 3 or 4 on EBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Or were you thinking of a lot less?
Thanks for the link.You might like to watch the vid as it is nicely filmed
https://youtu.be/hAlf7iWV7Wk
Something like that will be a fair bit though so not sure of your definition of stupid money
What about a KE70 for £6k? There's 3 or 4 on EBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Or were you thinking of a lot less?
KE70, that is actually a new one on me. Didn't know about those. Looks a little more modern and straight lines rather than rounded edges, but still pretty cool.
Don't think it has to be Jap, but the 3 box saloons do seem to suit this treatment very well.
£6k seems pretty fair money tbh. Like I said, I love the styling and at least the thought of dailying something like this. But reality is for 70 miles a day they probably aren't the right thing. Doesn't take away from the cool factor though.
These 2 have gone recently for a bit more and both are running 1600 power - albeit in a 4-dr shell but you can still upgrade them with lots of bits if you want a restomod
Probably easier to find bits for than the Datsun in the OP and no more expensive in all likelihood
Only that Datsun 510 is likely to have the ‘mini-Hakusoka’ look you may be after though
For a 70 mile daily trip you might want something a bit newer
A friend bought a Mk2 RS for 15k over the winter - he has a 30 mile daily round trip and uses it nice days at the moment - tidying it up as he goes along.
Not sure he’d want to do a much longer journey in it in all weathers though
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