Classic Car Platforms

When looking for a platform for your next custom build, first think of what you want to do with the car. Most folks are not looking to build a trailer queen, but want something to drive and enjoy. Do you want to go 4-wheeling in Moab, cruise the boulevard with friends, have a track-ready hot-rod, or just enjoy driving a modern version of a car you loved from the past? In any case, there are some basic rules when looking for a car to reimagine. Not Too Classic If you are looking for a platform to reimagine, stay away from the top-tier collectibles. I can't think of anyone that would get a 1957 Ferrari 335S Spider and drop an LS engine into it. Likewise, you would not take one of the few remaining unmolested 1967 Sunbeam Tigers and replace the Ford Cobra engine with a V8 Coyote.  In most cases, you want a car that is more affordable and not a hot commodity.  Leave Well Designed Cars Alone The 1992-96 BMW 850CSI is a pretty nice ride. The Ford Raptor is a well-de...

Call me agest if you like, but those of us who collect and enjoy classic cars have usually spent more time on this earth. Some feel that caring for a classic car, keeping it running and in some cases restoring it back to its original glory, can illustrate an appreciation for things of a bygone age. When successful, we are able to delay the inevitable ravages of time on the machines in our care that also relentlessly takes its toll on the physical bodies of the owners. If our cars last beyond their planned usefulness, then why not us? 1968 MG B For some cars in my collection, I do just that: I think of myself as a curator so I attempt the car as close to the original as possible. My 1967 MGB until recently still had a generator, is positive ground, and has the original hard-to-maintain air filters. For the most part, it looks and runs as much as it was intended when it left the factory. For me, there is something magical about zooming around in an 80 HP lightweight nimble sp...