Would like some feedback, would a restomod as per David Lee with an F40 motor devalue one's dino?
I think there’s a lot of discussion over that motor. I believe it was actually from a Mondial, not an F40. Regardless of that, I don’t think I would ever consider doing that to my Dino, but I would love to drive his Dino to see how it feels.
These "concepts" or "ideas" (i.e. "resto-mods", etc) are usually just ego-centric and more often than not, conceived/executed by or for individuals who rarely, if ever, actually drive said cars much. What a waste of often perfectly good cars.
When I see cars like the Evo I have very mixed feelings. On the one hand it’s probably not as well engineered as pick your favorite production supercar. On the other hand it’s a vision of what the Dino could be today, which is fun to see.
I'd agree strongly with two things that Jay Leno said: "restomod isn't even the right term" and "this is the car that Ferrari should've made". Super nice and well done! My only minor criticism would be: "400 bhp out of a NA 3.6L engine? = no way" . Not saying that it isn't a wonderful bhp boost over a stock Dino, but the secret sauce of the F40 is the turbos.
… to what end ? Like with any other highly (excessively ?) uprated engine output performance on any road car, I can’t help but wonder if it’s done merely for egotistical bragging rights or “compensation” or is there some real practical/useful reason for it ? I mean how often do individuals with highly uprated “resto-mods” take theirs through the paces and needing or using even 70% of their HP or torque it provides ? Not to mention that custom/modified cars are very personal choice, so when it’s time to sell them, the pool of potential buyers is usually very small or close to nonexistent and it is extremely rare that even majority (i.e. 50+%) of the build costs can be recovered. All this ^^ gets even more compounded if/when the subject is a rare and/or highly collectible/desirable vehicle in it original format, like a Dino, for example Hopefully they had a foresight to retain its original engine and any other components that got removed for the “upgrade”(?). If not, I can’t see any serious Dino/Ferrari enthusiast paying even half of one with all stock running gear. I mean a lot folks will say it’s cool and all that, but how many would actually buy it instead of a stock Dino, let alone pay a premium over one in similar overall condition ?
You, obviously, didn't watch the video (all reversible, all orig components retained). I'm more skeptical about where that UK company is going to get 25 Dino's to modify . ~300 bhp in a 2500 lb car drives real nicely...
First tell where they are going to get 25 "F40" engines? I noticed they really didn't want us looking at the engine because it's NOT an F40 engine. Second, already mentioned, they're really going to modify 25 Dinos? That's just going to make the original cars worth more even if these cars can be put back. This looks like a great car but I don't see someone going into production with this. It's not like what Jaguar did with the new E Type.
Based on long established experiences of UK produced fakes/replicas/etc, they probably could just "sacrifice" couple of dozen+ 308s/Mondials/etc for VINs, running gear/undercarriage components and just make everything else from scratch ?
You can breath into a stock Dino engine and you may maximize power, but, what for? In expert hands, Dino, will scare the bejeezus out of most people as is. Dino is perfect. I bought new 'modern pistons' that weigh a few grams less, but that's it. You are so right Howard and Timo! Regards, Alberto
And yes, you can do restomod Porsches all you want clearly not a Dino in numbers of manufacture, and they are hot rods, great workmanship, bla di bla, a Singer? Nope not for me. Yet for same $ you can buy a new P car, much better, but no bragging rights. Oh well, what a bummer. A '73 RS? Definitely, the bragging rights are all over the wall. Regards, Alberto
The Dino just sounds all wrong with a V8..... it's like it has lost it's voice and personality with this transplant.
Never in a million years would i convert my 246 into that car and as for being reversible.........dont bet on it without substantial amounts of work (and money) to correct it. All sales BS. Get a Radical and enjoy more power than most could handle. A well tuned 246 in the wrong hands is a bad car, a modified V8 246 is even worse.
I know I will take arrows for this, I would never do this, but would be very interested in driving and experiencing this.
Totally agree - Not just an engine transplant, wheels, brakes, suspension etc etc........its awful and I wouldnt give you £20k for the car. It would buy a very good replica 246 and modify that with a fully tuned Alfa V6. Same effect and looks, keep the original in the garage.
Why not just stick a small block Chevy back there? You lose all the soul from a Dino by removing its heart.
Why should we consider cars any different than our homes? We build our homes with technology that is available at the time, and "restomod" them as the technology improves! We buy cars with the technology available at the time and consider them frozen in time and a tribute to outdated technology!! Think About It!!
I thought about it, too and as an architect I would say: there are homes and there are buildings of exceptional architecture and of course there are heritage buildings. The last two species would, under all circumstances, be left untouched as much as possible. In this comparison, for me the Dino is equate to an heritage building of exceptional architecture! Think about it again. ;o)
Being a Plastic Surgeon myself, I am only putting the thought out there! I know it is hard to consider, but we all upgrade material objects as technology changes!! I for one as a Plastic Surgeon am the ultimate "restomoder". What I am trying to say is the dino per see would be a different car if built today!! As the Porsche 911 is.
