RestoMods: Better than New
We’ve all contemplated what it must feel like when the final moment arrives and the second hand strikes zero on the eternal clock. Time’s up, hour glass has run out of sand and your ticket gets punched. Who knows what waits for us on the other side? Shakespeare described it as traveling to an “undiscovered country from whose bourne, no traveler returns.” When we kick the bucket, where in the Hell do we go? No one knows. Some say Heaven. I say, you don’t need to die to find out.
Some of us here in the Cult might not be the religious type. We’re more prone to worship the Gods of speed, chaos and whichever heavenly being inspired the V8 engine. But we do know Heaven on Earth when we see it. Being the winner of a RestoMods giveaway is a religious experience in every sense of the word. One moment, you’re going about your daily life when you get a call that stops your beating heart. Next thing you know, you’re on a flight to somewhere new, where salty air fills your lungs while the soft sunlight warms your soul. You’re in sunny San Diego, after all.
Instead of pearly white gates, you’re standing in front of black glass doors which beckon you to cross over into your next life. As you grasp the handle, an overwhelming sensation grips every part of you. What is it? It’s the knowledge that who you were before this moment no longer exists. The old you is dead and gone. At least you’re still breathing. Barely.
Beyond the doors, you’re surrounded by people greeting you with open arms and congratulatory handshakes. Music, cheers and a damn good time, celebrating this moment, and you. In the midst of the excitement, sits your car. It belongs to you and no one else. You did it. You took the risk and won big. It could be a mighty Dodge Charger, “The Great One” GTO, or a supercharged Chevy Camaro. To be honest, who cares? We all know RestoMods only builds bad-ass cars. One thing is for sure, whatever waits for you is even better than new.
After all this build up, there’s only one thing left to do. Deep breath in, insert the key, deep breath out, then fire up whatever fire-breathing-monster-of-a-motor RestoMods dropped in. Much like your new restomod, you’ve been reborn. You’re not dead, and you’ve never felt more alive as you take your place among the lucky few, the coveted RestoMods winners.
Like all great things in life, it was passion that inspired Chris Hedgecock to start a website celebrating the restomod community and thus, in 2014, RestoMods was born! Just over a decade later, it has transformed from a simple blog to being one of the most recognizable brands in the automotive industry. Before we dig into who RestoMods is now, we need to ask, just what in the hell is a restomod? Simply put, taking a classic car and building it into a reliable commuter with serial killer intentions. But why?
Henry Ford once said, “Auto racing began five minutes after the second car was built.” That red-hot competitive streak holds true to this day. Hot rodders always have and always will find ways to improve their beloved projects, to build them faster and handle better. It’s in our blood, it’s what we do and it’s who we are. We dream, we build and we beat the hell out of it (well, at least some of us do).
For three years, the website grew and so did the idea of what RestoMods should be. “Hedge,” as he’s affectionately referred to in the shop, knew that he wanted this new company to be more than just another website. He wanted to leave a genuine mark on the industry.
Chris decided to find a way to put a car of this caliber into the hands of the average person. That’s when the decision to build their own restomod was made. The recipe would be simple; build it to be fast as hell, reliable, and damn fun. “Restored, modified, and better than new.” Great! Once the build is complete though, what then? For most of us hotrodders, high end builds like this can only be enjoyed in our social media feed or at a car show. Let's be real for a moment, you need a mountain of disposable cash to build cars like these. That’s if you’re still alive after your significant other finds the build receipts. Instead, Chris wanted these dream cars to become the average person’s reality. Thus, the RestoMods giveaway was born, but in order to make the giveaway a reality, he needed help.
Just like his cars, he built the right team. If you like classic cars, have a social media account and a pulse, then we know your feed has been blessed by the RestoMods crew. Which is exactly how they have amassed over a million followers across their social media platforms.
It was that team that took time to hang with us as we lusted over their cars and drooled on the paint. They are not just hot rodders but genuine, down to earth, good people. Their passion for what they do and who they do it with is on full display as they take their time chatting with us. “We’re really a Mopar and GM crew here.” Reegan says with a laugh. He’s one of the mechanics who started by sweeping floors and worked his way up to building these coveted machines. He yells across the shop to Jeremy, “How many cars does Esparza have?” Referring to the head mechanic behind these builds. “Whew, a lot!” Jeremy chuckles.
He joins in the bench racing we have going with Reegan. Jeremy started over six years ago and now proudly wears the title of V.P. An electric toy Bronco, custom built for his young daughter, catches our attention. “That’s my daughter’s. She loves to cruise around the shop. Check this out though!” With a huge grin, he shows me how they upgraded the battery to a Dewalt, giving it the boost his little girl needs to rip around with a few of their shop dogs in tow!
It’s true, his daughter’s Bronco is bitchin’, but his favorite vehicle is the shop truck, “Blue holds a special place in my heart.” He says. “Blue” sports a light blue patina paint, a 427 LS motor, QA1 coilovers, and killer “Smoothie” wheels. “Of all the cars you’ve built, why this truck?” I ask. “Because of the memories I have with my little girl in it. She was a part of that build with me and I have pictures of her behind the driver seat when she was smaller. I mean, isn’t that why we do this? To make sure this hobby doesn’t die and it’s passed on to the next generation?”
“Let's check out the coolest part of the shop.” Lindsay, their Marketing Manager says as her and Jeremy lead us to the photo wall. Snapshots hang like a shrine to the people who dreamed, dared, and hit the muscle car lottery. Each person poses next to their new ride or holds on to the ends of a check. Each winner has the option to either select the car or a giant wad of cash. “For those that take the money, it’s life changing. Our first winner, Paul, used the money to spend time with family he couldn’t see often. Another winner was able to pay off his student loans, save some money and then buy himself a new truck. Winning changes their lives!”
“Each winner has a unique story. Like Michelle, who won our ‘69 supercharged Chevelle. It was her dream car and she was so excited!” Lindsay takes her time, telling us about each car and sharing the winner’s story. “We swapped out the seats to accommodate the 6’7” winner of this Camaro. We gave away a ‘68 Charger that was originally built for the Bullitt movie remake that never happened. It’s always a riot when Ricky visits us!” She pauses for a moment and examines the wall in front of her, taking in the difference they’ve made in each person’s life. “Each new car is my favorite, because I just can’t wait to see what the next story will be.”
“Are you ready to see the next giveaway?” Lindsay asks as she pulls the car cover off RM31.
You may have died and gone to Heaven winning this giveaway, but the moment you lay eyes on this 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, you know that only the Devil themself could conjure a build like this. If you’re looking for a monster that would make your mother pray for your soul for owning it, look no further than this Tuxedo Black Hellhound. There’s no denying that from the moment you gaze into the black abyss between the front fenders where the hellish 730 HP Wegner LSX with a Whipple Supercharger lurks, you sense she’s gazing back into you, inviting you to become a monster, just like her. No person in the world could hold back the grin that sneaks across your lips while seated in the driver's seat of this beast. From behind the Momo steering wheel, nestled tightly into the Recaro seats with (Hell)houndstooth that blends modern and performance with vintage styling, this car is a bad omen to all who dare challenge you.
Turning the key ignites the sound of a ravenous beast begging to be released. The whine of the supercharged v8 roars through Kooks long tube headers and bellows out of the Pypes muffler system. The TMI interior is as perfectly tucked and fitted as Satan’s suit. Every stitch and detail to near perfection. The Holley LCD display ties the dash together for a modern aesthetic. But don’t let the suave interior fool you into thinking this car isn’t built to kill. Backing the snarling motor is a T56 6-speed transmission that makes you feel like a sinner every time you tear through the gears. At each corner, she wears 18” black Booze Forged Synchro wheels wrapped in 335/30/18 Toyo Proxes tires that promise to transfer the power from the LSX, or die trying. And a set of six piston calipers.
Wilwood brakes up front and 4 piston calipers outback do their best to temper the car’s lust for speed. The original uni-body could never handle this type of power without cracking the paint from flexing. What lies beneath the curvaceous body is a complete suspension upgrade, front to rear. The chassis has been stiffened with sub-frame connectors linking the Chris Alston’s Chassisworks full fabbed sub frame up front to the four link suspension, cradling a tough Fab9 9” rear end that can handle all the punishment you want to give, and more. This car is better than new and it’s perfect to cruise on the Highway to Hell.
Like my father always told me, “Someone’s got to win it, might as well be me.” So the next time you’re scrolling your social media and come across RestoMods Hellbound Camaro, listen to that little angel, or demon, on your shoulder, rub your lucky rabbit foot, and enter to win. Who knows, it might be your photo that they place on the wall next.
