Automation RestoMod Chapter 2: New Mexico, Classic Muscle

[karhgath]

To be clear, does swapping the current 327 (or 400 in this case) engine to, say, an equivalent aluminum block crate engine (327, 350 or 400 cid) that stays true to the original still considered an engine swap (with the 20% penalty) or a modification of the original engine? I am guessing, from a classic car point of view, it would affect the price/value if it is not strictly the original 68 engine, but then we are also allowed to go crazy on the frame itself and resell value was said to not be important. Since we also must change the year of the engine to 2020, I am guessing modernized version of the same engine is not considered a swap in this context?

Also, any road legality to observe beside muffler/catalytic converter? New Mexico is pretty loose on the frame/structure/bumpers if I am not mistaken.

[AMuteCrypt]

The 20% penalty is specifically against anyone who submits the “original” family or model. If you’re using a cloned family or an entirely new engine, you will not be penalised. If your import overlaps with the default upon import, you will be.

Having said that: Swapping out the materials of the engine will inflict a penalty to your authenticity, but a similar-sized V8 swap will be more authentic than an i6 swap. It’s not the original, but it’s close.

[alen.alic1983]

So maybe I’ve gone a bit overboard but…
Welcome the Triple 6 to car eternity.
The name comes from total combined output of the engine.
Elegant, lairy, brutal, comfortable, and safe.

[HelloHi]

That looks incredible, I am toast lol. That is pretty much exactly what I did as far as style but 10x more refined and with a properly modern, perfectly detailed interior. Honestly you deserve to win this, that is just stunning

[alen.alic1983]

Thank you for your kind words. I think the fever got me a bit hyperactive
But to be serious, I doubt I’ll do something like this any time soon again. It took me time and time.

[HelloHi]

That reminds me- I forgot to actually post the full pics of my car here, although it would appear it needs a lot more work now lol (don’t worry, I have no plans to copy any of your flourishes, I need to make it more unique if anything)

[HelloHi]

The revised Chevelcamino from Sunset Garage. Brash, raw and beautiful.

[HighOctaneLove]

Boot Scootin' Bodyworx - Ess Ess

The Ess-Ess does exactly what a good muscle car should do; go fast in a straight line, sound like the four horsemen of the apocolypse and look amazing while doing so!!!

Here at Boot Scootin’ Bodyworx, we like to keep things simple. Muscle cars should go like a cut snake, sound like a thunderstorm and look like the girl next door; pretty, practical and always up for some mischief!

We feel that the Ess-Ess achieves this in spades and, by virtue of being a convertible, is perfectly suited for the show AND the strip. The Ess-Ess will not dissapoint, packing a carefully tuned and turbocharged Gen IV GM V8 to provide smooth power as well as excellent fuel economy. You’ll be able to cruise and race long after your competition has gone home, outta fuel or broken down, with all eyes on you as you cruise by… Jealous, envious eyes all wishing they had what you’ll have: The perfectly restomodded Chevelle SS.

(OOC): I have to say that I agree with @HelloHi, the Triple6 by @alen.alic1983 is simply amazing and will most likely be getting no. 1 in my aesthetic vote, barring someone else going even more overboard, hahaha!!!

[OME]

The Copper Works Panther. A beast.

[karhgath]

MXT “Longtail” Coupe by Octane Racing

With its deep raw Sangre Roja color with pearl black detailing and its untamed aspirated V8, this restored Chevelle '68 is sure to draw some looks from bystanders.

The “Longtail” is powered by a Chevy small-block 400 rebuilt by Octane Racing with brand new direct injectors developing 440 hp while keeping up with modern emission standards.

Its trunk was extended to provide a more streamlined profile and an animalistic look. The spartan but comfortable interior stays true to the original with modernized components for that minimalistic but luxurious look.

A controversial move by Octane Racing was to include a 6-speed DCT with very short gearing allowing rampaging acceleration on the strip without the hassle of city driving with such a short manual transmission.

The original suspensions has been slightly improved and tweaked to handle the extra power but does keep the original muscle car feel.

Octane Racing feels that the “Longtail” is as close you can get to that raw original muscle car sensation without overdoing it while not getting smoked on the strip.

(Well, I won’t be able to compete on the aesthetics with such awesome submissions already, but here it is - still WIP in terms of internals tweaking)

[cake_ape]

Activity at Mons Customs

From our correspondent in Canada

It is rumoured that Mons Customs - the in-house custom shop of the Canadian auto maker Mons - have recently taken on a new challenge to win a contract from a rich American customer. Our sources tell us that the shop has been busy with restomod design variants of a few old American muscle cars. Although details are currently fuzzy, we did learn that the main model being worked on is a late '60s El Camino. Allegedly, people have also seen a Chevelle on the lot, but this has not been confirmed.

Mons Racing involvement

Mons Racing - a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mons Automotive focused on building race engines, cars, and is the owner of racing teams in several race classes - is by all appearances also involved in the project. Several known Mons Racing employees were seen entering the Mons Custom shop during the past weeks. Several large shipments have also arrived at Mons Customs, some including crates and boxes featuring the Mons Racing insignia. It seems natural to conclude, then, that the new builds are a collaboration between Mons Customs and Mons Racing. If we were to speculate, then we'd have to conclude that this collaboration will culminate in cars just as sporty as they are luxurious.

Sneak peek

Ever-curious, when we heard the sounds of a new car being tested, we snuck onto the secluded Mons testing grounds. Unsurprisingly, we saw an El Camino do laps on the forest roads. Unfortunately, we only managed to take two quick snap shots with our phones before we were kicked out by security... All we can say for now is that the car looks and sounds fast. We can offer these glimpses of the car as seen yesterday (we apologize for the poor quality shots):

[george_m997]

G’s Project Coupe GTR Restomod

the Coupe GTR takes the original muscle car recipe from 1960s to the next level with latest gen tech, not only about straight line, but this restomod makes this machine can corner as well.

the car also came with the latest generation of technologies such as LED and DRL lighting, Smart Entry doors from a certain british car manufacturer and modern fuel cap to make more seamless line, latest gen interiors, dashboard, seats, airbags, sunroof, and so on, even the wipers has been updated, so when it reach more than 40 mph, it does not part with the windscreen.

the restomod also comes with more options that you can choose from, like more original approach is also available…

more restomod we offer of the same model

all restomod options : GTR (6.2 V8 Standard engine), Classic S (5.0 V8 Standard Engine), Nomad Futuristic (6.0 V8 Standard Engine)

The Classic Original Approach in Convertible model shown

The more futuristic utility version approach

more details please contact us…

[cake_ape]

Mons Customs

with

Mons Racing

introducing the El Camino Restomod

Dear Mr. Black,

Please accept this letter as our formal offer to restomod your fleet of classic Chevrolets. Our vision for the restmod work rests on three pillars: certifiable authenticity, face-melting performance, and eye-catching elegance.

Authenticity

It is important for classic cars to retain their value through the use of original parts. These cars can lose a lot of their value if numbers don't match. For our restomod we propose to use the chassis, panels, and engine block of the original cars. It seems that the original paint cannot be salvaged, so the chassis and panels will be given an acid bath treatment to remove the old paint and impurities, thoroughly cleaned, and finally given a rich coat of paint. The engine will similarly be stripped, cleaned, and rebuilt; only the block itself will remain original. As such the block and chassis numbers will match, retaining the classic value of the cars.

Performance

American muscle cars have a long-standing history and are well known for two things: the presence of straight line speed and absence of cornering speed. Despite their claim to fame, the older cars didn't have much of the former either. In our vision, the restomodded cars will have straight-line acceleration rivaling modern front-engine muscle cars (e.g. the Shelby Mustang GT350R, the Charger SRT Hellcat, and the Camaro ZL1). Maximum acceleration will be achieved through a significant increase in raw power of the engine, a seamless dual-clutch gearbox, an all-wheel-drive system to optimize power output to all four wheels, and wider tires all around. At the same time the cars will feature updated suspension, modern driver aids and security features to aid in drivability, making these cars not only fast in a straight line, but also a dream to drive on city streets and twisty roads.

Elegance

The design of these cars is kept simple and elegant. The overall design is a tasteful mix of retro muscle car looks and modern vibes, giving a fresh appearance to a classic. The design is subtle and unobtrusive, yet striking enough to turn heads on the street. The car has an aura expressing raw power mixed with luxury and comfort.

Mr Black, please find attached photorealistic renders of our vision for your Chevrolets and detailed specifications. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Mons Customs

Under the hood and drive-train

Mons Customs entered a collaboration with Mons Automotive’s performance and racing branch Mons Racing to develop the engine and drivetrain for these Chevy classics. The original engine block was retained, but virtually everything else is updated.

What lurks beneath the bonnet is the naturally aspirated 401CI engine updated with a DOHC4 head, direct fuel injection with performance intake, updated internal components and VVT. The new engine delivers 569 HP at 7100 RPM and 665 Nm at 5200 RPM to all four wheels through a dual-clutch gearbox and AWD drivetrain. Many components under the hood have a carbon finish, the intake features a stylish Mons Racing lettering, and the air filters retain a retro look. This car looks stunning with the hood propped open too, and will be a show-stealer at any exhibition!

Interior

The cars receives a luxurious hand-made leather-wrapped interior with extra attention to detail. The basic aesthetic of the interior retains a classic vibe, but don’t let that fool you! The modern HUD display and large driver-focused center touch screen deliver the best that modern technology has to offer. The classic buttons, displays and dials are only a facade for all of the modern electronics behind the dash. Steering wheel mounted controls and paddle shifters make hands-on-the-wheel operation of the car easy and safe. The leather-wrapped interior accents and seats can be ordered in basic black or colour matched to the exterior colour of the car. And of course we cannot forget the nine-speaker audio system delivering acoustic perfection under any driving situation.

Exterior

No detail has gone unnoticed when designing the new and updated exterior of these cars. The exterior takes design clues from the originals. The “Chevrolet” and “El Camino” (or “Chevelle”) lettering on the rear end of the vehicles has been restored to original specifications. The headlights take design clues form the original round headlights, but add a modern flair. We include an integrated light bar in the front fender to provide additional illumination for nighttime drag races. The rear lights have been completely redesigned, and feature a stylish modern vertical tri-stripe configuration. The hood cut-outs and side vents are inspired by and a nod to another American Great: the Chevy Corvette Stingray - the hood cutout assembly resembling a stylized Stingray logo and the vents resembling the “Stingray Gills” also seen on original Stingrays. The side pipes are a clear muscle-car staple and add a powerful statement about the car’s true nature. The rollcage is not only a stylish addition, but is also functional enhancing the car’s safety during a rollover accident, and is a requirement for certain track scenarios. We also include a full-size spare tire in a colour-matched (or black) leather wrap.

The other cars and some colour options

Although this letter focuses on the El Camino, we also include renders of the Chevelle and Chevelle Convertible. These cars will receive the same high-level treatment as the El Camino, with the main difference that they will feature an optional second row seats instead of the roll cage. Here we show two additional colour choices, but the customer may also work with out paint department to develop their own colour scheme. And of course, every interior can be colour matched to the exterior paint.

Just some eye-candy

[HelloHi]

Some pictures of the Chevelcamino by Sunset Garage being sent to New Mexico for review by the potential owner:

[AMuteCrypt]

Okay, reviews should be coming this weekend. The following entrants have all failed to clone, however:

@alen.alic1983
@karhgath
@Mikonp7
@OME

All of these entries have appeared under the same model, indicating failure to clone the model.

[AMuteCrypt]

REVIEWS PART ONE: BINNER TIME

After some time, Joseph received the various entries. There were a total of eight, giving plenty of options to choose from. To make his life easier, he had requested a simple, concise summary to start with (aka a properly cloned Model and family). Half the entries had failed to do this - CopperWRKS, Treadkillers, Octane Racing and Aloen.

The Rulebreakers

He sighed and shook his head, sipping a generic soda. Looking through these entries briefly, he noted quite a few issues. Treadkillers and Aloen had both failed to detail their plans to modernise the platform, while Copper Works had failed to detail their plans to modernise the block. Making matters worse, Aloen's designs would take a lot of time to perform the conversions, while Copper Works - perhaps due to failing to modernise the block - could not give an adequate guarantee of reliability.

@OME - Binned for failing to update engine family year, and having lower reliability than the base.

@alen.alic1983 - Binned for failing to update model year, and exceeding ET limit.

@Mikonp7 - binned for failing to update model year.

Uncommon Sense

Looking over the last entry without a summary, Joseph noticed something worrying. The Octane car somehow performed slightly worse in simulated crashes than the original model. Did Joseph want to feel less safe? Probably not, no. Checking through the entrants with summaries, he noticed that another car - Boot Scootin’ Bodyworx’s Ess Ess - had fallen into the same trap. This time, it performed substantially worse in the computer simulations.

@karhgath - binned for being less safe than the original model. Your coupe had 38.1, while the original coupe had 39.5.

@HighOctaneLove - binned for being less safe than the original. Your convertible had 30.9 safety, while the original convertible had 34.8. Now, I don’t expect a convertible to be as safe as a rigid top, but… It’s still a downgrade.

A Note, on these bins

Neither of these cars broke written rules, but they both go against the fluff and customer desires. In the original post, Joseph complained that "the thing just felt like a deathrap". Your entries were worse than the original, by at least a full point. Why? Well, both of you went with Basic Safety, despite having the budget for Standard at a minimum. Had you included Standard safety, you would have progressed - but Joseph does not want a downgrade, at all. It's a real shame, as both of these entries were pretty dang great. As noted above, Copper Works also submitted a car with lower reliability.

The Podium

Joseph was left with just three viable proposals, earlier than expected. Two El Caminos, and one Coupe. He looked over the reports, checking every detail…

The final rankings will be shown once those reviews are done. The podium cars are:

@HelloHi - Sunset Garage Chevelcamino

@george_m997 - G’s Project Coupe GTR

@cake_ape - Mons Racing El Camino

[AMuteCrypt]

REVIEWS PART TWO: THE PODIUM

And then there were three… Joseph sat at his table, sipping his soda again. Not quite as many useful entries as expected, but at least there were three. He had two El Caminos, and one Coupe - he was slightly crestfallen that the only convertible had been so unsafe.

Subjectivity

His gaze went to the Coupe first, the GTR. Their plan was quite radical, removing all the panels and swapping them out for aluminium. If you ignore the spoiler, the exterior does look very authentic to the original, but… That panel swap just bugged Joseph. Would it really be authentic with brand new panels? Add in a turbocharged V8 with an aluminium block and head, and the authenticity is gone.

Next to one of the utes, the Sunset Garage Chevelcamino. The front fascia has been moved and rearranged - it’s still a classic look, just not the Camino’s classic look. Under the hood, it’s the same - the V8 has been replaced with an absolutely immense V10 that would belong in a Viper. The car reminds Joseph of a certain talking car from the 80s, somehow. The car is certainly unique and aesthetically pleasing. It may not be an authentic Camino, but it’s certainly an authentic slab of muscle. The side-exit exhausts and custom rims add to the uniqueness, but the lack of badging is somewhat odd.

Finally, he looks at the renders of the Mons Racing El Camino. It certainly looks more like an El Camino than the previous one, with a modernised twist on the front fascia. The long side exhausts are brash, and a little impractical, but guaranteed to grab attention. The authentic, original badging is a nice touch as well. The hood window is attention-grabbing, showcasing the original engine. Well, the original-ish engine - it seems that a new valvetrain has been fitted. There is one sticking point to the authenticity, though - where the other two went with a 6-speed stick shift, this build goes with a Dual Clutch transmission.

After looking with his heart, Joseph is still bothered by the aluminium of the GTR. With the coupe lacking the eye-grabbing features of the other two, he ranks it slightly below the utes, so far.

Objective-ish

Time to see how these perform out in the real world, thinks Joseph. The builders have all provided expected some simulations of expected performance.

Let’s start with the drag strip, Joseph’s favourite pastime. The Mons is the immediate standout, getting up to 100km/h in under 4 seconds - half a second in front of the GTR, and almost a whole second in front of the Chevelcamino. Despite its slower acceleration, the Chevel manages to surge ahead over a quarter mile, recording the same 12.19 as the Mons - the GTR is only a tenth behind, however, despite its extra seats.

Comfort, meanwhile, is a lot more lopsided. While GTR and Chevelcamino went with lightweight, race-style seats and high-grade entertainment, the Mons uses a hand-made interior and the best entertainment on the market. This makes the Mons much, much more comfortable than its competitors.

Both utes feel prestigious in their own ways. The coupe feels prestigious too, but… Just a little less. The coupe does make up for it, however - its manufacturers claim that it is sportier around a circuit, giving a better overall driving experience than the two utes. The Mons and Chevelcamino both feel similar, if the transmission is ignored.

Final Results

Coming in third, we have...

@george_m997 - G’s Project Coupe GTR

It was a pretty nice effort, all told. Unfortunately, you sacrificed a lot of authenticity with your massive panel swap - but your exterior was heavily based around looking authentic. The back seats did effect your quarter mile marginally (removing them put you on par with the utes) but the drag strip was so close among the top 3 that it doesn’t matter much. Ultimately, prestige and authenticity mattered more than sportiness and safety, in the top 3.

Coming in second, we have...

@HelloHi - Sunset Garage Chevelcamino

This was a really, really nice build. You win a lot of points for the uniqueness of something so clearly not a Chevrolet, but lose a few for the inauthenticity of something so clearly not a chevrolet. Ultimately, you are second less because of anything you have done, and more because of what the Mons did.

Which means that in first, we have...

@cake_ape - Mons Racing El Camino

So, uh… This is a touch awkward, as Cake hosted the first round. The thing is, he read the build best and delivered the best build in the stats that were listed as important. With a blisteringly fast 0-60 despite the extra weight of a luxurious, hand-made interior, the Mons dominates in the “headline” statistics. It is the most authentic of the top three, and the hood window is a nice touch. It’s about even with the Chevelcamino on the subjective stats, but the 0-60 and Comfort give it an insurmountable lead.

The winner of the challenge is Cake_Ape

However, I believe hosting should be offered to @HelloHi first, for the sake of variety. For hosting’s sake, top 5 ranking, including binned cars, is:

Cake_Ape
HelloHi
george_m997
karhgath (a decent car all around, with a wonderful driving experience and a very unique body)
HighOctaneLove (a very detailed car, let down by its safety and a rather low comfort score)

[cake_ape]

Fun challenge, thanks for hosting @AMuteCrypt! I definitely put more time into this car than any other before, so I’m pleased with the win. As a tidbit, the late 60s muscle car era is my favourite, and my irl dream car is a restomodded big-block '69 Stingray with side pipes, so I kinda built that in El Camino form .

I’ll be more than happy to pass hosting to HelloHi for the next Chaper so this series expands with new people - that was my vision after all. If you can’t host Hi, let me know… I do have a few ideas floating in my head.

[karhgath]

Grats @cake_ape !

Thanks @AMuteCrypt for hosting and trying to help, still have no idea how to clone the actual model, quite new here.

Still happy with the result and comments, even if I did not think to take into account the fluff text (I should really have compared to the base model anyway). I’m learning and will do better next time! I got a few ideas if I ever win this one

[hudso]

Congrats on the win, @cake_ape!
I think I burnt myself out on Automation doing the Golf and my BRC entry last month - my inspiration kinda petered out once I got the drivetrain and exterior done on the HPS entry. I always feel like I’ve got to submit 80-hour builds (like my BRC car) in order to be competitive, but I need to keep reminding myself that that’s not always the case!
Regardless, I’m looking forward to the scenario that @HelloHi has in store for us - expect to see a big comeback from HPS!