Some cars are so historic and so magnificent that modifications would only deface their perfection. Here’s our guide to not ruining cars that don’t need your ideas or input.
Let’s start by making things clear: we know all classics can be improved by fitting better brakes and extra cooling. Jay Leno usually does that to his old cars. That’s fine as long as it’s invisible to the eye. You want your car to work in a traffic jam.
The other thing is that factory modifications (like, say, the McLaren F1 LM) and works racing cars (like, say, the McLaren F1 GTR) don’t count as ‘modifications’ either.
But here are ten cars you shouldn’t mess with:
10) Toyota 2000GT
Only 337 were built by careful hands at Yamaha, and it’s much more than the sum of its parts. Yes, they made a roadster for Sean Connery in James Bond’s You Only Live Twice, but that only adds to the great history of the first Japanese supercar. On the other hand, throwing out its straight-six for an electric motor is an unforgivable sin.
9) Porsche 959
Just like the Toyota 2000GT, the Porsche 959 stopped production at 337 units as well. Stuttgart put everything they knew in the mid-eighties into this car. You could certainly improve its performance by fitting a more advanced turbocharger or better brakes, but it’s disrespectful and totally unnecessary.
8) 1963 Corvette
The split-window Corvette is one of the most beautiful American cars ever made. It doesn’t need more power, and it doesn’t need new rims. Restore it if it’s banged up and enjoy the view.
7) Honda S800
The high-revving Honda S800 is a great Japanese classic, and owen-magnetic gets a point for summing it up perfectly:
6) Citroën DS
Citroën ran out of money during the development of the DS and had to ditch the idea for a new air-cooled six-cylinder boxer engine. They used an upgraded version of the Traction Avant’s four banger instead. Does that mean you should mess with the concept? No. You should just hop in and float away…
5) Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Honestly, what the hell would you change on that? The SL is perfect as it is, and with prices going sky high, you’d better keep it stock anyway.
4) Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Are you Franco Scaglione? You are not.
3) Lexus LFA
The Lexus LFA is not flawless, but if ten years of Japanese engineering couldn’t make it better, your new wheels and a vinyl wrap won’t either.
2) Lamborghini Miura
A few were converted into Jotas since the original was destroyed. That’s fine, but also enough. And yes, the Miura will overheat in traffic and lift its front at high speeds. Still, the only thing you’re allowed to fit is a fire extinguisher.
This is a 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV with a built-in fire extinguisher under the lucky…
1) McLaren F1
Gordon Murray is smarter than you. Also, these people will punch you in the face.
I just love how you said that you should never modify a 300 SL and the photo chosen has a SL with modern rims!
and the Corvette is a convertible, not the split window couple described in the story.
I don’t know this site but generally agree with their premise. Their credibility would be enhanced if the didn’t show a picture of the 300 SL gull wing with non stock wheels, I though this was about non-modified cars?