Christian von Koenigsegg, the genius behind some of the wildest hypercars ever built, isn’t entirely convinced by the restomod phenomenon. While creations like Singers, Eagle E-Types, and even that Eccentrica Diablo have captured imaginations worldwide, Koenigsegg views this retro revival through a different lens. For a man who can conceptualize revolutionary gearboxes before breakfast, looking back at the past doesn’t seem to hold the same allure.
“I think it shows the lack of desirability within the modern car space,” Koenigsegg remarked at a recent hypercar gathering. “What’s driving this? Everyone seems to be reminiscing about the ‘good old days.’ That disturbs me a little.”
He emphasized that the sense of thrill and emotional connection people associate with classic cars should also be present in today’s cutting-edge machines. “We should be able to create that feeling with what we do now. Somehow, it feels like that spark is missing, hence the restomod movement,” he said.
However, Koenigsegg was quick to acknowledge the impressive work done by restomod specialists, singling out Porsche 911 guru Singer as a standout example. “Singer has been at the forefront for years. They’ve done an exceptional job in bringing these cars to a broader audience and making them desirable again,” he admitted.
Does restomodding take away from the purity of the original, or does it enhance it? It’s a tough call.
Not everyone in the hypercar world agrees with Koenigsegg’s stance. Take Mate Rimac, for example. The Croatian electric hypercar pioneer is a fan of restomods and even has his own Singer Porsche Turbo on the way. “I love restomods,” Rimac said. “My journey started with an E30 BMW 3 Series, and I’ve always wanted an E30 M3. I love the look and feel of it, but modern cars just perform better in every category.”
Rimac even has a dream project of his own: a restomod E30 M3 powered by a V10 engine from BMW’s E60 M5. “With a manual gearbox, of course,” he added with a grin.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, John Hennessey of Hennessey Performance also shared his enthusiasm for the restomod trend. “I’m a big fan, whether it’s American muscle or classic Italian cars. It’s a cool art form,” Hennessey explained. He went on to joke that he wishes he could afford more of these custom creations, given their hefty price tags. “The really nice ones go for anywhere between half a million to two million dollars,” he noted.
While Hennessey hasn’t dived into restomods himself, he hasn’t ruled it out. “We’ve considered doing restomods in our business, but it would require additional resources. I’ve got a few ideas, but I’ll keep those to myself for now,” he teased.
The debate around restomods continues to split opinions among the leaders of the hypercar world. While some see them as a nostalgic art form, others, like Koenigsegg, believe modern cars should be able to evoke the same passion without the need to look backward. One thing is clear: the conversation around the future of fast cars is just getting started.
