MyStarCollectorCar

CLASSIC RESTO-MOD/CUSTOMS FROM THE LAST FEW YEARS

Jerry Admin

We’re seeing a growing trend in the car hobby.

Customs have migrated into a subcategory called resto-mods in the last decade and sometimes the lines are blurred.

Purists hate them, but car guys who want something that looks old but handles new are becoming a force in the hobby.

Jerry Sutherland

I’m okay with that trend. I get the purist point of view—but I can also understand the resto-mod guys who want to build practical—and functional road warriors. Here are a few great examples from the last few years—straight from the pages of MyStarCollectorCar.

There was a 1960 Divco owner’s story in October 2024.

This classic milk truck retained the Divco skin, but underneath it was pure 2013 Chevy ambulance. This box on wheels was running a 6-liter Chevy Vortec, so it went from a pokey city delivery van to a 75-mile-per-hour freeway cruiser.

A July 2025 MyStar owner’s story featured a 1957 IHC AC-160 crew cab car hauler.

Believe it or not, this workhorse was built in one winter and it featured a 6.0-liter Power Stroke diesel. This big IHC was a rock star at a small-town car show in June.

A Dodge Daytona in any form is a magnificent example of classic muscle.

A January 2019 MyStar owner’s story featured a former ’69 Charger RT/SE converted to a tribute Daytona. This monster had a Hellcat Gen III hemi and numerous suspension upgrades that turned it into a 200 mile-per-hour Bonneville car.

What does 10,000 hours get you?

It gets you a custom 1951 Chevy custom crew cab hauler powered by a Dodge truck Cummins diesel upgraded to another 150 horsepower. This incredible vehicle was a February 2018 MyStarCollectorCar feature story.

The 1977 Mustang II Cobra is a relatively rare vehicle and the one featured in a December 2019 MyStar owner’s story was one-of-one optioned.

That’s pretty cool, but the Mustang’s replacement 347 cubic inch stroker was the first one built in Canada–it gave the car 12.90/106 mph ¼ mile time. That made it even cooler.

There was a ’71 Pro Street Custom Cuda featured in a November 2020 MyStar owner’s story.

This car was fast with a 440, but it went into Warp Drive when the current owner built it up to 496 cubic inches and 500 horsepower. The ‘Cuda also handles like an Indy Car now after major upgrades to its brakes and suspension.    

A 1968 Chevelle SS 396 was a December 2020 feature MyStarCollectorCar owner’s story.

This car went from a classic 60s muscle car to an insane 21st Century rocket thanks to its upgrade to a supercharged, 489 cubic inch, 1000-horsepower (800 at the rear wheels), big-block hooked up to a 5-speed. Believe it or not, this monster gets good gas mileage, thanks to the application of new tech to an old classic.  

A March 2024 MyStar owner’s story featured a 1968 Olds 442 tribute.

This car was built to be a combination track car/Sunday driver after an 18-year hibernation. Five engines later, it’s running a 600-horse Olds 455 that gives it a 7.15-second 1/8TH mile time.

The last feature story from December 2021 was a 1969 Plymouth GTX.

This car shed its big-block 440 for a fire-breathing Hellcat Gen III hemi. It was his first car but now it’s his fastest car because the GTX is a lot lighter than a Hellcat, but it has the same fierce heart. 

These are just a few examples of classic builds—MyStar’s pages are full of more. I’ll revisit this topic again because they’re just that cool.       

Jerry Sutherland

By: Jerry Sutherland

Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post,  Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.

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