MyStarCollectorCar has seen it all over the past 16 years, including the three choices listed in the title.
There are plenty of reasons to choose one car guy path over the other two, consequently we decided to list the strengths and weaknesses of each choice.
Jim Sutherland
Many car guys choose to leave it alone and accept its originality, a choice strengthened when the vehicle in question is a survivor since it’s a term applied to unaltered vehicles that retain their factory status. Even a new paint job will take away the old car’s (or truck’s) originality as it relates to a survivor in the eyes of most car guys because of their definition of the term.
Therefore, a survivor vehicle must wear its history on its skin and innards to qualify for its original status in the car hobby. It is likely true a car guy fistfight will break out over the definition of a survivor, but we at MyStarCollectorCar lean toward unaltered originality when it comes to the label.
The downside to a survivor vehicle depends upon its age because the older the vehicle, the more its limitations in 2025. For example, who would take a survivor Model T onto a busy freeway? The correct answer is a raving lunatic with a room temperature IQ and a death wish.
A typical Model T from about 100 years ago could optimistically hit roughly 40-45 mph on flat ground if they were not bucking a wind. That kind of top speed would get a Model T a trunkful of semi-truck on a modern highway and the only question left would be whether the T’s driver would be a survivor after the inevitable crash. The Model T would not be a survivor under these conditions- and our bet is neither would the driver.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to ensure a retro ride would survive in modern traffic, including the resto mod choice made by many car guys. A resto mod is any vehicle that has been improved by modern components while retaining its classic good looks.
Resto mods are a popular choice in the hobby because the altered vehicles’ blend of old and new makes them a perfect road machine for many car guys. The mechanical upgrades may also be supplemented by cosmetic improvements that enhance their overall style or design. Creature comforts are also a big part of many resto mods, including air conditioning, power steering, quiet interiors, and any other new age features that transform the resto mod into a solid 21st century road machine.
The downside to a resto mod is quality survivor cars may be sacrificed in the process because they provide a solid platform for a project that guts them during an upgrade-or uses a survivor as a part source during the car cannibalism phase. Either way, a resto mod question is a lot like asking about the ingredients in a hot dog.
The third option is a full-on pro street version of a vintage ride. A pro street monster has the general appearance of a classic vehicle, but the sheet metal has been massaged into a custom cover for a massive performance machine built for the track-but ready for the road.
A pro street vehicle starts right at the pavement with racing rubber and wheels, then adds a radically modified chassis (or custom chassis) before mixing a bad-fast powertrain into the recipe.
The net result is a vehicle that will likely require a rollbar on a ¼ mile strip and a very talented driver behind the wheel.
Which brings us to the biggest drawback to owning a pro touring car: undertalented drivers who are unable to handle these wild rides. Great equipment does not make a driver great, consequently a pro street warrior may be a bad choice for many owners of these road and track rockets.
Three choices and three tough decisions for car guys.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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