The restomod scene is big business nowadays, and it isn't hard to see why. Who wouldn't want the style and cachet of a classic, with contemporary performance? It's a heady automotive cocktail, and the genre's popularity shows no signs of waning; ask anyone patiently waiting for an Alfaholics, Singer or Eagle build...
With the industry fairly well established, it's clear that certain cars suit a 21st century overhaul more than others. The plethora of pre-993 911s makes them ideal candidates for backdating, likewise the Jaguar E-Types: success when new means plenty of available cars and expertise later down the line.
Every now and then, however, a restomod project - or sympathetic update, or modernisation, or whatever you want to call it - crops up that's a bit out of the ordinary. Cars like the Cropredy Bridge Jensens, for example. And then, on occasion, one emerges to take your breath away. The Aston Workshop V8 Evolution qualifies.
Described as "an evolved V8 developed from years of experience rebuilding and upgrading Aston with the latest hardware", there isn't a bit of the V8 left untouched by the Workshop's Evolution upgrades. The engine is worked on - here's it's 6.0-litres, with electronic fuel injection, Jenvey throttle bodies and 430hp - chassis overhauled, brakes upgraded and interior retrimmed. The car has also been taken down to the shell and brought back to life from there. (The colour is Cumberland Grey, with a metal flake to bring out some bronze.)
Not for nothing either, but it seems this particular V8 lived an interesting life even before its renewal. A left-hand drive car delivered new to Japan, it had eventually found its way to an English customer based in Florida. According to the advert, he wanted his Aston 'sexed up', which Aston Workshop were only too happy to oblige. So, this particular Evo had the entire catalogue thrown at it; as well as the engine and paint, it received a retrimmed dash (the original interior said to be in good shape), a six-speed Tremec manual in place of the three-speed auto, a new rear axle, an air-con upgrade, six-piston brake calipers, Spax dampers and more. Yet, to all intents and purposes, it still looks like a 70s' V8 - albeit the best one you ever did see. Any restomod doubters could surely be appeased...
Incredibly, the V8 has only covered 823 miles since its transformation. Still, it does at least mean somebody else can enjoy the spoils of an Evolution build, and not have to wait for thousands of hours of work to be completed. Left-hand drive might be a hurdle too far for some, but it would at least be a great fit for any future European road trips. And what better car for it than an Aston V8?
Unconventional though it might be for restomod treatment, the model does at least conform to type when it comes to cost - this was clearly not a cheap undertaking. The V8 is currently for sale at £329,950, which is three times more than the some of these models are offered for. Above £300k buys the very best X-Packs and low mileage cars, too, the appeal of which will need no further explaining from us. But you can be certain creating something this spectacular would take an awful lot more than £300k if starting from scratch, and with originality discarded there ought to be no qualms about driving it. Which, in an Aston specced like this and looking how it does, would surely be a very special experience indeed.
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