Definition
Restoration plus modification.
A restomod is a classic automobile that has been restored and deliberately upgraded with modern components and technology — while retaining the recognisable design identity and character of the original model.
Typical upgrades include powertrain, chassis, brakes, electrics, comfort and safety systems. Electric conversions — “electromods” — and builder-led reinterpretations are included, as long as the original model remains clearly identifiable. The base vehicle is a classic body or chassis, re-engineered and upgraded by a specialist builder, through a manufacturer programme or as an individual project.
Class boundaries
Suggested not in the restomod class
- Cars restored to original specification with only discreet reliability or safety adaptations — these belong in the M100 Classic Car format.
- Continuation cars built to original specification — Classic Car format or a dedicated class.
- Custom builds whose original model identity is no longer recognisable — a separate class, at the discretion of the organiser and the Chief Judge.
A dedicated restomod process
A different question for a different automobile.
A restomod deliberately departs from factory specification. Judging it by the deviations that would cost a classic car its points would miss the point entirely.
restomod judging therefore follows the structure of the supercar and hypercar process, adapted to cars that combine a historic base with modern engineering. The rubric is divided into two sections of 50 points each, for a total of 100 points:
- Base Points (lines 1–10): every car starts at 50. Confirmed issues in build quality, integration of modern components and usability are deducted — from half a point up to a maximum of two points per line.
- Award Points (lines 11–20): every car starts at zero. Up to five points per line are added for design and execution, engineering, innovation and documentation, and sound.
The final score is the sum of the Base Points and the Award Points. A flawlessly built restomod that is exceptional in every respect can reach the full 100 points — never more.
50
Base Points
Ten lines covering exterior, interior and chassis. Deductions of ½ to 2 points per line — at most 20 points in total.
50
Award Points
Ten criteria of up to five points each: 30 for design and execution, 15 for engineering, innovation and documentation, 5 for sound.
The guiding principle
The benchmark is the car’s own concept.
Originality is not judged. Every restomod is evaluated as built — for its execution, integration, function and the coherence of its concept.
A modern drivetrain, uprated brakes, new electronics or a reworked interior are not faults in a restomod; they are the reason it exists. The judging team asks instead how well these decisions have been carried out, how convincingly old and new have been brought together, and whether the finished automobile forms a coherent whole. The number or cost of modifications is not a merit in itself.
01
Execution
Fit, finish and assembly quality are judged to the same exacting standard as on any concours automobile — including modified panels and bespoke parts.
02
Integration
Modern components should belong to the car rather than appear added to it: wiring, cooling, installation and packaging are examined as closely as visible surfaces.
03
Reinterpretation
The original DNA and form vocabulary should be respected. Modern elements enhance rather than dominate, and the car remains instantly recognisable.
04
Documentation
The base vehicle, the build file and the builder are part of the car’s story — counted only where verified and relevant, never as an automatic advantage.
Originality is not the measure. Quality, integration and intent are.
Base Points · Lines 1–10
Begin with the quality of the build.
Each car starts with 50 Base Points. Judges assume the car is correct until a deviation is confirmed, and deduct only for confirmed issues — including damage and imperfections. The sum of all deductions, at most 20 points, is subtracted from 50.
−½
Isolated minor flaw
A single, minor imperfection within the judging area.
−1
Clearly visible
Several flaws, or a flaw that is clearly visible.
−2
Systematic
A systematic shortcoming, damage or malfunction — the maximum for any one line.
−20
Overall limit
Ten lines × two points: the most a car can lose, leaving at least 30 Base Points.
Body Exterior
Panel fit, gaps and flushness — including widened arches and modified panels, which should be blended invisibly · composite and carbon panels for fibre print-through, cracking and delamination · modern and LED lighting integrated sensitively into the car’s character · doors, glass, seals and soft or targa tops for fit and function · paint, satin and matt finishes and paint-protection film.
Body Interior
Upholstery workmanship, carpets and headliner · the fit and legibility of modern instruments and screens within the dash · professional wiring looms, hidden and secured, with HVAC, infotainment and auxiliary systems working and no warning lights · ergonomics and usability.
Chassis
Mounting quality of upgraded brakes, drivetrain, steering and suspension, line routing, underbody finish and wheel clearances · the engine or motor bay for installation quality, routing, heat shielding, cooling capacity and exhaust fit. On electric conversions, battery mounting, thermal management and high-voltage safety are part of the assessment.
The two-point limit per line keeps an isolated issue in proportion to the complete car — the same principle that applies to every M100 judging form.
Ergonomics
Integration, not addition.
Essential controls should be understandable without the owner’s manual, and modern functions such as air conditioning, drive modes or navigation should be logical to use. Usability is assessed in relation to the car’s concept: complexity that obscures operation can be a deduction, however capable the technology behind it.
Award Points · Lines 11–20
Then recognise what makes the build exceptional.
Award Points start at zero. The judging team adds up to five points per line, in the context of the class — and the reasons are mandatory in the judges’ notes.
- Design & Execution (up to 30 points): colour selection · design concept and reinterpretation of the original · exterior materials and finishes · interior materials and finishes · proportions and stance · the combination of wheels and tyres.
- Engineering, Innovation & Documentation (up to 15 points): base vehicle, build documentation and builder · engineering innovation and technical advancement · integration of modern technology and comfort.
- Sound (up to 5 points): the closing of the doors, start-up, idle, take-off and drive-by. On electric conversions, the quality of any sound design and the absence of unwanted noises.
0
Not evident
The quality is not present in a way that sets the car apart.
1–2
Competent
Well executed, without distinguishing the car within its class.
3
Very good
A clear strength of the build.
4 · 5
Outstanding · Class-defining
Exceptional in concept or execution — up to a benchmark for the class.
A professionally trained designer should lead the assessment of the design concept. Engineering points are awarded only with evidence — documentation or an explanation from the owner or builder — and a prominent builder or owner gives no automatic advantage.
Guidance for judges
Do not be shy.
Award Points exist to distinguish the outstanding from the merely competent. Where a build genuinely excels — in its concept, its craftsmanship or its engineering — the judging team is expected to use the full range of up to five points per line, and to explain why.
On the field
Observed, not driven.
Judges do not drive the cars. Start-up, idle, take-off and drive-by are observed from outside the car. Where the organiser wishes, Judging in Motion (40 / 20 / 40) can be added as a separate dynamic evaluation.
Safety or serious functional concerns — such as a high-voltage installation, brake or fuel lines, or insufficient clearance — are escalated to the Chief Judge, as is a powertrain that does not start.
As with every M100 format, points determine the result within the class only, and the judging team entrusted to deduct points is also entrusted to award them. Best in Show is decided separately, by secret ballot among the class winners.
Multiple perspectives
A judging team built for the modern build.
Restomods combine historic design, contemporary engineering and craftsmanship. The suggested team reflects all three, so that technical execution and design intent are assessed with equal expertise.
Chief Class Judge
Leads the team, ensures consistent application of the rubric and carries responsibility for the class result.
Designer
A professionally trained designer assesses the design concept, proportions and materials, and how convincingly the original has been reinterpreted.
Engineer or restoration specialist
Familiar with modern build techniques, evaluates the engineering, the quality of the installation and the integration of modern components.
The guidance supports the judging team’s experience — it does not replace it.