If you’re in the market for a modernized classic, the decision between a restomod and pro-touring build primarily comes down to what you want out of your car. If you’re interested in a daily driver and want your car to retain an old-school feel without the old-school headaches, then a more conservative restomod is likely the way to go. On the other hand, if you’re after pure performance and competitive racing, a pro-touring build might just be what the doctor ordered. It’s really just a matter of degrees, and how extreme of a car you want.
Price comes into the picture, too, but the blurred line between pro-touring and restomods means it’s hard to make a definitive statement about which of the two styles will be cheaper to build. Pro-touring cars can definitely cost a lot, and six-figure investments are not unheard-of — and probably quite common. But while restomods can be much cheaper, there are always exceptions. Some enthusiasts have put well over $100,000 into their restomods before selling them off for much less than what it cost them to build.
That final point is perhaps a saving grace: If you’re happy buying instead of building, you can often buy restomods and pro-tourer cars for surprisingly affordable prices — at least, compared to what the builders spent. We’ve seen pro-touring cars boasting $100,000 worth of parts selling for less than $80,000. That’s really a steal, provided you can live with someone else’s parts choices.
