Mad About Modifications – Automotive

By Mr. Ghaz, January 20, 2009

image source

It is increasingly common to find an old Mercedes Benz or Jaguar from the late 70s overtaking your turbocharged new generation car with a `whoosh’. That point to a car with an engine transplant and in nine out of ten you would probably find a powerful Japanese engine under the bonnet.

Old Cars may Fetch a Higher Price than Market Value

With the prices of early Mercedes – Benz and BMW models of the 80s and even Volvos going for a song these early signature models are being revived as project cars rather than being doomed to extinction or rust. While some may argue that disposing of the engine and transmission will your BMW worthless, it may also fetch you a higher price than its market value. Japanese conversions have given the car a fresh lease of life.

Curiosity led me to test an E30 BMW 320i powered by a Nissan SR20 turbocharged engine several months back. I had to see it such a conversion was as adverse as it was made out to be by purists. Frankly, apart from the protruding intercooler at the front, the oversized exhaust tip and the `whoosh’ sound as you change gears at high revs, there is nothing to tell that the car was not an original.

If anything the car had more torque and power than the BMW six – cylinder could offer, and the driving experience was just as smooth although I admit that harnessing power in a rear wheel drive car was made more `tricky’. Then there was the Ford Escort MKII with a similar engine that after considerable modification. It’s could easily keep up with any car in excess of 200km/hour.

Cool Conversions

These are cool conversions and they do not necessarily cost you in arm and a leg. The only downside is when you open the bonnet. You may be brought down to reality as the engine doesn’t fit in well. You may be brought down to real to reality as the engine. But that’s only momentary. With the bonnet down, you can savor the satisfaction of having lots of power at your disposal.