Image via Complex Original
There are tons of awesome classic cars that we would all love to drive, own, and play with. The problem is that an awesome car from 1932 is 80 years old, so it will require extra maintenance, costly repairs, custom parts, and, being difficult or impossible to replace, a really expensive insurance policy.
If all you want is style and fun, there's no reason to deal with all of that when there are tons of small companies building retro, reproduction, and replica cars for your enjoyment. You can drive a car that looks like a Ferrari 250 GTO without having to pay $18 million for one... and that's awesome.
Ford Mustang RTR-X
Based On: 1969 Ford Mustang
Complex Says: While Formula Drift champion Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s RTR-X is not for sale, his RTR tuning company will take you vintage Mustang and do something similar to it. So if you're the kind of person who wants something that harnesses the cool of the '60s with a modern touch, you could do much, much worse.
Batrodz '66 Gotham Roadster
Based On: 1966 Batmobile
Complex Says: Bam! Pow! Wham! VROOM! Don't pretend you're too old to want a retro batmobile... you know you do.
Dynacorn Mustang Bodies
Based On: Vintage Ford Mustangs
Complex Says: What's awesome about the Dynacorn Mustang bodies? Ford helped in their creation and officially licensed them. They are perfect. While they might not be complete cars, or even rolling chassis, they still deserve to be on this list. Who doesn't want a new '67, '68, '69, or '70 fastback?
American Speed Company 33
Based On: 1933 Ford Roadster
Complex Says: This is an article about retro, reproduction, and replica cars; if you weren't expecting a '30s Ford hot-rod of some sort, you should go get checked out. The number of Ford hot rods on the market is simply asounding, but the quality and style of the American Speed Company version of the '33 Roadster lit our proverbial fire.
Beck 356 Speedster
Based On: 1948 Porsche 356 Speedster
Complex Stage: The 356 Speedster was Porsche' first car. As such, it has quite a following, and quite a high price tag. Luckily, a company called Beck is happy to sell you a beautiful air-cooled replica using as many accurate parts as possible.
Allard Motor Works J2X MKII
Based On: 1952 Allard J2X
Complex Says: Continuation models are awesome. Allard J2X Mk. IIs are recognized by the Allard registry, but offer the best of modern technology. Dead sexy.
PS: If you get one in a colour that's not British racing green, you're doing it wrong.
JH Classics Dino DGT-306
Based On: 1968 Ferrari Dino
Complex Says: The Dino was a great brand, a great idea, and a great car from Ferrari, but sadly it did not survive to the present day. Luckily, Dino lovers can opt to get their grubby little hands on a fantastic replica from JH Classics. It's a bit faster these days though, boasting 320hp and an approximate four second 0-60.
Factory 5 Type 65 Coupe
Based On: 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe
Complex Says: Sure, of Shelby's cars the Cobra gets the most reproductions, but hte legendary Daytona Coupe deserves a bigger sliver of this pie. The Factory 5 kit comes as a rolling chassis, and we think that new supercharged V8 from the latest Shelby GT500 would be awesome.
Singer 911
Based On: Air-Cooled Porsche 911
Complex Says: The air-cooled 911s were the original Porsches that garnered love and affection the world over. Unlike many of the companies whose wares grace this list, Singer doesn't make bodies for modern parts, they tune existing cars to the point of perfection. Everybody who has driven a Singer 911 has ranted and raved.
Hawk HF
Based On: 1972 Lancia Stratos HF
Complex Says: The Stratos was one of the greatest rally cars of all time, and one of the most visually striking as well. The fact that the Hawk HF isn't just a great replica, but also uses as many Italian parts as possible: icing on the cake.
AS Motorsport DBR1
Based On: Aston Martin DBR1
Complex Says: Of course we want a road-legal version of a Le Mans legend that was piloted by some of the biggest names in all of motorsport. If we can share in the glory of Carroll Shelby, Roy Salvadori, Maurice Trintignant, Paul Frere, Stirling Moss, and Jack Fairman, we'd love to.
Gullwing America P.904 Carrera
Based On: 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera
Complex Says: Some people complain that all Porsches look the same, and lose interest in the brand as a whole [your author included, with the exception of the Cayman] but none would dare voice such a thought about the legendary 904 Carrera. The fantastic retro coachbuilder, Gullwing America, will make your Boxster into a much sexier 904 replica, and if you have one we suggest you go for it.
Cal Spyder II
Based On: 1958 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder
Complex Says: You can live out your Ferris Beuller related fantasies for much less than $10.4 million with this lovely California Spyder replica. We do think it's rather ironic that it comes with a Ford V8, however.
Mercedes-Bent 190SL
Based On: 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL
Complex Says: No, that's not a typo, that's just the somewhat daft name of this amazing automobile. The original 190SL may very well be the best car for any place that could be described with the word "riviera." What one doesn't expect is 600hp... we like it that way. It's made by Hots Rods & Custom Stuff... which is also a daft name.
Icon BR
Based On: Gen 1 Ford Bronco
Complex Says: It's not a replica, it's a modernized take on the original, and we love it. The Icon BR is equal parts modern style and classic off-roader. Along with the very trendy matte paint is a very modern drivetrain, designed to tackle the toughest terrain. Basically, it's time to stop whining about the Land Rover Defender not being availible here and buy an Icon BR... because 'merica!
Deco Rides Zephyr
Based On: 1936-1940 Lincoln Zephyr
Complex Says: The recent Lincoln Zephyr is most often seen being piloted by Denny's managers who think they're hot shit and octogenarians in Sun City, AZ who have been cruising on the rumble strip for 35 minutes. The original Lincoln Zephyr was a V12 powered beast of a car. It just shows how far Lincoln has fallen.
We're amazed that Deco Rides has managed to offer this stunning take on the Zephyr with a starting price of only $69 grand.
California Custom Coach Model 876
Based On: 1936 Auburn Speedster
Complex Says: We love boat-tail Auburns. This means, of course, that we love California Custom Coach's flawless reproduction of the legendary Indiana made sports car. The originals were all vertified to have gone at least 100mph — on public highways, no less — but we're pretty sure this new version could do a lot more than that. It's powered by a 295hp GM V8 and does the sprint to 60mph in 4.7 seconds; faster than a Maserati Granturismo Sport.
This is just the base model, CCC will customize the engine choice for you as well. We're thinking the supercharged LS9 from the Corvette ZR1 would make this thing suitably batshit.
Superformance Shelby Cobra
Based On: 1961-1967 Shelby Cobra
Complex Says: The Shelby Cobra is one of the most common subject for a replica, but Superformance's take on it is surely the best and most accurate. You can even have it in Mk. III, Mk. II FIA, and Mk. II Slab Side flavors. There's a reason this is the only Cobra replica that's officially licensed by Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc.
Evanta Aston Martin DB4 Gt Zagato
Based On: 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
Complex Says: The Aston Marting DB5 gets all the press because of its most famous fictional owner, a certain James Bond, but we think the DB4 GT Zagato is the vintage Aston that deserves it most. Evanta's version of this legendary and rare Aston is either built from scratch or made from a DB7. Either way, we think it's a fine investment.
Panamericana 300SL Gullwing
Based On: 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Complex Says: Gullwings were invented for the '54 SL300 in order to accomodate a very stiff racing chassis, since then, they have been the stuff of dreams. The 300SL itself, the race winning, beautiful icon that it is, is the stuff of wet dreams. Gullwing America has created this beautiful replica to harness the awesome style of the original while offering modern comfort, speed, and technology. We'd take one of these over an SLS AMG any day.
Superformance GT40
Based On: 1964 Ford GT40
Complex Says: Henry Ford seems to have understood the concept of a vendetta just as well as his Italian rival, a certain Enzo Ferrari, and that's why he built the GT40. As one of the coolest American cars ever made, it's often copied, but Superformance does it so well that Ford allows Superformance to put continuation serial number on their cars. They don't have the value of the real thing, but Ford treats them as a continuation of the real deal.
GTA Motorworks Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale
Based On: 1967 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Complex Says: The original was built to offer racing technology to the public, which makes it cool. It also made our list of the coolest looking cars of all time, which makes it really cool. GTA Motorworks hasn't released any information on the guts inside its cars, but frankly, we don't give a shit when they look this good.
Eagle Speedster
Based On: 1961 Jaguar E-Type
Complex Says: Enzo Ferrari wished he could make a car as beautiful as the Jag E-Type... literally; he once said that the E-type was "the most beautiful car ever made." Who are we to argue? We'd rather just start saving up for an Eagle Speedster, that takes the looks of the classic Jag and infuses them with modern performance engineering.
Lucra LC470
Based On: '50s Lister Roadsters
Complex Says: This car goes from a stand-still to 60mpg in as little time as the Bugatti Veyron and looks like a sleek racer from the '50s. It's quite possible that this might be the world's greatest sports car. Due to its light weight it even pulls 1.3 Gs in the corners... that's 30% more grip than a Lotus Exige. Holy shit.
Delahaye USA Bugnotti
Based On: '30s Bugattis, Figoni & Falaschi Delahayes, and Auburns
Complex Says: This is the coolest retro car ever made. Chip Foose has seamlessly melded all of the best elements of all of our favorite '30s speedsters into one stunning design. We think that at $207,000 it's a total steal. Start saving and dreaming now.