So what do you guys think of semi-restomods?

Sure.

That car started as a 1974 Coupe, but was cut and shaped into a 1969 Cabrio using all original '69 cabrio parts and pieces. The transaxle was a custom built Rancho unit, the engine was a Buick V6 with a Kennedy Engineering adapter/flywheel kit, block-hugger headers and the usual array of go-fast aftermarket goodies. It hung on the transaxle bellhousing at the front and a Speedway Motors engine mount cross-member at the rear.

The rear deck lid was fiberglass and would close over the engine with a hole for the water pump drilled behind the number plate and a bigger hole at the top of the deck. A luggage rack had a similar hole as did the suitcase which fit the rack. The air cleaner was in the suitcase. It looked better running without the deck lid at all, just a rear mesh to keep curious fingers out of the pulleys/belt and a place to mount the plate.

We pulled the engine to ready the body for paint and the shop/car burnt to the ground less than a month later. Small consolation that the engine was home in the garage at the time, everything else was lost.

I was in the middle of a Fiat 600 project with the body mounted on a shortened VW pan, thought that the engine might be KILLER in that, but a tree fell on the Fiat and crushed it.

I have this project car now and will probably install the V6 in it this Winter, but I'm scared of what catastrophe might hit next.

I think that the engine just might be cursed . . .

In reply to JoeyM:

Anything involving a Ghia is cool... except that thing.

Note to self: Don't convert sports cars into mudders if you want to impress the ladies.

It'll be a Ghiata. And it's a cool build idea, IMO. One more thumbs up.

I like the idea of the Ghiata. Especially if it is kept low key and not too in your face. That's assuming the donor rides had little value before the mod.

My objection to many rides called resto-mods is when the result isn't nearly as good as the parts before they were combined. Believe me the Studabaker Starliner Coupe we put a '57 Chevy motor in back in 1962-63 never was as good a ride as either set of parts would indicate. Of course neither of us had ever tried that big a project before. And isn't that often the case?

I always thought the Ghia's best feature was its' appearance. I'm anxious to see lots of pictures of how this one turns out!