Maketh the machine

If there is a 1960s or 1970s Alfa Romeo that doesn’t have some sort of tweak underneath, you’d be hard pressed to find it.

It turns out that perfection, such as the 105-Series, can be improved upon.

Whether it’s a little bit of lowering here, a bit of different damping there, a lot of more power elsewhere, the 105-Series is a wonderful base to build upon.

The same can be said of Datsun Z cars. The 240 might be the hero car, perhaps best preserved than fettled from a financial point of view (sorry), but the 260 and 280 are viable ways into very, very similar cars. And an equally good canvas.

Strong examples of both the Z cars and 105-Series will be found among the cars of the Scramblers Lawn powered by Car & Classic, courtesy of a 600bhp 260Z and a lovely GTAm replica.

There’s a school of thought that manufacturers and engineers spend millions of pounds perfecting suspension set-ups, geometry, the lot, and they know better than we.

But…

To dismiss modification is to dismiss the likes of Brian Redman and his start in racing: via a supercharged Morris Minor with broomhandle for a gear stick. Neither of which were exactly factory options.

It would dismiss those who raced special saloons in the 1980s, those who created monster Minis from the very tunable A-Series. To labour the point, the likes of Richard Lloyd and his GTi Porsche 962. It mattered not a jot to John Wyer that Porsche and Ford had all the money: he and John Horsman had all the nous, and they taught their paymasters more than a thing or two.

If you’ve got it, flaunt it. And if you’ve been to any of our Assemblies over the past 12 months or so you’ll recognise these two, whose creations very much have it.

Rob Farley’s yellow Alfa is never short of an admiring crowd and nor is the wild 260Z, which you’ll have seen at the Transformers Assembly and June Scramble.

And you’ll see it again at the Scramble in the Scramblers Lawn powered by Car & Classic.

You can modify a classic car. It's OK, in fact, it's more than OK: it's a way of shaping and honing your dream car into something that is truly unique and truly yours. It is an expression of self, it is a way to stand out from the others and when you're looking at cars like this 600bhp Datsun and very, very racy Alfa Romeo, it's safe to say it's also pretty good fun, too. Technology has moved on, there are all manner of companies and products out there that are champing at the bit for your business.

The only limit when it comes to modifying a classic is your imagination. And with all this modern tech and possibility, you can bring a classic into modern times. You can make it better, you can make it faster, you can make it even better looking – whatever you dream. Look at these two cars and tell us they don't make you smile. Is that not what it's all about?

Coming to the Scramble on Sunday 9 October? Register here for free access to the Scramblers Lawn in powered by Car & Classic.