Custom Builds

Most buyers come to Pedal to the Metal looking for a car that already exists. But a growing number of our clients come with something different in mind – a specific vision that no car currently on the market quite fulfils. A 1969 Camaro in a color combination that was never factory offered. A first-generation Mustang fastback with a modern Coyote V8 but period-correct exterior. A Chevelle with the look of an LS6 but the reliability of a contemporary drivetrain. For those buyers, we build the car from scratch.

Our restoration facility in Sneek, Netherlands, runs custom builds year-round alongside our restoration and Eleanor programs. This guide explains how the custom build process works, what it costs, and what to consider before you commission a project.

We build two primary types of custom classic muscle car.

A restomod is a car that keeps its original body and character while receiving selective modern upgrades for reliability, safety, and drivability. The original engine is typically retained and rebuilt, often with mild enhancements, while the braking system, suspension, and tyres are upgraded to contemporary standards. The result is a car that drives and feels authentic but with the confidence that comes from modern mechanical reliability.

A pro-touring build takes the original body as the starting point and replaces the mechanical package comprehensively. A modern V8 – typically a GM LS or LT, a Ford Coyote, or a built big-block – replaces the original engine. The suspension is a full modern coilover setup. Brakes are upgraded to match the power output. Wheels and tyres fill the arches properly. The interior can be modernized to whatever degree the client wants. The visual result is a period-correct classic that drives, stops, and corners like a contemporary sports car.

Beyond these two formats, we also build the Eleanor tribute Mustang program in two distinct series – covered in our dedicated Eleanor guide – and we handle any bespoke commission that falls outside these categories. If you have a specific idea, contact us and we will tell you honestly whether it is something we can build.

It starts with a conversation. You tell us what you want to achieve – which platform, which era, which level of modification, which performance targets. We then arrange a meeting with our restoration manager, sales team, and CEO to go through every detail: the base car, the body specification, the drivetrain, the chassis setup, the interior, and the technology. This is where your vision becomes a concrete plan.

Once the plan is agreed, we source the right base car if you do not already have one. The base car is the single most important decision in any custom build – a weak foundation produces a weak finished car regardless of how much is spent on top of it. We source selectively and will not compromise here. Once the base is confirmed, we sign the contract and begin. Projects are billed monthly with full transparency. All budgets are presented as honest estimates rather than fixed promises, because complex builds frequently reveal additional requirements once the car is disassembled and inspected. We will never proceed with additional work without discussing it with you first.

Throughout the build you receive regular updates including photos, videos, and scheduled calls or meetings. You are connected to the project at every stage. As the build nears completion, we carry out comprehensive assembly, testing, and inspection covering engine performance, chassis behavior, fit, and finish. The finished car is then revealed at our facility – often with a handover – or shipped directly to your door anywhere in the world.

Yes. If you already own a classic car you want us to build on, we can work with your base vehicle. This is common for clients who have a car with sentimental value, a documented original example they want transformed, or a specific base car they have sourced themselves. We will assess the car before committing to the build scope and advise honestly on what the base car’s condition means for the project timeline and budget.

Our most common custom build platforms are first and second-generation Ford Mustangs, first and second-generation Chevrolet Camaros, second-generation Chevrolet Chevelles, and second-generation Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am bodies. We also build on Mopar E-body and B-body platforms including the Cuda, Challenger, Charger, and Road Runner. If your preferred platform is not on this list, contact us and we will discuss whether it is something we can take on.

A focused restomod on a solid base car can be completed in six to nine months. A full pro-touring build with comprehensive mechanical work, custom paint, and interior work typically takes twelve to eighteen months depending on the scope and the complexity of the specification. We will give you a realistic timeline estimate after the initial consultation and base car inspection, and we will be transparent if that timeline needs to change during the project.

Pro-touring builds start from €200,000 ($220,000). The final price depends on the base car, the engine package, the level of interior work, the paint specification, and the chassis and brake upgrades. More elaborate builds with higher-output engines, full show-quality paintwork, and extensively customized interiors climb well above the starting point. We provide an honest estimate after the initial consultation and build planning stage, and projects are billed monthly so you have full visibility throughout.

Yes. We ship finished custom builds to clients in the United States, the Middle East, and across Europe. We handle all export documentation and logistics. Classic cars over 25 years old are exempt from US federal safety and emissions regulations, which makes import to the US straightforward. Contact us to discuss delivery arrangements as part of the initial build conversation.

Contact us at [email protected] or call +31 6 25 19 61 76 with a description of what you have in mind. The more detail you can give us at the outset – which car, which era, which level of build, what performance targets, what budget range – the more useful the initial conversation will be. We will follow up to arrange a meeting with our restoration manager and CEO to start turning your vision into a plan.