battered old American classics with fresh new insides (cars)
 

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Fancy something different? Meet the Derelicts
According to Jonathan Ward, boss of California's Icon Cars and mastermind of the "Derelict" idiom, these strangely alluring vehicles are all about Wabi-Sabi; a comprehensive Japanese aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience or impermanence. Or, in Top Gear English, celebrating some stuff that looks a bit knackered.

The interesting thing about these careworn old things isn't that they look ratty. They're actually a complete reverse of our usual Top Gear style of engineering (ie, take something functional and make it completely impractical). The cars have been entirely reengineered with a modern chassis - featuring 21st century suspension, brakes, drivetrain and technology - so they can be pressed into daily service as useful transport.
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Take this Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe Sports Coupe. Underneath the very original paintwork there's a powder-coated Art Morrison chassis (complete with independent suspension), six-piston ABS brakes, 440hp GM LS3 fuel-injected V8, air conditioning, Bluetooth connection, completely restored interior, extensive sound deadening...
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It's as well specced as a modern muscle car. Better in some places - there's genuine Rolls Royce Wilton wool carpet on the floor - and because the bodywork's already dinged and rusty (though there is a special coating to stop the metalwork getting worse), Jonathan thinks people will be less afraid to use it every day.
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"We're getting rid of the charmingly archaic mechanical system where, to own [a classic] you feel like you have to be a martyr to it. The Derelicts are about having a viable daily driver with a timeless aesthetic."

Which explains why the engines aren't too insane. Jonathan says: "We fit high performance motors, but they're daily-driver friendly... We build high-performance cars, but we don't want to build track cars that are a b**** to drive."
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So, how do you go about marrying high performance technology to skid-row bodyshells? Jonathan says: "We find the patina'd virgin car then isolate the body." Using lasers and some fiendishly complicated algorithms, Icon works out the best place to re-mount the body onto a modern chassis then has the entire underside fabricated. After that, the body's re-fitted and work starts on refining the car's innards.
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Inside, each car's built to the customer's specifications. This Chevrolet's interior, for example, is trimmed in a material inspired by the alligator skin Hermes used to trim a briefcase for JFK in.
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Want one? You best get saving - the Styleline coupe cost $190k to put together. That's £120,000. Crumbs.
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