The carbon fiber experts at SpeedKore are not new to the restomod scene, with a resume that contains rebodied basic and modern day muscle cars and trucks from Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, and Plymouth. See a trend on that listing? They are all American. That’ll improve once the environment gets wind of this SpeedKore-modified 1974 BMW three. CS, developed specially for Robert Downey, Jr.
It is not the first time the velocity store has done work for RDJ – SpeedKore collaborated with the actor on his 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302, as very well as on a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro that the actor gave to his coworker Chris Evans. But it is the first time the organization has had its way with a German car or truck, and working with the graceful BMW E9 coupe (in this circumstance a 1974 three. CS) reveals that SpeedKore is serious about Eurosport.
32 Photographs
Unusually for the organization, Downey’s car or truck is in fact steel-bodied, with SpeedKore carrying out the extensive metallic restoration in-dwelling. Its carbon fiber roots present via through a personalized entrance air dam, rocker moldings, and rear bumper, contributing to the car’s modern day-basic visual appeal. The brick red exterior paint pairs with the authentic BMW grille and window surrounds done in Cerakote titanium gray, with a established of gunmetal HRE a few-piece forged wheels echoing the brightwork. Hanging out driving the wheels are Bilstein shocks and a established of 6-piston entrance and four-piston rear Brembo brakes.
There are a handful of astonishing exterior touches, such as the authentic beltline molding done in hydro-dipped woodgrain – ditto the personalized machined rear spoiler. Downey asked for individuals alterations to match the inside. That gray wooden tone appears on the Nardi steering wheel and dashboard fascia, pairing wonderfully with coffee-coloured upholstery that boasts woven seat facilities and doorway panels. We do speculate how a lot genuine wooden trim would have price, although.
Although it appears fairly inventory, SpeedKore in fact remolded each and every single piece of the BMW E9’s dashboard to make place for a gauge cluster by Vintage Instruments and a concealed touchscreen infotainment display. Absent is the rear seat, changed with an upholstered luggage deck, and the trunk residences an integrated, leather-lined Yeti cooler. We can imagine of even worse approaches to get to the beach front than in this point with all four home windows down, the sunroof open, and the boot-mounted icebox packed with snacks and tender drinks.
Reportedly, Downey’s 1974 three. CS can kick some ass, as well. Although the authentic car or truck arrived with a carbureted M30 three.-liter inline-6, the SpeedKore Bimmer gets a fuel-injected S38 (initially uncovered in the E34-technology M5). In that car or truck, the three.six-liter 6-cylinder would make 311 horsepower (232 kilowatts), a considerable advancement from the CS’ one hundred eighty hp (134 kW). If we have a performance criticism, although, it is that the previous BMW would make use of a ZF four-velocity computerized transmission, not the large-performance handbook gearbox it justifies.
Other than that niggle, Robert Downey, Jr. and SpeedKore have once all over again made an extraordinary restomod – only this time they’ve traded Detroit for Deutschland. We hope this isn’t the final time SpeedKore does its magic on cars and trucks from the Continent. How about a carbon-bodied Jaguar E-Type up coming?
More Stories
New Engine, or a New Car? Making the Case for Repair vs. Replacement
On This Thanksgiving, I’m Thankful to be a Corvette Owner
Remixed By Prazis Air Suspension