The fine folks at SP40 Restomod invited us on an exclusive drive of their new SP40 Special Speedster out in the canyons of Malibu, CA.
Not Your Average Restomod
If you want to turn some heads, well, we have great news. The SP40 Special Speedster has just what you need to make that happen. This new Speedster, based on their earlier one-off recreation of the 1934 Ford 40 Special Speedster Boattail, which takes inspiration from the original 1934 Model 40 in a spectacular way. That one-off was a hand-crafted dedication to Edsel Ford. The new car is still hand-crafted, but where there once was aircraft-style aluminum, now the entire body is constructed of ultra-precise carbon fiber. The body, chassis, electronics, materials, even the engineering is all contemporary, coming together to make something that appeals to the modern driver, but also looks to the past in homage.
Then And Now
It might look like a silhouette resembling something from the 1930s, but this bespoke build has a surprising amount of creature comforts, even in a permanent open-air cockpit. The Speedster offers modern climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, and even a wireless phone charger in-between the driver and passenger. Aside from the niceties inside the Speedster, the rest of the car, being a modern thing, brings peace of mind, and overall, a better driving experience as a whole. I especially like the white-painted ports in the wheels that, when spinning, give the appearance of a classic white wall tire. It’s yet another example of clever visual trickery.
The chassis is modern, as are the brakes, but the star of the show is the ride quality. The engineers spent a significant amount of time tuning the car on track. This helped SP40 become a force to be reckoned with in the corners, which isn’t a dynamic that’s immediately apparent at first glance of the Speedster. The fruits of that labor reveal themselves within the first few corners at speed.
The brilliant part is that they haven’t sacrificed ride quality to achieve the sportiness. It feels more compliant and corners flatter than some modern, mass-produced sports cars. I have a hunch this has to do with it being lightweight. This also helps with the steering. Speaking of which. It’s razor-sharp. Turn-in is quick, maybe just a shade too quick in some scenarios, but I’d much rather it be too quick than too slow.
All-Carbon, All The Time
SP40 Restomod is dead-set on providing a car that sits sub-3,000 pounds. To help achieve that, the Speedster’s sleek body is made entirely of carbon fiber. Yes, that carbon body can be painted any color you like, but it will never be made of any other material. I can’t help but wonder for nostalgia’s sake, what a brushed aluminum body would look like on this car, but the carbon body is, admittedly, very gorgeous as is.
A special construction means the weave on both halves of the car meet in the middle creating a neat central focal point. The team claims the carbon construction is the best way to help achieve their structural rigidity and weight goals. Using one material type for the body also keeps development costs and product variance under control, something that is key when making such a small run of bespoke vehicles.
Coyote All The Things
I’ve never heard Ford’s 5.0-liter “Coyote” quite like this. Powering the SP40 is the latest version of Ford’s wonderful V8, putting out around 480 horsepower. It’s mated to a brilliant 5-Speed Tremec manual transmission that offers direct and confident shifts. Honestly though, when a car sounds that loud and goes that fast, the power numbers aren’t really what matter.
A number that’s more exciting is the low curb weight of about 2,600 pounds. This means the mighty Coyote has very little weight to haul around, making the speedster feel insanely powerful. Power-to-weight ratios are in our favor here, enhancing the driving experience. In the end though, it’s the noise combined with all that shove that really makes your smile turn into an all-out chuckle. This car could have 100 less horsepower and it wouldn’t even matter because when it sounds like a literal monster, you can’t help but have a good time.
You’re Buying An Experience, Not Just A Car
The drama starts even before you get behind the wheel. As exciting as the Special Speedster is to drive and look at, it’s just as exciting to make it your own. The ownership experience is something the SP40 team is paying close attention to. Going over materials, options, color combinations, little tweaks here and there are all part of the process that makes every Speedster a one of one.
When you “spec” your Special Speedster, there are a vast amount of options to consider. Customers can choose between different colors of polished aluminum and even the color combination of the instrument cluster, down to the needle color. Even the key to the Speedster, which is a small model of the car itself can be paint-matched to your particular spec. No two examples of the total production of 40 units will be alike.
Keep in mind, SP40 is from Argentina. This means some of the world’s greatest leathers are used, and you can have it in just about any color or softness. It can be found inside the car and is also used to construct the removable leather luggage that accompanies the car. The cases used to showcase your options are lined in that suave leather, as are the seats in the Speedster itself.
SP40 Restomod set-out to make a one-of-a-kind vehicle, that offers neck-snapping Art Deco looks, and a drive that rivals some modern sports cars, but in a package that reminds us of the automotive past. The Special Speedster delivers just that. What else could an enthusiast ask for?