Services Offered
Embracing the Art and Advancing the Science of the Automobile
We are pleased to offer our restoration and modification services a la carte
to our customers. We are proud to put the same dedication and quality
into each individual project that we do into our finished vehicles.
Please contact us at Inquiries@ModernRestoration.com to learn more or
to request a consultation. Whether you wish to
return your car to its former glory through a full restoration, simply
require a few things sorted out for proper use, or wish to customize
your car using the latest cutting-edge technology, we will be happy to
help.
Our projects typically leave us with a number of rare OEM components to spare - please check our Inventory For Sale page to see our selection of original equipment and period aftermarket accessories.
If you are looking for something specific and can't seem to find what you need, let us know! We can either find you the car of your dreams, or find a good starting point to build your ideal vehicle. We are happy to start from scratch and build you the car you've been dreaming of, just how you want it. We will gladly provide you with a detailed proposal for the creation of a custom vehicle, or even just find you an original example if your resources run dry. Drop us a line!
If you are considering the purchase of a vehicle, we can provide you with a detailed pre-purchase inspection to ensure that you are getting exactly what you want. This service is currently available in Massachusetts only. Whether you are looking for a flawless, concours-ready example, a contemporary daily driver, or a project in need of some TLC, you need to know that you are buying what you want, and not a pile of headaches and lies. We can provide a thorough inspection for any vehicle, no matter how old or how new. Our inspections come with a detailed check of all cosmetic and structural aspects of the vehicle, a review of all paperwork, a test-drive if possible, and a mechanical inspection of all functional components. Upon completion, we will provide you with a detailed printed or e-mailed report including a full condition assessment and numerous large-format full color digital photographs.
Music has become an integral part of the motoring experience, and mobile audio systems grow more powerful and refined every day. The classic car owner is faced with a dilemma: retain original audio components and give up sound quality and media flexibility, or install newer components - either disfiguring original panels and equipment in the process, or making serious compromises in access and appearance. Our solution? Customized audio systems which take advantage of original equipment as much as possible, and locate modern, high-fidelity components out of sight. Of course, we don't simply cut into original panels either; custom panels are built and supplied as replacements when necessary, and otherwise our new equipment is mounted in factory locations.
Below, we have detailed the process of creating a custom vintage audio system. Please read on to learn more!
This 1955 De Soto had Mopar's finest offering at the time, the Model 901 AM radio with Wonderbar tuning and five preset stations, coupled with a 6" X 9" loudspeaker mounted in the dash. The rarity of these components meant that we had no choice but to preserve the head unit - so we built our custom solution around the Model 901, modifying or altering ZERO original parts.
The face of the 901 was used as it came from the factory, and the internal workings of the radio were removed and packed safely away, retained by the owner in case a return to stock equipment is desired down the road. The original dial face remains, with lettering matching the instruments of the vehicle. The rotary tuning and volume knobs were mounted on our custom dead mounts, which allow the knobs to be turned although they are no longer functional. An aluminum brace was built to support the original chrome buttons.
Not all of the original functional elements of the radio are present for show, however. Folding down the small door which once revealed the preset station indicators now provides access to the disc slot of the new custom audio unit. The door and its surroundings have been covered in adhesive felt to protect media during ingress and egress. The tuning bar, a very rare option in its time, now functions as the manual media ejector button. All other functions are controlled by wireless remote control - thus allowing the unit to remain camouflaged by distinctive original equipment. The word "surprise" seems barely adequate in describing the reaction of passengers as you fold down the media slot door, depress the seek bar, and are rewarded with the presentation of your favorite compact disc!
Behind the stylish facade, the Model 901 internals have been replaced with a Kenwood AM/FM tuner with CD and MP3 disc capability. Mounted on custom-fabricated steel rails to the face of the original radio and supported by perforated torsion bars for added stability and skip protection, this head unit is a giant technological leap away from the original piece. It plays clean, warm sound through an Eclipse three-way coaxial Kevlar speaker of the same dimensions as the original, mounted in the factory location. The sound produced is distinctly modern, yet played through the factory soundstage it retains much of the character of the factory setup.
Another obstacle to overcome was the power supply - the CD player, as all modern audio systems do, operates on a twelve volt, negative ground system. The 1955 De Soto, however, runs six volts with a positive ground. To operate our custom audio unit, an application-specific power inverter was sourced which allows the polarity to be reversed and the voltage to jump, thereby retaining all original components of the original six volt system. The inverter is compact enough to be mounted to the heat sinks on the rear of the new audio unit.
Our projects typically leave us with a number of rare OEM components to spare - please check our Inventory For Sale page to see our selection of original equipment and period aftermarket accessories.
If you are looking for something specific and can't seem to find what you need, let us know! We can either find you the car of your dreams, or find a good starting point to build your ideal vehicle. We are happy to start from scratch and build you the car you've been dreaming of, just how you want it. We will gladly provide you with a detailed proposal for the creation of a custom vehicle, or even just find you an original example if your resources run dry. Drop us a line!
Pre-Purchase Inspections
If you are considering the purchase of a vehicle, we can provide you with a detailed pre-purchase inspection to ensure that you are getting exactly what you want. This service is currently available in Massachusetts only. Whether you are looking for a flawless, concours-ready example, a contemporary daily driver, or a project in need of some TLC, you need to know that you are buying what you want, and not a pile of headaches and lies. We can provide a thorough inspection for any vehicle, no matter how old or how new. Our inspections come with a detailed check of all cosmetic and structural aspects of the vehicle, a review of all paperwork, a test-drive if possible, and a mechanical inspection of all functional components. Upon completion, we will provide you with a detailed printed or e-mailed report including a full condition assessment and numerous large-format full color digital photographs.
Custom Vintage Audio
Music has become an integral part of the motoring experience, and mobile audio systems grow more powerful and refined every day. The classic car owner is faced with a dilemma: retain original audio components and give up sound quality and media flexibility, or install newer components - either disfiguring original panels and equipment in the process, or making serious compromises in access and appearance. Our solution? Customized audio systems which take advantage of original equipment as much as possible, and locate modern, high-fidelity components out of sight. Of course, we don't simply cut into original panels either; custom panels are built and supplied as replacements when necessary, and otherwise our new equipment is mounted in factory locations.
Below, we have detailed the process of creating a custom vintage audio system. Please read on to learn more!
This 1955 De Soto had Mopar's finest offering at the time, the Model 901 AM radio with Wonderbar tuning and five preset stations, coupled with a 6" X 9" loudspeaker mounted in the dash. The rarity of these components meant that we had no choice but to preserve the head unit - so we built our custom solution around the Model 901, modifying or altering ZERO original parts.
The face of the 901 was used as it came from the factory, and the internal workings of the radio were removed and packed safely away, retained by the owner in case a return to stock equipment is desired down the road. The original dial face remains, with lettering matching the instruments of the vehicle. The rotary tuning and volume knobs were mounted on our custom dead mounts, which allow the knobs to be turned although they are no longer functional. An aluminum brace was built to support the original chrome buttons.
Not all of the original functional elements of the radio are present for show, however. Folding down the small door which once revealed the preset station indicators now provides access to the disc slot of the new custom audio unit. The door and its surroundings have been covered in adhesive felt to protect media during ingress and egress. The tuning bar, a very rare option in its time, now functions as the manual media ejector button. All other functions are controlled by wireless remote control - thus allowing the unit to remain camouflaged by distinctive original equipment. The word "surprise" seems barely adequate in describing the reaction of passengers as you fold down the media slot door, depress the seek bar, and are rewarded with the presentation of your favorite compact disc!
Behind the stylish facade, the Model 901 internals have been replaced with a Kenwood AM/FM tuner with CD and MP3 disc capability. Mounted on custom-fabricated steel rails to the face of the original radio and supported by perforated torsion bars for added stability and skip protection, this head unit is a giant technological leap away from the original piece. It plays clean, warm sound through an Eclipse three-way coaxial Kevlar speaker of the same dimensions as the original, mounted in the factory location. The sound produced is distinctly modern, yet played through the factory soundstage it retains much of the character of the factory setup.
Another obstacle to overcome was the power supply - the CD player, as all modern audio systems do, operates on a twelve volt, negative ground system. The 1955 De Soto, however, runs six volts with a positive ground. To operate our custom audio unit, an application-specific power inverter was sourced which allows the polarity to be reversed and the voltage to jump, thereby retaining all original components of the original six volt system. The inverter is compact enough to be mounted to the heat sinks on the rear of the new audio unit.
This
installation allowed the vehicle to retain 100% of the appearance of
the original interior, while integrating a thoroughly modern sound
system which adds greatly to the pleasure of driving this rare and
unique automobile. If you would like to add the joy of your favorite
music to the experience of driving your vintage car, please contact us
for a consultation. Please send an email to Inquiries@ModernRestoration.com
and we will be happy to discuss options specific to your vehicle.
