Was destroying a perfectly good car worth it? // Honda-Swapped Ferrari

I really don't understand the hate, it's not like you hacked up a 250 GTO or an F40 or something. It was a 308, and not even a Vetroresina. It's a cool car, and it makes an awesome project race car, but it's NOT that special.

I agree with you. "No car is sacred". You took something and made it into something new and I personally think that the end product is really cool (even better than the original, even if it isn't a road-going car anymore). I also love the colour choices you made, as well as the style of the decals all over the car. I'm sure you'll enjoy racing it for many years.

I'm doing a restomod to a poor mans Ferarri (Fiat). Left my car club when I was told that I took the soul out of the car. Car is now better than it ever was.

Cars are meant to be used and not locked away in some dark room only to be admired by some rich guy who only has it to flaunt how rich he is. I love watching proper British chaps throw their expensive toys around the track at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

I'm glad you're saying this for the younger crowd. I've been seeing this advice given for decades, starting with muscle cars. Buying the best condition car possible is always the best choice for ANY type of build, period.

Happy birthday Mike, you did the right thing buying the best car you could find, I spent nearly $30 grand just making my 328 GTS into a really good car, Rj in Oz

Honestly, I don’t agree with the statement that you’ll lose your investment money when buying a salvage title car. You just have to buy the right car. My 2009 BMW 325i cost me $1168 including fees. I transported it myself 76 miles home. It had a light hit in the front right fender. The M3 wheels on this vehicle are worth more than what I paid paid for the car. The plan is to drive it until I do an LS swap. The car was valued at $7916 at purchase.

I get so many people upset when they hear my eventual plans for my car, asking why I wouldn't start with a roller or something less complete. Especially since there's so few of these things running today. I bought a high milage, mostly complete example. I got a fantastic deal, and could probably sell off my parts for about what i paid for it. But even then, the little odds and ends to make it truly complete have run a good percentage of wait I paid to make it whole. You don't think a few plastic bobs and bits would be too expensive, but once you realize that the sellers have a pretty captive audience (at least on cars where they made a low amount of) they charge a lot for them. I've been smart about it as much as I can but that innately means that I get to spend more time hunting for a deal, sometimes taking months or years to source an interior part I don't feel like getting ripped off on. At the end of the day, I bought a running, driving, 99% complete version of my car for a great deal. And because of that I get to enjoy my car in the time period between the purchase date and the date the entire driveline gets gutted. Granted there are some bits/options I want that I learned I should've just bought on the car (especially from an effort/time perspective) but I also have to remind myself that I have yet to find one in this configuration/quality anywhere near the price point I paid. It's all a time/effort/money game, and it's up to us as enthusiasts to decide what we're capable of putting up with.

It’s such a shame you have to keep explaining yourself on this. I must have heard this explanation in some form a dozen times or more throughout this build. God forbid the keyboard warriors would let you do you. It’s your money, your car and your time. Most importantly, what you do to your car doesn’t harm anyone else in any way. However, complainers will always find a reason to complain. Well done for once again calmly explaining yourself in a polite way instead of telling them all to mind their own business. P.S. Happy birthday. I also just turned 35.

It always surprises me other people care so much about what a total stranger does with their own car. Especially someone criticizing someone with the skills like you from their sofa about a car they wouldn’t ever own anyway. People are wired haha but your skills and vehicles are amazing ❤ keep it up Mike 🤘

I want to do a project foxbody and those 3k rough ones seem like the best deal but after watching this, the 12k nice versions are looking much more appealing.

Salvage cars.. Mat Armstrong: am I a joke to you?

Ferrari did a 208 version in Italy. With your new engine you could fit genuine 208 badges

Just hit 40 this week, Happy Birthday, Mike!

Yooo! Mike, as someone who is hurt 😔 by watching this video because currently the main build on my channel is a 240z Im rebuilding for my wife, I can fully support and back your thoughts and opinion on what to buy when starting a project.. 3ish yrs ago I bought the complete opposite, a rusted and torn apart Datsun 240z. I wish I saw this video 3 years ago 😂 Great Advice though without a doubt 💯!!! Rebuilding a rusty torn apart car is soooo much work and thats dirty work you have to do before you can even get to the fun stuff... In case anyone is wondering I havent got to the fun stuff yet.. 😂

That thing is BEGGING for 288 style mirrors! awesome build man

for the price the original car fetched and the quality of some of the welding and fabrication.... i would say you improved it significantly. happy birthday mate from Australia.

You ARE 100% correct. Full stop. Glad you spent the time to keep us informed, and I continue to be impressed with your car!

My current project 'was' a complete, road legal and running (with problems, I fixed myself) car that had everything. Because of the issues - I could fix myself - it was extremely cheap. Anything broken I did not need, but yes key components like the headlights, tail lights, parts of the intake and exhaust etc, were easily sold........and in the end I sold them for MORE than the whole car cost me. Then I had everything - a car I could actually drive first to get my before / after experience sorted. And the outcome, I could then control the parts I wanted to replace, not had to replace to keep it functional. So Mike - GREAT advice, and you are so right. The best for the price, gives you options.............even if you give up and sell it OEM, you have options. We all see those projects in 52,000 bits, that have most missing, and think could I. You could, but the effort needs to make it worthwhile. So support your great advice here. THANKS. I could afford the more expensive version, but now I got it cheaper, and with my changes it is now MY VISION for the cost of an OEM expensive one. Love is.

Mike, your daring title of episode 1 was, what got me to your channel and I never looked back! For me this project was born outside of the box, miles outside! You did the right thing and I applaud you, you’ve over a boat load of episodes shown me how to build a car, what to do when, the works. The result? Totally rad is this car! Love everything on it and honestly can’t point out what I love more! It’s a at symphony of craftsmanship and esthetics! Keep rocking! PS: I worked at the proving grounds of Paccar! They own Kenworth and Peterbilt ….. I never understood why good coworkers would hate on one an other due to their brand loyalty…. You’ve shown how it’s made and done!