For many car fans, it's American muscle and JDM drifters that are the quintessential "modification" cars. Affordable American power like Mustangs and Camaros make for ideal project car bases, as they're simple to work on and can easily produce a lot more power. Likewise, JDM cars have a domestic tuning history that's legendary, immortalized in pop culture by films such as The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift.
What many forget is that European models have a rich and varied tuning history, too. There are many long-running hatchbacks out there that have just as many parts and kits available for them as the JDM favorites do. There are also several hidden gems that, although controversial, make awesome build bases that are sure to stand out from the Challengers and Supras. Let's take a look at ten of the best Euro classics that are perfect for mods.
10 Mini Cooper
The Mini is a true British icon and one of the longest-running production cars ever, made continuously from 1959 to today. The classic Mini shape stayed the same for decades until the introduction of the "New Mini" in 2001.
This long production run combined with the Mini's popularity means there's a huge range of aftermarket parts available for the car. Minis were famously successful rally cars, but every type of build from wide body racing builds to toughened micro-offroaders can be made out of this trusty classic.
9 Jaguar E-Type
It's considered sacrilege by purists to modify the Jaguar E-Type in any way, but that hasn't stopped project car builders from putting out some incredible machines. In fact, it's not unusual for owners to put in turbocharged V8s and even roll cages into their crazy E-Types.
Most E-Type projects are low-slung, and emphasize the car's already sleek proportions. There's just enough builds out there now that modifying parts to fit the car isn't unknown territory anymore. For those who don't mind offending certain enthusiasts, the Jaguar is one of the most attention-grabbing classics to mod.
8 Volvo 940
Sweden's most famous workhorses also happen to make very solid bases for all sorts of projects. Often Volvo's cars are modified as sleepers, cars that look quite stock on the outside but are much more powerful than they look underneath.
Those wanting something a little more aesthetically exciting are also in luck. There's a ton of aftermarket body parts available for Volvos, from new grilles to rear bumpers. As a bonus, the car's toughness means that these cars will be fully reliable for as long as their owner keeps them.
7 VW Golf
The Golf has been one of the best selling hatchbacks in Europe for years, and as a result the continent has a big tuning scene around the cars. That means Americans who don't mind importing parts from overseas will be able to choose from a huge variety of extras.
Many modified Golfs are lowered or stanced, but there's race car builds or even rally parts available for those who want something a bit different. Good condition examples are generally affordable too, so owners needn't break the bank to get their hands on one.
6 Porsche 911
The 911 is a favorite among Japanese tuners, with several prominent brands such as Rauh-Welt Begriff (RWB) focusing almost solely on the model. As a result, it's a great car to choose for builders who want a more JDM-style build but with a Euro base.
It's not just wide body builds that the 911 is good for either. Porsche has plenty of racing history with the car, both on track and on dirt. That means builders have a wealth of inspiration to pick from when modifying their car.
5 Ferrari F355
Modifying a Ferrari is seen as basically a criminal offence by some enthusiasts, but nevertheless it's becoming an increasingly popular option. The F355 is a favorite among Euro modifiers for its retro looks and relatively affordable price tag.
It also helps that the car has more of a direct history with motorsport than certain other Ferrari models. Ferrari built a racing version of the F355, and builders have been taking road-legal examples and making them into hillclimb cars for years.
4 Opel Kadett
Opel is a brand owned by GM that, like many other GM products, makes use of the company's extensive parts bin. Various versions of the Kadett were sold in the USA under different names, with early Kadetts marketed as Opels. Kadett Cs were marketed under "Buick-Opel", and Kadett Ds became the Pontiac LeMans.
Despite GM's very confusing naming and marketing strategy, underneath all the cars were very similar. It means anyone wanting to import a Euro-spec Opel under the 25-year rule should find parts fairly easily. Kadetts are a favorite for rally builds, thanks to the car's history in the WRC, but there's a lot of stanced cars out there too. All in all, the Kadett is a great option for those looking for a unique import car that's deceptively easy to maintain.
3 BMW M3 E30
Thanks to the E30's blossoming reputation as one of the best Beemers ever, it's getting increasingly harder to find an affordable E30 project. Also, modifying one of these cars will draw the wrath of classic BMW fans, as Travis Scott found out when he built the Jackboys car.
For those with deep pockets and a disregard for everyone else's opinion, the M3 E30 is still a great option thanks to its timeless design and sharp handling. Alternatively, a cheaper option might be to find a regular 3-Series of that era and buy aftermarket M3 parts. That allows for all of the fun but less rage from M-car enthusiasts.
2 VW Beetle
They're recognized all over the world for being "the people's car", so it's no surprise there's so many modified Beetle projects. Bug enthusiasts are some of the most passionate modders out there, so newcomers are sure to get a warm welcome.
It's worth checking the exact state of the car before buying one though. Beetles are notoriously bad for rust, so to avoid any unforeseen repair bills, it's best to poke around for the orange stuff first.
1 Land Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender has been used in remote and inhospitable locations all over the world thanks to its ruggedness and simple construction. The Landy's ladder chassis means it's incredibly easy to bolt on and off body parts at the owner's will.
That makes it ideal for modifying, as the car is built to be easily worked on. Land Rover builds are usually focused on increasing the Defender's off-road capabilities, but everything from slammed to ultra-luxe Land Rover builds are out there.