Porsche Classic

[windhover]

Hello hello, I was wondering if any owners have experience with Porsche Classic restoration work and how has been their experience on the quality of the work and the price?

Thanks!

[718RSK]

There are many shops out there that will do a much better job than Porsche classic or some of the Porsche classic dealers. If you want a serious and authentic restoration look somewhere else. People on this board will be able to point you in the right direction

[windhover]

There are many shops out there that will do a much better job than Porsche classic or some of the Porsche classic dealers. If you want a serious and authentic restoration look somewhere else. People on this board will be able to point you in the right direction

This was what I read as well.. why is it that Porsche classic are not able to a serious and authentic restoration? Surely they have all the original knowledge and tools.

[718RSK]

Surely they have all the original knowledge and tools.

they don't that's the problem. I am sure there are members who have more details. You want the best when it comes to a RS restoration, talk to Jim Newton, Kevin J, Tony S, or Dave DiMaria, I am sure other will put out some more names

[steve shea]

Yes on Dave DiMaria for early 911 or 356.

[beh911]

...Surely they have all the original knowledge and tools.

They flat out don't.
If you want something done by Porsche and aren't concerned about the arcane details that a site like the one you are on tracks for authenticity sake, go for it.

It all depends on what you are after.

Restore to make shiny and new is fine for some.
Restore to maintain original finishes, done by hand details, refurbishing/reusing original parts, etc is for others.

The group in Atlanta are a super nice bunch. A few of them are almost as old as the RS, at least one of them worked on them when they were new.

[windhover]

That is very surprisingly to me. I would have imagined the factory would be able to cater to the ‘type’ of restoration the client is looking for.

I am of the restore to original finish, refurb reusing original parts clan. To me it’s part of the history, patina of the car. I am quite surprised Porsche classic would not be able to do this.

Would there be certain parts of a restoration that Porsche classic would be good at doing? I see they have a good chassis restoration system ie dip coat the chassis. I do think for example doing an engine rebuild is largely the same in most good garages or restorers.

What would be some of the good shops in UK or Europe as that is where I am located.

[Richy]

Running and driving the Porsche Classic restoration will be great . Cosmetically not so much . They use newer parts and products instead of older correct parts they no longer produce .

[windhover]

Running and driving the Porsche Classic restoration will be great . Cosmetically not so much . They use newer parts and products instead of older correct parts they no longer produce .

Would this simply because it was a customer choice to use newer parts? Or would they refuse to refurbish older parts? I.e. if my door skin was rotting, would they be happy to cut out a new door skin from a new door and weld it to the old door frame to maintain the originality, if structurally the door frame was perfectly sound?

when you say cosmetically is that mainly interior trim parts etc? Surely we could ask the restoration to just keep those and clean/reinstall if that's the case?

Not looking for them to reproduce a new car for me, mainly to keep its originality and make it drive as good as new for the next 25 years.

[Unobtanium-inc]

Running and driving the Porsche Classic restoration will be great . Cosmetically not so much . They use newer parts and products instead of older correct parts they no longer produce .

That's not always true, they contact us when they want to source authentic and sometimes NOS parts. Last year they were working on a T5B 356 Roadster and sought an NOS windshield upright. They didn't want repro and they didn't want restored original, they wanted NOS. We had the part and shipped it, but they had been calling around for awhile looking for the right part.
Just one real world example.

---Adam