Porsche cars are popular for myriad reasons. They come from the factory with excellent performance but have always been tuner friendly whether for the road or turning into race cars. The collector market is one of the healthiest around, while the Porsche restomod market has blossomed over the past decade.
Taking a classic Porsche and giving it modern comfort and conveniences has become just a starting point for restomods. Singer is perhaps the best-known Porsche restoration company at the moment and built its name on the foundations of craftsmanship and style. Then there are companies like RUF who are better known for modifying Porsches but have also become a restoration house that will gladly give your classic Porsche big power and serious handling chops.
But there are plenty more besides, each offering there own unique flavors. These are some of our favorite models from various companies we've come across over the years.
Canepa 959SC (Porsche 959)
Bruce Canepa is a former race car driver and resto-mod master, and a legend in the Porsche community. He was the man who figured out how to get the legendary Porsche 959 onto US streets through the Show and Display law and has been modifying Porsche's technological marvel from 1986. Only 337 959 models were built, including prototypes and pre-production cars, and at the time it was the fastest street-legal car in the world. A Canepa restomod spends around 500 hours on the bodywork, and another 300 on the interior, and then his engineers set to work on the engine. Given how rare the 959 is and the work Canepa puts in, we can only imagine the final cost of these creations is astronomical.
Nowadays, 444 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque isn't a big deal. So, Canepa delivers a 763-hp engine upgrade to turn an old supercar into something close to a modern hypercar.
Emory RS (Porsche 356 / Porsche 911)
At the heart of every Emory restomod is an Emory-Rothsport Outlaw-4 engine based on the 3.6-liter dry-sump engine architecture from the 964 generation Porsche 911. It's designed to make reliable and responsive power, and, in this case, is fitted into a car that is, essentially, a Porsche 356 body with the underpinning of a 1990s 911. Emory is famous for its Outlaw cars that feature rally or race car styling cues, while the Emory RS is billed as the "ultimate performance in a vintage package." Love it or hate, it's one hell of a statement.
Gunther Werks 993 (Porsche 911 993-Gen)
Every company featured on this list so far has been California based, and, despite its name, Gunther Werks is also a Cali company. Only 25 models of the Gunther Werks 993-generation Porsche 911 are being built, and they are spectacular. Each model is first stripped down to its component parts and then rebuilt with fresh parts where necessary and lightweight components where appropriate. Carbon-fiber bodywork is part of the recipe that brings the final weight of the car down to 2,660 lbs. Gunther Werks also fits a new suspension system, modern safety equipment, a bespoke lighting system, and a 4.0-liter engine developed by Rothsport. The engine makes 330 lb-ft of torque with over 400 hp to finish off what Gunther Werks aims to be an immersive homage to the Porsche 993's iconic heritage.
RUF SCR 2018 (Porsche 911 SC)
RUF has stretched the idea of a restomod to breaking point with the RUF SCR 2018. It has the "DNA of the 1978 SCR," RUF's original SCR that was based on the Porsche 911 SC. Rather than taking a Porsche model and working on that, the new model is based around a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis and a full carbon-fiber body-shell reinforced by an integrated roll cage. Powering the vehicle that weighs just 2,755 lbs, is a RUF-built 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated Porsche boxer-engine with over 500 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque.
Lanzante Porsche 930 TAG Turbo (Porsche 911 930 Gen)
While its looks are unassuming, the Lanzante Porsche 930 has a lump of insanity loaded into the engine bay at the rear. Lanzante Motorsport works closely with McLaren, and from 1984 to 1987, Porsche built a 1.5-liter twin-turbocharged TAG-Porsche TTE P01 V6 engine for the McLaren MP4/2 and MP4/3. The F1 engine made 750-1,000 hp, depending on what was required, and powered the McLaren Formula 1 team to 26 race wins. Now, McLaren has sold Lanzante the 11 engines, and the British company has put them in Porsche 930s, each with a plaque showing the engine's racing history.
To recap: Lanzante is putting F1 engines into the Porsche 911 model that was nicknamed the "widowmaker" when it made just 320 hp.
Straat Porsche 911 (Carrera 3.2)
A restomod Porsche doesn't need crazy power or insane levels of engineering prowess to be something special. Straat is a Miami-based restoration and modification company that performs nut and bolt level restorations as well as customization. Straat is passionate about detail and chooses its donor models carefully.
This 1980's 911 model was torn down to its component pieces and built back up again with its lines intact and on classic Fuchs-style wheels. Along with its custom look, it's air-cooled 3.0-liter flat-six has been rebuilt with electronic fuel injection, and that's matched to a 5-speed 915 generation manual gearbox. It also rides on coil-over suspension and stops using modern Porsche brakes, while the inside has advanced materials and technology while keeping its heritage looks.
PS AutoArt Speedster (1989 Porsche 911 Targa)
In the UK, Paul Stephens is a big name in Porsche circles, and PS AutoArt covers everything from restoration with mild upgrades to full-on custom builds. The PS AutoArt Speedster is a one-off Spyder restomod based on a 1989 911 Targa that was an edge case for restoration. The rebuild os completely bespoke from the humps and wind defector replacing the windscreen, to the legendary 550 Spyder invoking interior with jewel-like switchgear, to the breathed-upon 3.2-liter flat-six.
Singer Vehicle Design 'Dynamics and Lightweighting Study' (Porsche 911 964-Gen)
When Singer partnered with Porsche enthusiast Scott Blattner, something special was created - even by Singer's standards. Like all Singer restomods, it's based on a 1990 Porsche 911 964, but this one has an engine modified by Williams and makes 500 hp at 9,000 rpm. Williams also had a heavy in hand in the aerodynamics of the 911 as well as the car's double-wishbone front suspension. Bosch calibrated the ABS, traction control, and electronic stability control systems while Brembo supplied the carbon-ceramic brakes. The interior is about as bespoke as it gets, and the looks and materials are all up to Singer's exceptionally-high standards.
Paul Stephens Le Mans Classic Clubsport (Porsche 911)
Based in the south of England, Paul Stephens and his team obsess over the Le Mans Classic Clubsport with technical detail based on 25 years of experience. Only ten examples were slated to be built, and are based off an extensively restored 911 before the "less is more" approach is taken. The build starts with composite bumpers and an engine cover with an aluminum hood before the sunroof is removed. In fact, anything vaguely luxurious is removed, and the Le Mans Classic Clubsport is fitted with unique lightweight carpets, manual windows and locks, and plastic rear windows. The 3.4-liter air-cooled boxer six is upgraded with electronic fuel injection to make around 300 hp and then mated to a Getrag G50 gearbox and a limited-slip differential.
In full Lightweight guise, it weighs just 2,138 lbs and will punch 60 mph from zero in 4.4 seconds. Speed is not the point, though, as the Le Mans Classic Clubsport is designed to be as pure of an air-cooled Porsche driving experience as possible.
Autoaktiv Motorsport Lightspeed Classic (Porsche 911 964-Gen)
Autoaktiv Motorsport is run by Ralf Skatulla and based just outside of Munich. The Lightspeed Classic is a hardcore road car for the track, but can also be serviced at any Porsche dealer. The carbon fiber extensions are on all four corners, but at the rear, they make the 964 911 almost as wide as a 930 911 Turbo. The transmission comes out of a 996 Turbo, the clutch is from a 997 GT3 RS, and the 3.8 flat-six from the 964 RS. The engine is rebuilt using as much titanium as possible and make 330 horsepower at 7,500 rpm. More parts from other generation 911s include 996 GT3 Cup brakes with 322 mm discs from a 965 Turbo, and the seats are from a 997 GT2. The cherry on top of the rapid cake is the Fuchs BBS hybrid wheels.