911 Carrera

Make
Porsche
Segment
Coupe

There's something very satisfying about seeing new life brought to a Porsche 911, or any other classic from the German manufacturer. Classic cars from all regions of the world usually benefit from loyalists who preserve the history of their makers but when it comes to Porsche, we can't deny that the dedication is taken to new limits.

Whether it is in-house restorations or bespoke restomod rebuilds like what you would see from Singer, the final product is almost always impeccable. Porsche itself keeps this culture alive and offers its clients a conclusive classic catalog that consists of more than 60,000 parts dating back to the 356.

In a bid to create a more engaging restoration community and build awareness of the art of classic restoration, Porsche USA has announced its Classic Restoration Challenge for 2022. The competition was inaugurated last year and saw huge success as dealerships and workshops across the country put their best equipment and skills forward to bring some of these German sports cars back to their former glory.

For this year, an estimated 60 participants will be selected after submitting a diverse collection of classics that need a little attention. The range includes a 356, 914, five 911 models, a 944, and a 928. An example of the first-generation Boxster and Cayenne are also being worked over as these are now considered to be modern classics of the brand.

The competition will run until July at which time each competing team will be working hard to create bring each car back to its showroom condition. The entries will be put under scrutiny at three events in the East, South-Central, and West regions. One representative from each location will be entered into the finals to compete for the top prize which will be announced in September.

"The mission of Porsche Classic and our dealer partners is to go above and beyond every day to keep vintage cars on the road and driving just as well as the moment they left the factory," says Jonathan Sieber, Manager of Porsche Classic North America. "With the Restoration Challenge, dealers and service teams are able to showcase their skills and capabilities while revitalizing these dream machines. Our inaugural competition in 2021 produced some truly stunning examples of classic Porsche sports cars, and we expect even more from our participants this year."

The division noted much more interest in the competition for this year compared to last. 60 dealerships had put their hand up to compete which is a 50% increase over 2021. Each participant will have access to Porsche-trained technicians as well as the aforementioned parts catalog to ensure that their final products are restored without compromise.

For the judging process, Porsche Cars North America will issue a panel of its experts that will carefully inspect everything from the body and engine to the suspension and interior. Each car that is restored for the competition will be granted a Classic Technical Certificate that details the original production information. Porsche says that frequent updates will be provided on each of the 12 cars that will be reassembled.

For last year's competition, Porsche Ontario won the prestigious award after putting together a rare 1989 Porsche 911 Targa G-Model. This unique classic bested the likes of a 1990 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Targa Type 964 recreated by Porsche Dallas and a 1990 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Type 964 restored by Porsche Warrington.

Sieber explained that the decision to mark it as the winner was because "everything from the 3.2 Carrera engine and two-tone interior, down to the documentation, was immaculately done by Porsche Ontario. Your eye is drawn to the Targa by the red lettering and Fuchs wheels, but it's the amount of detail and attention the team put into every step of the process that gave it an extra edge in the competition."