Over the last 10 years or so, West Coast Customs and Pimp My Ride types of modified cars fell out of favor. Gearheads started looking into something classier. The high-school oriented types of mods were replaced by more mature and sport oriented trends. The restomod trend is so far the only trend that combines both elegance and sportiness.
Though gearheads tend to stumble across restomodded classic muscle cars, there are tons of other restomods out there. Whether they are European or Japanese vehicles, the restomod trend is not exclusive to classic American cars. Classic Porsches make great project cars for restomod builds.
10 Gentlemen's Special
Back in the 1950s, the automotive industry was becoming more globalized. Essentially limited to specific markets, car manufacturers started massively exporting their vehicles to lucrative markets. Though European brands could be found in the States during the pre-war era, nothing prepared the world for what happened following the end of World War 2.
This 1964 Porsche 356 by Emory Motorsports is the type of Porsches only the super rich can afford. With a price tag of $350,000, this 356 Emory Special is one restomod that should be loved and cherished. Emory did want this legendary sports car to lose its original aura, and did not replace the original engine with something too powerful. The 2.4-liter flat-four engine makes an acceptable 185 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. That is more than double what the original motor develops.
9 Rumbler
When looking at the latest Porsche 911s, it is quite understandable that their owners may not want to add a flame vinyl wrap and 24' spinning rims. The 2021 911 starts at a whopping $99,000, and comes with a hardcore, twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six engine that makes at least 379 hp. Those numbers may seem outstanding today, but they will most likely make the average gearhead shrug their shoulders in 20 years.
Built from scratch by STRAAT Automobile, this gorgeous 1973 Porsche 911 was built with the RSR of that year in mind. The original RSR is a track-ready bundle of joy fitted with a 2.8-liter flat-six engine, as is common in Porsche cars. This particular RSR comes with a more potent 3.8-liter flat-six. With a power output of 355 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, the owner of this beauty must be a happy camper.
8 Street Racer
Since its inception, Porsche has shown the world that its vehicles were the pinnacle of innovation, and were always bringing more power and adrenaline to the table. In an effort to keep the tradition going, some tuners have turned classic Porsches into modernized monsters.
Canepa is not a stranger among car collectors. Established by Bruce Canepa, the Porsche cars that come out of this shop have been modified by a group of people that are passionate about what they do. This 1976 Porsche 934 is the prime example. Restored from the ground up, the race car was turned into a street legal mean machine.
7 Restomodded?
The restomod trend is quite peculiar. It is not a black or white thing. Rather, the trend tend to have several approaches. The 1,100 hp 1972 AMC Javelin built by Ringbrothers would on the extreme end of the spectrum. The car looks absolutely nothing like its original self.
At gProgramm, it is all about being discreet. The unsuspecting car fans will think that whatever comes out of gProgramm's shop is a beautifully restored classic. Though it is true that this 1979 911SC Targa is simply gorgeous, it is far from being in its original condition. The 3.4-liter flat-six was built to produce 350 hp, which is a huge improvement from the original 185 hp.
6 Extended Life
Cars from the late '80s and '90s may not always be perceived as classics. Instant classics do get a lot of attention from car aficionados, but they are usually not the sort of rides one would want to heavily modify. However, it is important to remember that the early were '90s were already 30 years ago. It is fair to say that a great sports car from the '90s is now a classic.
The 993 is an incredible vehicle. From the moment the 993 Turbo was released, it was crystal clear that Porsche would have more to offer in the future. Only 21 993 GT2s were made in 1998. Although it may be challenging to find an original GT2, it is possible to get something equally exciting. Gunther Werks offers its own take on the 993 named the 400r. The 400r comes with a 4.0-liter tuned to churn out a satisfying 400 hp. For $525,000 plus the cost of a 993, this 400r could be yours.
5 Classic
Some cars tend to look like they could go to the moon and back. Oftentimes, the outlandish look makes up for serious shortcomings, such as a sheer lack of power or a level of unreliability that would ruin Jeff Bezos. German cars tend to be very different in general. They tend to have a very stern yet classy feel to them. As the saying goes, sometimes less is more.
There are several surprising details about the Porsche 911. They are some of the best cars to modify into amazing showstoppers. Back in Germany, Kaege Automobile knows exactly how to turn a cool classic that can tear up the track. This gorgeous 911 is 200 lbs lighter than its original self thanks to a variety of carbon fiber parts. At best, this tastefully restomodded Porsche comes with a 4.1-liter that makes 350 hp.
4 Art
The United Kingdom is one of the most peculiar countries when it comes to cars. For a country that colonized the entire world, its automotive industry is relatively quiet compared to Germany or Italy. With that said, it is important to remember that some of the most luxurious car brands are still British. When it comes to giving a second life to old classics, some British shops have shown the world that they know exactly how to get things done.
The Paul Stephens Porsche Clubsport Series 2 is a great vehicle. Having undergone a massive transformation, the Clubsport Series 2 had a curb weight of around 2,205 lbs. Being light as a feather, it is no surprise that the 3.6-liter engine, which happens to make a respectable 320 hp, allows the gorgeous classic to zoom down the road.
3 Off-Roading
It is often believed that a restomodded car must absolutely be fitted with a modified modern engine that pumps out over 600 hp. The brake system ought to be from Brembo and must be capable of stopping a jumbo jet. Though it is true that most restomod projects are legitimate track-ready vehicles, fun is not always on a paved road. Some gearheads are far more excited when it is time for some off-road action.
Put together by Russell Built, a smaller shop based in Southern California, the Baja-style 964 is not another show car. In fact, the entire sports car was revisited in order to navigate any terrain. Russell Built offers a 3.6L-liter bored and stroked to 3.8 liters that delivers 365 hp. This Baja may be Russell Built's only project so far, but it is fair to say that they did it right.
2 Mulholland Dr.
The greatest thing about the restomod trend is the fact that tuners finally came to their senses. The unnecessary TVs in the headrests and the videogame systems in the center console have given way to much more practical and sport-oriented elements. Moreover, the approach adopted by some shop owners is more artistic than anything else.
A 1990 classic Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Targa reimagined by Singer is available, and it is one of the best toys one could ever think of. However, Singer has got a lot more to offer. This Mulholland Drive themed 1991 911 is absolutely stunning inside and out. Going to car meets with this bad boy will for sure turn heads. As far as power is concerned, the 4.0-liter cranks out a solid 500 hp. Forget about driving aggressively with a soundtrack. There is nothing in the Mulholland Drive Singer that is made for comfort. It is all about sportiness.
1 Extra Sauce
The term "sleeper" is well-known in the car scene. Though they can be spotted from a mile away but the most educated gearheads out there, sleepers never fail to put owners of supercars to shame. It is as if owners of those sleeper cars are some kind of trolls that want to hurt people's egos. With that said, it is quite difficult to turn a Porsche into a sleeper, but it is not impossible.
Based on the one-off TAG F1 Porsche 930 fitted with the twin-turbocharged V6 found on Porsche-powered McLaren formula 1s from the '80s, Lanzante offered 11 TAG F1 Porsche back in 2018. With a power output of 503 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Though most of them must have been sold by now, the original price tag was an eye-watering $1.4 million.