ANDY PRILL
Effective planning in advance of any restoration or restomod project getting underway is vital in ensuring a successful build, not only in terms of establishing a realistic timeframe for completion of the work, but also in protecting your car’s safety features as you embark on an exciting air-cooled adventure...
People have always modified Porsches. The trend started with the manufacturer itself, developing the 356 from the Beetle and the 911 from the 356. And across the past six decades, the 911 has been continually tweaked, tuned and altered, resulting in evolution of the species, from the simple, air-cooled 901 revealed at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show, to the technological tour de force of today’s 992. When approaching a restomod project, it’s vitally important you follow determination to personalise your chosen Porsche with the realisation not everyone will share your vision. In other words, the more wild or unusual the modifications you make, the more difficult it may before you to sell your Porsche at a later date. Obviously, this may also have an impact on the value of the car — don’t be fooled into thinking you are adding financial worth simply as a consequence of spending a fortune creating what you consider to be the perfect Porsche. Of course, it’s your car and you can do what you want with it, but the more ‘individual’ you make the air-cooled Porsche you’re in charge of, the more likely you’ll find it difficult to engage a willing buyer prepared to pay top dollar after you’ve had your fun and want to move onto another car or, perhaps, another Porsche restomod project.
A canny approach is to make sure all the changes you introduce are reversible, safeguarding a return to standard specification come resale time. Whatever you decide, however, make sure the work carried out is to a high standard. Not everyone will appreciate your choices, but most Porsche enthusiasts will be able to acknowledge strong workmanship, irrespective of whether they’d opt for the same modifications. You also need to ensure the changes you’re bringing to your car aren’t reducing the vehicle’s integrity in terms of safety. If in doubt, pick up the phone — I’m happy to chat to enthusiasts about the air-cooled Porsche projects they’re planning (or are already working on), regardless of whether Prill Porsche Classics is being instructed to carry out the work. If I can help with friendly advice, I will.
Recognise the car you’re starting with. Tearing apart an early ‘first paint’ 911 for stripdown and reassembly in custom configuration is probably a huge mistake (for obvious reasons). If you intend to go to town with a bespoke or Outlaw-style build, consider buying a lower-cost car to serve as the base for your project. A higher-mileage 911 or similarly leggy 912, for example, can be yours for far less expense and you won’t have as much (if any) impact on the value of the vehicle when you’re done transforming it into something special. Before cutting up a perfectly operating Porsche, though, draw up a plan of action outlining exactly how you intend to get to the project’s end point. Involve your chosen specialists at this stage and be aware of your own limitations — there’s no point building a car with looks to die for, but a behind-the-wheel experience you’d hate to repeat in a hurry. Do your research, refer to the wealth of resources available to Porsche owners and shop around for the best advice. Most of all, enjoy the creative journey.
MOST PORSCHE ENTHUSIASTS WILL BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE STRONG WORKMANSHIP