Thursday 25th October 2018

Porsche restores 20 cars - and will sell them all!

10 Boxsters, air-cooled 911s, water-cooled and transaxle cars are going to the Classic Motor Show

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Have you heard that restoring old Porsches is quite a lucrative business? Course you have, it's been going on long enough. But now Porsche itself is keen to get in on the action; what you see here are two of the 20 new restorations undertaken by Porsche Centres and Porsche Recommended Repairers. Twenty!

The cars will be shown at the Classic Motor Show next month, another celebration of Porsche's seven decades as a manufacturer. Of the 20 half are original Boxsters, like the one seen in the photos, suggesting that car might finally be enjoying its 15 minutes of fame as a genuine little classic. The cynical may suggest that sourcing and overhauling 10 Boxsters might cost the same as doing up a pair of 964s, but Boxster aficionados will surely be pleased regardless.

Aside from the 964 also pictured, it's as yet unknown what the other "air-cooled, water-cooled and transaxle cars" will be, however Porsche has confirmed that all restored cars will be painted 'Liquid Metal' - a silver until now reserved for the 918 - and feature a "bespoke" interior with a plaque. Naturally all work was completed using Porsche Classic Genuine Parts, with some sympathetic updates courtesy of the Porsche Classic range - see the 964 interior for the new radio/nav system.

The two cars seen thus far look, as you would expect, really rather nice - black wheels notwithstanding - so it'll be interesting to see the 18 still under wraps. The news gets better for Porsche fans, too, because the cars will be going up for sale. All that's known for now is that they will be sold towards the end of this year, and visitors will be able to register their interest at the NEC. If a minty fresh 986 has been on the wish list for a while, 10 very special ones are going to be available soon.

Yet further joy is to be found at the Classic Motor Show for Boxster fans, too, as a collection of the Restoracing Boxsters that have been campaigned this year will also be on display. The truly dedicated will be pleased to know that a 2019 season has already been given the green light.

Finally, if your Porsche preference is only for the rear-engined stuff, the Project 70 911, as raced this year by Richard Attwood, Derek Bell and Anthony Reid across Europe, will be on the stand alongside the swarm of Boxsters. And rather lovely it looks, too. Porsche fans, you know where to be on the weekend of 9-11 November...

 

 

[Davey S2]

I cant really see the point of these. Just means you could buy a 'new' standard Boxster of 964.

If that's what you want then either buy a mint example of what you want or get one restored yourself. Not exactly short of companies who can do this for you.

I'd far rather spend the money on upgrading the standard car - better engine, suspension, brakes, wheels etc. Ok it won't be original and a lot of people don't like these resto mod Outlaw or Hot Rod cars but that wouldn't bother me at all. I'd much rather have modern levels of performance wrapped up in a retro body.

I assume the 964s would go for some pretty serious money which you could spend getting Tuthill, Paul Stephens, Van Thull etc to build one to your spec.

[gigglebug]

To be fair there only needs to be 20 folks who see the point of having a car that has been recommissioned by Porsche themselves, as oppose to any of the other many alternatives, and I can't see that being a stretch to achieve by any means so I wouldn't be worrying about it. Will be interesting to see what makes up the remaining allocation.

The colour scheme definitely suits the 964 better than the Boxster.

Edited by gigglebug on Thursday 25th October 12:24

[daveco]

Good to see the Boxster 2.5 getting some love.

A lot of fun to drive, great little engine with a lot of character.

[TheRainMaker]

They won't have any problems shifting those, the price of these will go through the roof.

[gigglebug]

I expect the price may have gone through the roof already to be fair.

[wab172uk]

Can't see the point. It's not like the 964's are going to be given similar `Singer` treatment. Just restored back to original with black wheel and a new paint job.

But given the price of 964's anyway, the price of these `Porsche restored` cars will surely hit new heights. Soon to be sat on internet car buying sites for an additional premium !

For the Boxster? I just don't get it.

[TheRainMaker]

wab172uk said:

For the Boxster? I just don't get it.

Same, 20 years too early IMO

[m444ttb]

I had a good look at the Boxster pictured at Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble and was disappointed. Look past the fresh paint, wheels and larger interior items and it looked its age. I assume there was still some serious detailing work to go before it was ready for sale. Certainly it didn't look like the interior had been dismantled, cleaned and reinstalled. The most obvious area was round the hood just off the driver's shoulder.

[boxsey]

I think the 964 could do without that original ride height!!

[devnull]

possibly better than a 'time warp barn find' which may be of dubious provenance and need extensive recomissioning.

[LennyM1984]

m444ttb said:

I had a good look at the Boxster pictured at Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble and was disappointed. Look past the fresh paint, wheels and larger interior items and it looked its age. I assume there was still some serious detailing work to go before it was ready for sale. Certainly it didn't look like the interior had been dismantled, cleaned and reinstalled. The most obvious area was round the hood just off the driver's shoulder.

Ah that's a shame. I was hoping that they had done a proper nuts and bolts rebuild/restoration. Otherwise you are just paying for the fact that porsche have stuck a plaque on it

[redroadster]

Such is following of air cooled fans I think they should try and get old car through crash tests or build under low volume type approval rules they would sell .

[TegTypeR]

Restoration to me means returning it back to original factory specification and colours.

It's the Boxster I have the most issue with. It looks awful.

I'm sure they never came out of the factory with black wheels and vents (I'm sure someone will argue they had a personalisation scheme and 3 rolled out of the factory like it!).

I also guess the 2.5 engine car was used as a base as these are the only ones that have remained reliable (much more so than the 2.7 and 3.2's and their numerous seal and liner issues).

I would say I don't see the point in it all but sadly I do....... it's all about the money for Porsche, which is a shame.

[ReaperCushions]

Watch early 2.5 Boxster prices skyrocket from here now based on this seal of approval.

Poverty Porkers no more!

[TooMany2cvs]

TheRainMaker said:

wab172uk said:

For the Boxster? I just don't get it.

Same, 20 years too early IMO

What else are they going to do with that massive back-stock of early Boxy parts?

Nobody's asking dealers for them, because a headlight probably costs about the same as buying another early Boxy...

[Hellbound]

Hmmmm might be time to get on the ground floor of Boxster ownership before these early cars start creeping up in price. It’ll happen, you know it will.

[MC Bodge]

On a related note, I recently saw a white 80s 928S being given a bit of welly along a road where I was sitting outside a café. It looked and *sounded* great. Amazing that the design is from the 70s. Not immaculate from what I could tell, but more appealling to me than an early Boxster (more expensive, though?)

[noble12345]

Restoring a Boxter?! Why? it was a sluggish pile of heavy underpowered crap with a steering wheel off a bus lol.. oh and the engines destroying themselves. . .

Its good to see they are proud of their heritage, so are they going to restore their other heavy tanks too?

[jnoiles]

Restored it might be but that boxster still has a face like a smashed crab.

[anonymous-user]

Porsche seem to like gimmicks.