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Porsche’s ultimate restoration showdown: finalists announced

From barn find to beauty: Porsche’s restoration finalists

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People’s Choice - Porsche Delaware 1986 928 S.
People’s Choice – Porsche Delaware 1986 928 S Porsche

If you think restoring a classic Porsche is just about polish and paint, think again. These builds are sweat, skill, and borderline obsession, and they’ve now been narrowed down to the best of the best. The 2025 Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge has just announced its regional winners from the east and south-central regions.

Seventy-three entries set a record this year. From factory-fresh perfection to wild custom touches, the eight finalists below are now on their way to battle it out at the national showdown on October 4 in Durham, North Carolina.

These aren’t weekend garage jobs. The restorations are done by Porsche-trained technicians at official Porsche Centers across the U.S. Each team gets access to the company’s massive library of over 85,000 Porsche Classic parts.

The competition is divided into three classes. Preservation is about keeping the car as original as possible, focusing on careful mechanical refreshes and repairs without over-restoring. Restoration is the “factory fresh” category, where the goal is to return a car to showroom condition. In the Individualization class, technicians can flex their creativity with custom modifications

Porsche North Houston – 2004 911 GT3 (Restoration)

Restoration - Porsche North Houston 2004 911 GT3 (Before)
Restoration – Porsche North Houston 2004 911 GT3 (Before) Porsche
Restoration - Porsche North Houston 2004 911 GT3 (After).
Porsche

A modern classic stripped down and rebuilt to factory-fresh glory in Speed Yellow.

Porsche Louisville – 2002 Boxster S (Preservation)

Preservation - Porsche Louisville 2002 Boxster S (After).
Porsche
Preservation - Porsche Louisville 2002 Boxster S (Before).
Preservation – Porsche Louisville 2002 Boxster S (Before) Porsche

A first-owner Boxster brought back to life by a technician younger than the car itself.

Harper Porsche – 1992 964 RS (Individualization)

Individualization - Harper Porsche 1992 964 RS (Before).
Individualization – Harper Porsche 1992 964 RS (Before) Porsche
Individualization - Harper Porsche 1992 964 RS (After).
Individualization – Harper Porsche 1992 964 RS (After) Porsche

A no-limits 964 Carrera RS with wild Chromaflair paint and a 3.8-liter upgrade.

Hendrick Porsche – 1988 959 Komfort (People’s Choice)

People’s Choice - Hendrick Porsche 1988 959 Komfort (Before).
People’s Choice – Hendrick Porsche 1988 959 Komfort (Before) Porsche
Peoples Choice - Hendrick Porsche 1988 959 Komfort (After).
Peoples Choice – Hendrick Porsche 1988 959 Komfort (After) Porsche

GM’s old Porsche 959 test mule revived with its patina intact and history preserved.

Porsche Edison – 1996 911 C2 Cabriolet (Restoration)

Restoration - Porsche Edison 1996 911 C2 Cabriolet (Before).
Restoration – Porsche Edison 1996 911 C2 Cabriolet (Before) Porsche
Restoration - Porsche Edison 1996 911 C2 Cabriolet (After).
Restoration – Porsche Edison 1996 911 C2 Cabriolet (After) Porsche

A son’s promise to his father restored into a fresh new life for this drop-top 911.

Porsche Beachwood – 1995 911 Carrera 4S (Preservation)

Preservation - Porsche Beachwood 1995 911 Carrera 4S (Before).
Preservation – Porsche Beachwood 1995 911 Carrera 4S (Before) Porsche
Preservation - Porsche Beachwood 1995 911 Carrera 4S (After).
Preservation – Porsche Beachwood 1995 911 Carrera 4S (After) Porsche

A single-family-owned 911 refreshed for a new chapter, complete with Penske’s signature.

Porsche Clifton Park – 1988 911 Carrera Coupe (Individualization)

Individualization - Porsche Clifton Park 1988 911 Carrera Coupe (After).
Individualization – Porsche Clifton Park 1988 911 Carrera Coupe (After) Porsche
Individualization - Porsche Clifton Park 1988 911 Carrera Coupe (Before).
Individualization – Porsche Clifton Park 1988 911 Carrera Coupe (Before) Porsche

Nicknamed “Beauty,” this family car survived a deer strike and now sports a bold custom look.

Porsche Delaware – 1986 928 S (People’s Choice)

People’s Choice - Porsche Delaware 1986 928 S (After).
People’s Choice – Porsche Delaware 1986 928 S (After) Porsche
People’s Choice - Porsche Delaware 1986 928 S (Before).
People’s Choice – Porsche Delaware 1986 928 S (Before) Porsche

Once tired and forgotten, this 928 S returns with gullwing doors and a custom interior.


Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown
Former Contributing Editor
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce… Read Full Bio
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