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Porsche’s ultimate restoration showdown: finalists announced

From barn find to beauty: Porsche’s restoration finalists

By Bruce Brown Sep 19, 2025 12:54 PM

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). — Restoration – Porsche North Houston 2004 911 GT3 (Before) 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). — 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 (Before) 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). — People’s Choice – Hendrick Porsche 1988 959 Komfort (Before) 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 (Before) 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 (Before) 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 (After) 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 (After) Porsche

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

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

Porsche just proved the Cayenne Electric is the most impressive performance vehicle you can drive

Car, Transportation, Vehicle

I have seen the movies. I know there is no way that a car can survive in the jet blast of a plane. I remember the scene from Casino Royale. And for me, that is science. But the engineers at Porsche and Stratolaunch aren’t so sure. They operate in the real world of science, and they came together to see if the Porsche Cayenne Electric could withstand the take-off power of one of the largest and most powerful aircraft in the world. Why? Because they can and because curiosity oftentimes leads to something awesome. Spoiler alert…the car holds up. But don’t take my word for it.

The car is its own beast. It’s got the ability to keep up and play in this space. – Orlando Bloom, Porsche ambassador

Indian commits to American artistry with Signature Series

Machine, Spoke, Helmet

There is something about sitting on the back of a motorcycle that you can’t feel anywhere else. Road trips feel different on the back of a bike versus in a car. Maybe it is the solo aspect of it. Maybe there is the feeling of the wind. Who knows? What I do know is that there is nothing like a bike ride through the countryside. The winding roads, the sunsets through the visor of the helmet, all of it is unrivaled. Indian Motorcycle understands this, and they have since they became the first American motorcycle company. Now, they have dropped a new Signature Series of four motorcycles echoing their commitment to American artistry and craftsmanship.

Since 1901, Indian Motorcycle has pursued the ultimate intersection of form and function – motorcycles that are as beautiful in design as they are sophisticated in performance – Mike Kennedy, CEO of Indian Motorcycle

Is the BMW XM a perfect blend of practicality and performance

Car, Transportation, Vehicle

The BMW XM has received a bit of a mixed response, but there’s a strong argument that it’s a logical next step on from the BMW M5. Think about it, the M5 is special because it combines practicality with exceptional performance. The BMW XM does the same thing, though you’re trading a little handling quality for far more practicality.

On a recent venture in BMW’s performance SUV, I weighed up the pros and cons of BMW’s most divisive vehicle. And it may be a better choice than BMW’s flagship.