USA: 2025 Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge National Champion Determined

The 5th Porsche Restoration Challenge

Now in its fifth year, the Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge, a competition in which Porsche Centers (authorized dealers) across the United States compete in their classic Porsche restoration skills, has decided on a champion.

The awards were presented at Luftgekühlt 11 after contests were held over the summer in the three Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) sales regions of the United States: West, South Central, and East.

Luftgekühlt 11 is an event for air-cooled PorschesThis year it was held in North Carolina.

Now in its fifth year, the event will see the largest number of entries ever, with 73 vehicles from across the United States.

Porsche Centers across the United States competed in three categories:

• Preservation: Focus on maintaining the originality of the vehicle
• Restoration: involves returning a vehicle to its original specification and condition.
• Individualization: Creative changes are possible

A Grand National Champion is selected from the winners of these three categories, and there is also a People's Choice Award, in which the general public selects one car from the candidates.

Individualization Winner and Grand National Champion:Porsche Bend

The winner of the Individualization category, and also the Grand National Champion, was a 1973 Porsche 911T, RSR Tribute restored by Porsche Bend.

Porsche Bend originally intended to enter this early 1970s classic Porsche in the 2024 Classic Restoration Challenge, but once they disassembled it, they realized they had acquired something truly special.

So technicians redesigned, shaped and welded the body using steel RSR fender flares to create a striking widebody silhouette.

Preparing the body to be restored to its original vibrant Viper Green, painters faithfully recreated the original factory appearance.

The interior features custom "S" dash trim, RS-style door handles, and hand-applied houndstooth inlays on the door pulls, exclusive to the 964RS America.

Power comes from a 2.8-liter engine based on the Porsche Classic 8R case and a modern fuel injection system.

The engine, which produces over 280 horsepower, is fitted with a modified 915 gearbox with a limited slip differential optimised to match the engine's power output.

Restoration Winner:Porsche North Houston

The restoration category champion was Porsche North Houston.

The winner was a 2004 Porsche 911 GT3. The restoration began with the goal of returning this modern classic to factory-perfect condition.

The Speed Yellow 996.2 GT3 is equipped with an analog 3.6-liter Mezger flat-six engine.

The first step was to identify the major areas that needed repair, such as the deteriorated paint protection film and some mechanical parts.

Inside, the dashboard was removed and repairs were made to restore proper airflow and cabin function, and years of grease and grime were removed from the engine bay and undercarriage using dry ice blasting.

The engine has been fitted with new seals and cooling pipes, and the clutch has also been replaced.

The team carefully inspected the transmission to ensure it was in working order, then worked on restoring the Speed Yellow paint and refreshing the interior touch points.

Preservation Winner:Gaudin Porsche of Las Vegas

Huh? I think Gaudin Porsche of Las Vegas won the same preservation category last year. Amazing. I wonder if he's aiming for this category again this year.

The car that was restored this time is actually a 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S that was put up as collateral for a high-stakes poker game held by a small group of patrons at a Detroit bar after hours in 1994, when the stakes were so high that the car was put up as collateral for the bet.

This car was won by a poker winner and was driven daily until the winner passed away.

It's a Porsche with a historical background that makes it worthy of being restored by the Porsche Center in Las Vegas.

The car had been left in the same place for about 20 years, but the bonnet struts and wiper blades with air deflectors were still original, so the goal this time was to keep it simple and as original as possible.

Mechanical maintenance was commenced in February 2025, including a full oil service, and major wear parts were replaced: the water pump, drive belt, and coolant expansion tank.

The braking system has been completely overhauled to restore safety and pedal feel.

Apparently, the customer response to this 944 was overwhelming. And what's great about it is that the story behind this car began at a poker table.

People's Choice Winner: Harper Porsche

Finally, the People's Choice award went to Harper Porsche's 1992 Porsche 964 RS.

Inspired by the spirit of the Sonderwunsch program, this car was born from the idea of "what if we were to build a 964 Carrera RS without any restrictions?"

The body color is a beautifully transitioning pearlescent paint reminiscent of Porsche Green, a favorite of Harper Porsche.Chroma flare style paintThere are also many accents inspired by the

The interior features black Alcantara and green accents on the stitching, carpet embroidery, door cards, etc.

The custom meter with dial indicator is said to be inspired by Rolex Daytona and Porsche Design watches.

Interior components that appear to be matte carbon fiber actually contribute to weight reduction and give the car the visual appeal befitting an RS.

The functional carbon fiber continues in the engine bay, where the engine developed and manufactured specifically for this RS produces a robust 394 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque, matching the power-to-weight ratio of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, which easily exceeds the 100 horsepower/liter mark.

The significance of the restoration challenge

The United States is said to be the market with the largest number of classic Porsches in the world, and many classic Porsches, including those participating in this restoration challenge, are maintained by trained technicians.

These technicians use approximately 85,000 genuine Porsche Classic parts to carry out the comprehensive restoration process.

They are in contact with many classic Porsches on a daily basis, and each one is a restoration challenge, so this competition is an opportunity to show off the culmination of the skills they have cultivated over the years.

Classic Porsches are not only wonderful cars, but they have been able to continue running for so long thanks to the presence of mechanics and technicians who maintain and pass on their high level of skill.

Source:
◆(Official)2025 Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge National Champions Crowned
◆(Official) Porsche fans flock to Luftgekühlt 11 in North Carolina

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