Restoration:

Cars are our history, family members, and reminders of journeys through our lives. A vintage vehicle is rolling history. Perhaps it has been in your family for generations, it has sentimental value to you, or it is a rare find. Unfortunately these vehicles can also have generations of corrosion, structural damage, and failed repair attempts. Many times these vehicles take a tremendous amount of time to restore properly.

Restoration is not just for aesthetic purposes. We take our restoration jobs seriously, because often the body repair work affects the structural integrity of a vehicle. If the job is performed improperly, the safety of the occupants is at stake. From floor pan replacement, to chassis panel repair and reconstruction, we pride ourselves on the quality of our body work and stand behind the parts we use.

Parts:

On classic restorations, we strive to find used original or NOS (new old stock) parts whenever possible. When these are not available, we research and find the best reproduction pieces. Now that many of the 356, 911, and 914 models are deep in restorations there are wide variety of reproduction parts available. Many reproduction parts, interior upholstery, carpet and convertible tops, body rubber seals, wiring, and metal body panels are now obtainable to make refurbishment much easier than years past. Our experience and knowledge allows us to proudly stand behind our restoration jobs, and assures you that your vehicle is being restored with the best available parts.

Metalcraft and Fabrication:

While cars are undergoing restoration, there are often times when fabrication is necessary. The Porsches previous to 1976 often have many more issues than the later cars, and all cars that live in areas of the world predominant with moisture will often need corrosion repair no matter the age. A part that needs replacement but can not be sourced sometimes requires making from scratch. Chassis or body parts on street cars or reproducing parts on race cars can be possible on site or nearby. We have MIG and TIG welding capabilities, as well as basic metal shaping tools to help with our restorations.

Paintwork:

We work with show quality painters in the area. Cars that need general bodywork repairs or full show-worthy restorations can be possible. The painting portion of restoration is usually the least amount of time involved in car construction, but it shows every nuance in the preparation. The hours of welding, sanding, and restoration at this point come to fruition once paint is applied. We use German brand paints as OE (Sikkens, Glasurit, and Spies Hecker). Quality materials make all the difference in durability, shine, and colorfast. Our painters use modern materials and equipment to assure a job well done.

Other systems:

We have broken the major components of the car into other sections on our services portion of the website. System such as brakes, electrics, and upholstery take time to redo properly. The years take their toll and often more than anticipated needs to be refurbished. Now with new methods brake systems can be made better than new by re-sleeving bores and using stainless piping to prevent further deterioration. Advances in brake fluid also allow longer life. Proper care and understanding the systems can make sure the job is done properly. Now that some of the ABS equipped cars are approaching the twenty year mark, some of these cars are now starting to develop age/use issues.

Electrics, lighting, and wiring are often the most time consuming, and many times older cars have sustained so much damage over the years that a full wiring harness replacement is needed. Later model cars that have DME, alarm control units, etc. will often succumb to water damage from rain water, or minor floods and require replacement. Cleaning, and replacement or repair to wiring harnesses is often the case. We work with owners of late model equipment that need this specialized repair.

Upholstery is refinishing the interior. There are vendors that support the need with some excellent fit and finish. All Porsche requirements for the standard street cars can be met with reproduction materials. Most German materials are stateside and some one-off items can be obtained through special avenues.

Suspensions on 356 and early 911 are very durable, but over time bushings, bearings as well as the steel can mean a need for refurbishment/replacement. The link-pin front ends rarely get serviced properly, and sometimes even cars that have been restored have this key element of the suspension overlooked. The steel rear 911 trailing arms and front struts may need replacement from abuse, lack of wheel bearing adjustment, or improper service in the past. We are now seeing some of the aluminum castings in the suspension in need of replacement from severe corrosion. A careful inspection of every piece is a must to make sure that safety as well as time is being best spent on each project.

Every car has a unique story, and when restoring each car the journey many times is revealed. Please contact us for specific needs, or making an appointment.