This particular project offers a behind the scenes look that commonly occurs in Concours Restorations. Two things happen in cases like this. The first is that our shop does such a painstakingly great job at restoration that even the best judges can’t tell if it is factory or rebodied. Every square inch is replicated to the smallest detail on the bare shell. Our goal is to make the bare steel shell look as if it was plucked off the assembly line before it was painted.
Explore the intricate process of Concours Restoration, where craftsmanship and attention to detail bring classic cars back to life. This behind-the-scenes look follows the restoration of a 1957 Porsche Speedster 356—an old race car with significant damage—carefully rebuilt to reflect its original form. From metal fabrication and bodywork to upholstery and mechanical restoration, each step is carried out with precision and care. Learn more about the dedication and expertise that go into preserving these automotive icons.
This particular project offers a behind-the-scenes look that commonly occurs in Concours Restorations. Two things happen in cases like this. The first is that our shop does such a painstakingly great job at restoration that even the best judges can’t tell if it is factory or rebodied. Every square inch is replicated to the smallest detail on the bare shell. Our goal is to make the bare steel shell look as if it was plucked off the assembly line before it was painted. Not only do we ensure the exterior panels are as straight as possible, but we also make sure each panel is overlapped the same and each spot weld looks just like the factory, and every gas weld is replicated exactly. This obsessive detailed mindset is one of the many procedures/traits that demonstrate the standard skill level of our craftsmen as we lead the restoration community by example. Unfortunately, the second thing that happens is that most owners don’t share the fact that their cars were rebodied or completely reworked and leave us unmentioned and unrecognized for our work. We consider this a complement with each completed project that no one ever knows what lengths we had to go through to create the flawless finished product. This Porsche Speedster is just one example of many automotive restorations throughout the years.
That being said, let’s get into the car itself. This is a 1957 Porsche Speedster 356 and is one of 3,676 produced. As you may know, Speedsters were created by Porsche using the steel body of the 356A Cabriolet, stripped of its trimmings, and equipped with a lower-raked windscreen, which was easily removable for racing. This specific T1 Speedster was an old race car and had some serious crash damage. When it arrived at our shop and once on the frame table, our first challenge was immediately revealed – the wheelbase was out of square 15/16”. It was clear that a previous shop had welded the front clip in the wrong place. The back setup in its fixtures and squared up the front and cut off everything from the main bulkhead/cowl forward. We sourced a new torsion bar assembly from a newer Porsche and modified the tubes as needed. We also made sure that the correct bearings and other cosmetic details matched as well. From here, the entire chassis was recreated from extensive research and original Porsche blueprints for this specific car and its serial number. In addition, exhaustive amounts of metal shaping and metal fabrication took place, making sure that the original butt-weld seam locations are noticeable just like they were from the factory. The body itself had countless fixtures created to ensure accuracy and squareness. By going through all these steps, we actually get them squarer and more symmetrical than the factory ever did.
Painstaking precision bodywork and paint are critical for the completion of every fine automobile restoration project. Getting the prep work on all panels and ensuring they are flat without ripples and fine-tuning the transitions between panels to have consistency is what separates a great paint job from a mediocre one. This jet-black Speedster is no exception to the standards we maintain for every restoration project we complete.
The finest upholstery materials are used when restoring the interior of any vehicle. Details of straight and tight stitching are of the utmost importance for all our vehicle builds. This Speedster’s interior features a pair of reupholstered European tan leather bucket seats with a matching dashboard and door panels. The cabin is lined with beige German square weave carpeting and includes the restored factory deluxe two-spoke steering wheel, restored gauges, and custom two-tone Coco floor mats.
Power comes from a rebuilt air-cooled flat-four engine featuring 1,720cc displacement with 86mm JE pistons, a DPR counterweight crankshaft, LN engineering cams, and Wilhoit heads & valves. The rear wheels are driven through a rebuilt Type 741 4-speed manual transmission with a BBAB gear ratio. The restored chassis also includes new Koni shock absorbers, a front sway bar, and overhauled brakes with a new dual-stage master cylinder. Basically, every nut and bolt has been thoroughly restored and detailed throughout all the mechanical systems restorations.
