When it comes to sports car manufacturers, few can match the presence and heritage of Porsche’s high-performance lineup. The 911 is Porsche’s halo car since it first appeared in 1964, but not the only one that represents the sports car segment. With that said, the iconic rear-engine model is, by far, the most reimagined. This is especially true when it comes to the air-cooled generations of the Porsche 911 and anything that was produced before the water-cooled era of the 911.
There are plenty of companies that, not only specialize in rest-o 'modding, but also reimagine classic Porsche cars. Some specialize in modernizing classic generations and turning them into track-focused, street-legal toys or canyon-carvers. Others give subtle modernizations that keep the classic character of the car.
Then, there are those that focus on electric propulsion, merging together classic sports car with what they believe is the propulsion of the future. There are many outfits out there and each gives its own interpretation of the classic Porsche sports car. With that said, these are the top 10 brands that focus on rest-o 'modding the 911 and other classic Porsche models.
Gunterwerks
The Porsche 993 is the last air-cooled 911 and according to some, the last true Porsche 911. German outfit, Gunterwerks, has decided to reimagine the 993 by retaining much of what made it great in the first place, while giving it modern powertrain…with a lot more power. Currently, the German company offers three different versions of their reimagine 993 – the Gunterwerks Coupe, Gunterwerks Speedster, and Gunteerwerks Turbo.
They are all rear-wheel drive, air-cooled, and come with a manual transmission. The Turbo, in particular, packs a twin-turbo flat-six with 700 horsepower and weighs around 2,700 pounds (1,225 kg). The Porsche 993 is the definition of modern classic and Gunterwerks does a great job of making it just a bit more modern and a quite a bit more extreme.
Singer
When you think high-end, modernized versions of classic Porsche 911s, Singer Vehicle Design is, often, the first company you think of. The California-based outfit has been in the business of reimagining air-cooled 911s since 2009. The company’s focus is reimagining earlier generations of the 911, with the 930 being a more recent addition to the lineup.
At least some of Singer’s bespoke builds are based on 964 models. The air-cooled, flat-six engine remains a signature trait of the high-end 911 builds. Just last year, Singer unveiled its first turbocharged model – the Singer Turbo Study - which effectively modernized the 930 Turbo – Porsche’s first road-going, 911. True to tradition, each of Singer’s models comes with a manual transmission.
Theon
The best way to describe Theon is like the U.K. equivalent of Singer. Based in Oxfordshire, in the heart of the Britain's “Motorsport Valley”, the Porsche rest-o’ modders have been reimagining air-cooled Porsche 911s since 2016. Like its California-based colleagues from Singer, Theon’s goal is to create “the ultimate, air-cooled 911”. Theon’s designs are usually start with a Porsche 964 as the base car and ends up as a reimagined version of the original 911s, from the 1960s and 1970s.
Theon’s completely revised flat-six engines range from 3.6 to 4.0 liters and can be had in either naturally-aspirated or supercharged guise. Naturally, everything is bespoke, including the carbon-fiber body panels, and much of the accessories have been moved to the front, making for better weight distribution and some of the cleanest engine bays you see on a 911.
RWB
Japan has always had a unique style when it comes to modifying and restoring vehicles. RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF was founded in 1997 and had humble beginnings. Starting off as a small, countryside, body-shop in Chiba-Ken, its founder, Akira Nakai, quickly became known for his outrageous 911s, even though he originally started on JDM icons like the Toyota AE86.
Gigantic rear wings, super-wide fenders, deep-dish wheels, and fat, sticky tires are some of the definitive traits of RWB builds, which are usually based on the 964 and 993 generations of the Porsche 911. Purists tend to hate Nakai San’s work as, let’s face it, no one wants to see a classic 911 get cut up to pieces just so a bonkers, almost-Bosozoku-inspired, body kit can be slapped on to its gracious forms.
Canepa
Bruce Canepa, who started out in 1985 as a dealer and restoration service for collector cars. Eventually, the business was expanded to restoring, historical race cars, customization, and performance upgrades. While not limited to Porsche, some of the company’s most exciting projects are based on the German sports car manufacturer. Most of the company's Porsche-related activities concern the 964 and 993 generations, but 356s are also being "touched".
Among the California-based brand’s most recent and bonkers projects is a reimagined Porsche 959SC “Sport Canepa” that packs 836 horsepower and 650 Nm (881 Nm). It certainly takes guts to reinvent one of the most iconic sports cars of the 1980s, especially given the fact just 292 examples were originally made. So far, the Canepa has breathed the 800-plus-horsepower treatment to 11 Porsche 959s, which shows the owners are not afraid to alter the rare Porsche.
Bisimoto
There is no shortage of California-based tuning, restoration, and custom shops, but few are as crazy and as diverse as Bisimoto Engineering. While fast Porsches are not the sole focus of the company, they best represent the “all-out” approach of the company. Realiability and usability are key, which is why Bisi Ezerioha’s personal Porsche 930 Turbo is completely bespoke and despite the bonkers, 1000-horsepower figure, it features stuff like boost per speed, yet retains the scary nature of the original Turbo “Widowmaker”.
In recent times, Bisimoto also dabbles in electrification and the Bisimoto 935 K3V is, arguably, the craziest EV rest-o’ mod you will see. Based on a 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera, the body has been sculpted after the iconic, 935 “Moby Dick” race car. With 636 horsepower, instant electric torque, massive downforce, and less than 2,700 pounds (1,225 kg), the modernized 935 is no slouch.
Emory Motorsports
The 911 may be the definitive, high-performance Porsche, but before that came the 356. In 1996, Rob Emory embarked on a quest to create the most unique Porsche rest o’ mods. He chose the 356, which is Porsche’s first, mass-produced sports car. You may have heard the term “outlaw” and it was Emory Motorsports that coined it. The company’s 356 Outlaws are made in all body styles, including roadster, coupe, and speedster.
Those are not replicas, but original 356 cars after ground-up restoration and lots of bespoke parts poured into them. The 356 RSR represents one of Rob Emory’s many daring project. With a twin-turbo, flat-four packing 393 horsepower, the 1,950-pound (885 kg) coupe packs serious performance, but more importantly, Emory successfully showcased what the 356 would have evolved into, had the 911 never taken its place.
Zelectric Motors
Electric conversions are an increasingly common sight in the world of tuning and rest o’ modding. Models like the Porsche 356 and 911 have achieved legendary status and swapping a Tesla powertrain might cause purists to run after you with torches and pitchforks. Such modernization would be viewed as quite a bit less offensive if it was done on a Porsche 912.
This was the affordable version of the 911 that was produced between 1965 and 1976. California-based shop, Zelectric Motors has taken upon itself to offer a complete electric drivetrain swaps for the Porsche 912 and other classic models like the VW Bug and VW Bus. The 912 isn’t nearly as collectible as the 911, so swapping a 550-horsepower (404-kilowatt) Tesla Model S P85 drivetrain wouldn’t be as frowned-upon, especially when compared to the stock engine’s 86 horsepower (64 kilowatts).
Kalmar Automotive
Sweden is among the European nations with the richest car cultures and naturally, this includes a fair share of tuner and restoration companies. Swedish outfit, Kalmar Automotive, is similar to Singer and Theon’s operations, albeit slightly more restrained. While the former two are attempting to reimagine the air-cooled Porsche 911 models, the Swedish company’s treatment is a bit more understated. Kalmar Automotive focuses on bringing classic 911s to OEM+ specifications.
The majority of projects are based on a Porsche 964, but are an homage to early, pre-G-series 911 models. True to tradition, all 964 and 993-based Kalmar builds feature an air-cooled, flat-six engine. Unlike most of the above-mentioned companies, Kalmar Automotive also works on modern Porsche models like the Cayenne SUV, and also dabbles in off-road builds.
Nardone Automotive
France is also a place where classic Porsche sports cars are being rest o’ modded. Unlike most car restoration shops, French company, Nardone Automotive, has decide to work, not with the 356 or 911 models, but the 928. The front-engine, V-8-powered Porsche sought to replace the 911, but it never happened. Thierry Nardone, founder of Nardone Automotive saw that too many companies were reimagining the 911 and wanted to make something more unique.
The basis for the Nardone 928 is a late-model, Porsche 928 S4, which has received a full, custom-built, carbon-fiber wide body. The chassis has been reinforced, and new drive shafts have been added to accommodate for the much wider stance. The 928 S4’s 5.0-liter V-8 has been revised to make 400 horsepower while the original, five-speed manual transaxle still remains.