“Typical of Porsche, the line between street car and race car can be quite fine, and a perfect example being the 911 S/T,” explains Dave Engelman, Porsche Cars North America’s spokesperson for Motorsports and Brand Heritage. “Porsche Classic took on the Le Mans class winner as a road-going project, as that is where their specialties lie. Porsche Motorsport is available for the full-blown race car restoration side of the line.”
Porsche’s technicians had some work to do. At some point the bodywork had been updated to post-’73 specs, the roof was smashed inward, and previous crash damage had been poorly repaired. The iconic S/T rear flares were missing. Add to all that rust, damaged side rails and a missing engine.
Porsche’s technicians had to fit a new roof, remove the rust, and rebuild the body. The tub underwent a cathodic dip-coating before receiving a fresh coat of bright yellow paint using the original 117 color code.
The restoration took two and a half years, with the resurrected car making its debut at the 2016 Techno-Classica auto show in the German city of Essen. Since then it has been shown elsewhere, including last year’s Porsche Rennsport Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The car’s restoration has been detailed in “Porsche 911 ST 2.5,” by Thomas Imhof and with Jürgen Barth and Michael Keyser.
Firing Up the Time Machine with Porsche Classic
What’s new with Porsche Classic? The brand’s Ulrike Lutz filled us in.
Q : Why is Porsche involved in the restoration world as both a shop and a parts supplier?
Lutz: Our Factory Restoration facilities act as “development centers” for reissued genuine parts, and as one of the quality checks for the current range of 52,000 genuine parts which are available at every Porsche dealership worldwide. In the end, we want to provide our Porsche Classic customer with a solution for their needs, whether that may be a full restoration by Porsche Classic, restoration or service through a Porsche Classic Partner, or access to a full range of Genuine Parts for use in their shop or at home.
Q: Why does Porsche Classic tackle projects like the 1972 911 S/T 2.5?
Lutz: Obviously, our customers own their own cars and need to make the decision who will be the perfect restoration facility for the particular project they have in mind. The main reason why such special projects like this 911 S/T 2.5 find their way to us include several unique advantages we can offer, such as original tools for body work or a cathodic dip coating bath for the best possible corrosion protection, which is the same bath we use in our new vehicle production.
We have direct access to the Porsche Archives and can make sure that special cars with a unique history get the attention they deserve. Also, we especially love to take the challenge to restore cars which do have a historic importance for the brand–which a previous Le Mans winner like this special 2.5 S/T definitely has–and which were individualized at the factory, “in period.”
Q: How does Porsche decide which parts from past models to add to the Porsche Classic catalog?
Lutz: Actually, our customers worldwide help us with these decisions. If any of our dealerships receive an inquiry for a Classic genuine part that is no longer available, the information is sent directly to the Porsche Classic product management team in Stuttgart. Also, customers and restorers can use the feedback form for discontinued parts on the Porsche Classic homepage to provide direct feedback.
Additional sources for ideas are our factory restoration facilities in Stuttgart and Atlanta, the restoration experts of our currently 71 worldwide Porsche Classic Partners, and all customers we talk to during the many classic-themed events we attend every year.
Q: What additions to the catalog can we expect next from Porsche Classic?
Lutz: More than 280 genuine Porsche Classic parts are reissued per year, from screws and nuts in original optic to complex driving and safety relevant parts.
Some of the more complex genuine parts to be launched in the next few months will be original turn signal lights for the short-wheelbase 911 F-models and a modern replacement for the first generation of Porsche Communication Management (PCM) systems for the 996 and Boxster (986) models.
Soon, another cool accessory part will be available again, a small workshop light for the glove box, with modern LED technology, which was originally offered in the Porsche Accessory Catalogue in 1963. With an integrated magnet, it can easily be fixed at the fenders for small repairs.