ALL MOD CONS

There's something about the Porsche 911 that makes it a favourite for the restomod treatment. We explore the world of restoring and modifying the German classic

- Steve Bennett

ANOTHER day, another Porsche 911-based restomod, hot rod, retromod; call them what you will. That's certainly how it seems, sometimes. Of course, it isn't just 911s that get the restomod treatment, but you could be forgiven for thinking so. Why does the 911 lend itself so well? Well, think cult appeal, motorsport heritage, Porsche's own mix-and-match parts bin, and a healthy aftermarket of tuning and styling parts. Plus, of course, the desire to create something bespoke, and a ready supply of donor cars, too, thanks to the 911's unprecedented near-60-year production run.

That said, the early, pre-1974 cars are considered sacrosanct when it comes to modifying. They are already uber-classic and have a value that would be wiped out if they went under the knife. The sweetspot is with the later impact-bumper cars and beyond, with the 19891993 964 model in particular being a firm favourite. However, more recently the 993 model 911, which has the distinction of being the last the air-cooled car, has been gaining traction with the restomod crew.

And what of the water-cooled cars - the 996 and beyond as they become modern classics in their own right? As surely as night follows day, their time will come, but for now, here is the Auto Express guide to the air-cooled 911 restomod scene.

RUF DADDY

1987 Ruf 911 CTR1 'Yellowbird'

Based on: 911 Carrera 3.2

THE genesis of the modified Porsche 911? Well, there were Ruf-modified 911s in existence before the CTR 1 'Yellowbird' came along, but they didn't capture the collective imagination in quite the same way.

In its native Germany, Ruf is classified as a manufacturer in its own right. Alois Ruf took over from his father - Alois Ruf senior - at the family garage in Pfaffenhausen, near Munich, in the mid-seventies. Beetles were a starting point, and then came Porsches.