Rebirth of Legends: Exploring Porsche’s 911 Restomod Journey

Porsche 911 Restomod
Bridging Tradition and Modernity with
Customized Vehicle Manufacturing

The Porsche brand has recently attracted attention by introducing various Restomod models. Restomod is a compound word of resto, which means restoration of a classic vehicle, and mod, which means modification and modernization. Gavin Rooke, the Founder and CEO of the Dutchmann Guild, a 911 Restomod specialist, revealed the Restomod production process in an interview with foreign media.

When Gavin Rooke created Restomod, he manufactured customized 911s by asking customers detailed questions, he said. In addition, he said that Restomod for the 911 is being produced with an emphasis on not distorting the unique proportions of the 911 and not deforming it beyond a certain level.

Understanding the details of each Porsche 911 generation is crucial for a delicate reinterpretation

Gavin Rooke is said to have started making 911 Restomod with a strict ethic of never throwing away Porsche parts. He likened the Restomod made by Dutchmann to a new Porsche from the Porsche line. He said that the vehicles are manufactured in much the same way as the Porsche Exclusive Manufacture (the brand’s own customization department), except that they are classic cars that are no longer made by Porsche.

Additionally, Gavin Rooke talked about restoring the 911 to new heights: “I don’t take old cars and make them look new or even older because every generation of the 911 has its own proportionality, and you have to be extremely careful.” Dutchmann said, “Unlike other Restomod companies, the most important thing is to understand and delicately reinterpret the different complex details of the 911 series.”

Ask detailed questions to the customers to determine the design and performance of the vehicle

Gavin Rooke received orders for the Porsche 911 Restomod from customers. He explained the process of designing a vehicle in detail. Before Gavin Rooke created a Porsche 911 Restomod, he asked customers how they like to drive, what vehicles they currently own, what kind of color scheme and aesthetic they would like the vehicle to have, and whether they have children or pets. He has said that they ask customers in detail and show hundreds of color samples and leather samples to customers.

“We have color consultants, designers, and engineers, but we share the Restomod creation process with all of our customers to determine the ideal design and performance specifications for each vehicle,” Gavin Rooke said. In addition, he said that through consultation, customers are told which generation of Porsche 911 is most suitable. The Porsche 911 Restomod starts at about $184,450, and the exact price varies depending on the Porsche 911 model, specifications, and design desired by the customer.

Modifying the vehicle beyond a certain level
Be careful not to lose Porsche’s unique identity

Dutchmann has said that he is already fully booked with orders until 2026. He has said that the Porsche 911 Restomod is being sent worldwide, including Tokyo, Singapore, Norway, and the U.S. In addition, he has said that Porsche’s custom engines are handcrafted and installed in the vehicles, taking into account customer preferences and vehicle types.

Gavin Rooke said that when producing a Restomod, he considers moderation crucial as reflecting the customer’s taste. “Inexperienced people might take the view of modifying as much as possible, but moderation is sometimes more difficult than modifying as much as possible,” he said. He has also said that he always takes care not to lose the unique identity of the Porsche 911 by modifying the vehicle beyond a certain level.