Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge Brings out the Very Best

Stunning Work

The Porsche Classic Restoration Competition has been around for some time now in the U.S., but 2022 marks just the second year it's taken place in Canada. This year's competition from north of the border resulted in some pretty stunning recreations, masterfully brought back to all their original glory by the most talented Porsche Centers in Canada.

Photos: Porsche

Long Process

Twelve Canadian Porsche Centers took part in this year's event, restoring both 356 Coupes and Cabriolets alongside a wide variety of air-cooled 911 models. They were tasked not only with sourcing their cars and returning them to their former glory, but also with carefully documenting the process and sharing it through various media channels as part of the overall competition.

Photos: Porsche

Judging Process

At the end of the allotted time frame, all entries were sent to Porsche's Parts and Distribution Center in Mississauga, Ontario, which also serves as a training center for Porsche technicians. There, a panel of expert judges drawn from the Porsche Club of America's Canada Region and from Porsche Cars Canada, including President and CEO Marc Ouayoun, assessed the entries based upon their technical restoration, vehicle condition, and supporting marketing and communication.

Photos: Porsche

High Miler

The competition saw numerous different approaches, from the restoration of a 1964 356B Coupe by Porsche Center Oakville to Pfaff Porsche's decision to breathe new life into a high mileage 993. That Polar Silver 911 Carrera had been sold originally by Pfaff in the mid-1990s and by the time of its restoration was proudly wearing more than 200,000 kilometers on its odometer.

Photos: Porsche

Unique Rides

Other unique cars included a 930 Turbo finished in Paint To Sample blue by Porsche Center London, a "long hood" 1969 911 E that Mark Motors Porsche had dedicated over 2,200 hours to rebuilding by the time the competition closed, and an homage to the factory's mid-1980s rallying endeavors with Porsche Center Vancouver's head-turning 911 Safari, complete with a suspension lift and Porsche Exclusive tartan interior.

Photos: Porsche

Awards

An incredibly difficult judging process assessed every element of the cars, from engine and gearbox rebuilds to exhaust systems, wiring, lighting brakes, and bodywork. The competition was split into two categories, judging the 356 restorations separately from the 911 cars, with awards available for both model series. Recognition was also given to the Porsche Center that had best communicated the message of the Classic Restoration project and a "Passion Award" for the team who had revealed the greatest level of dedication to their build.

Photos: Porsche

Time Capsule

In the end, Porsche Center Saskatchewan was recognized for its efforts in restoring a matching numbers 1960 356 B cabriolet, while in the 911 category, top honors went to Porsche Center Lauzon for its work on a similarly unusual 1986 911 Targa CE. With Porsche Centre, North Toronto honored for its efforts in the Marketing and Communication category and Vancouver's Safari tribute earning the Passion Award, all that was left was to crown an overall winner. After hours of painstaking deliberation, and with Lauzon's Targa hailed as runner up, the competition was won by Porsche Center Saskatchewan for their extraordinary efforts on the 356 B, which was dubbed "an impeccable time capsule."

Photos: Porsche

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