Transforming a tired, unloved Porsche that hasn't been on the road for years into its former glory is almost always a passion project. Countless enthusiasts, professional restorers, and collectors find classic and vintage Porsches that need engine rebuilds, bodywork repairs, and modifications to ensure they are as powerful as intended and suited to modern roads.
Design911, a well-respected supplier of retail and trade parts for all Porsche models, has long worked with clients from across the UK and EU. The firm uses its years of experience in sourcing unusual and rare components to help bring classic Porsches back to their original showroom standard.
In a recent interview with Sam Lander of Sam Lander Engineering, part of a Porsche People series sharing insights into the people and businesses behind the UK Porsche restoration market, the company offered clarity about the nature of Porsche rebuilds and why these are often an ongoing labour of love rather than a project with a finite timescale.
Design911’s Porsche People Profile: Sam Lander
Sam is the owner of his own independent showroom and service centre based in Malton, North Yorkshire, a business built on 17 years of working with Porsches. Having begun as an apprentice, his success is remarkable, now leading a team that offers a comprehensive range of services for classic Porsches from the 356 to the 991.
The workshop carries out suspension upgrades, stereo updates, bodywork repairs, engine strip downs, and regular repairs and servicing. Some exceptional examples of vintage Porsches are in the showroom awaiting servicing and tune-ups before heading out for the summer tour circuit.
His team now comprises three technicians, each with their own skills and interests, and an apprentice who aspires to become an F1 driver.
When asked about the driving force behind the success of his business, and his take on Porsche restorations, Sam says that he and his colleagues simply focus on providing the best possible service, fixing errors or niggles as they come across them without bothering their customers or adding extra charges.
They also concentrate on making Porsches as cost-efficient as possible, working with both air-cooled and water-cooled models. However, they note that a car is never complete, and there is never a point at which a vintage Porsche wouldn't benefit from improvements, tweaks, or fine-tuning as it ages.
As a long-standing Design911 client, it was great to have the opportunity to see Sam's business behind the scenes, learn about his plans for the future, including a potential move into sales, and understand how each professional in this multi-talented team contributes to the exacting standards and quality it is known for.
The Types and Objectives of Porsche Restoration Projects
One of the standout takeaways from our interview with Sam, and with many clients involved in Porsche restoration is the ongoing nature of these projects. In many cases, Porsche owners turn to the professionals for specific aspects of a restoration and manage other less technical and aesthetic elements themselves.
This is why we tend to group restorations into categories that help set out what the owner wants to achieve and what their end goal might be, while appreciating that this may never truly be finished!
Driver restorations, for instance, are all about keeping a Porsche in great condition so it can continue to be driven and enjoyed. Preservation projects are more concentrated on maintaining a heritage Porsche, especially one that is now rare or has a unique history, without making any changes that could impact the character of the vehicle.
Collectors who show their cars at events tend to prefer concours restorations, which maximise the perfection of the car's exterior and interior, sustaining authentic finishes, colours, features, and contours that match the original design.
Other Porsche restorations are more functional, from bodywork restorations that repair metalwork, remove rust damage, and correct deviations in the paint to mechanical restorations that can focus on any part of the engine, suspension, electrics, or braking systems that aren't working as they should.
Why Porsche Restorers Avoid Setting Finite Deadlines
Porsche restoration is about passion and care. It involves working on each component or feature within a vintage Porsche to restore it gently to its original condition, which also means most enthusiasts spend a great deal of time looking for the perfect detailing, finishes and components.
Given the expense and time invested in full restorations, the norm is to concentrate on one element at a time, breaking down a complex restoration into smaller projects. This often begins with the mechanics, then moves onto the bodywork, and only then is there the scope to think about replicating the original features and specifications.
However, modern restorers are also more inclined to consider performance upgrades, particularly where the materials originally used or the functionality of a component simply doesn't exist today or wouldn't be suited to the speeds and rigours of modern roads.
All this means that parts sourcing is a significant factor in any Porsche restoration, whether looking for independent advice about whether a component matches the original part, trying to find like-for-like parts to improve the integrity of the restored car, or seeking enhancements that will make a classic Porsche even more fun to drive.
Complications With Sourcing Original and Hard-to-Come-By Porsche Components
In our interview with Sam, he commented on the value of a reliable and fast component delivery service, noting that if he orders a part on a Thursday, it will be delivered on Friday. This gives him the scope to finish the repair or service and have the Porsche back to its owner for the weekend.
This feedback is replicated across our customer base, with many recognising the difficulty of finding original parts that are scarce, are no longer in production, or need to be rebuilt from scratch. In any scenario, we'd recommend contacting the Design911 team since we are often in a position to help.
Whether you want to compare original components with modern alternatives, consider the right ways to reach the next stage in your restoration without going over budget or require a specialist part that you can't seem to find, our sourcing experts can offer guidance and reach out to our international contacts to find the rarest components.
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About Design911
Design911 has established itself as the market leader, offering trade and retail customers a full range of OEM and aftermarket Porsche parts for general servicing and rebuild as well as restoration and tuning. The company supports customers in the UK, EU and world-wide to include USA, Spain, Italy, Germany, France and the Netherlands.
The Design911.com website now sports a Porsche parts finder to help you get the exact aftermarket Porsche part you need. The company's impressive 34,000 sq. ft Essex headquarters comprises a sales department, warehouse, workshop and body shop, as well as a showroom of classic Porsches for sale. In addition a European warehouse - based in Heijningen, Netherlands, secures fast delivery across the EU for a vast range of branded Porsche car parts.
Published by: Steve OBrien