Nine Classic Porsches Reach the 2026 Restoration Challenge Final

By Chiefs Review Editorial Team

Nine classic Porsches have advanced to the 2026 Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge National Championship after area competitions narrowed a field of 60 U.S. dealership entries. The final takes place October 9–10 at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Three categories reward different kinds of work

Porsche divides the competition into Preservation, Restoration and Individualization. Preservation emphasizes originality and continued function. Restoration aims to return a car to like-new condition using its original specifications. Individualization allows a more personal interpretation inspired by Porsche’s Sonderwunsch, or “Special Wishes,” tradition.

That distinction matters because the finalists are not being judged against one single definition of a “perfect” classic. A carefully conserved driver, a factory-correct rebuild and a heavily personalized project can each qualify for national honors in a separate class.

The nine national finalists

• Area East, Individualization: Porsche Englewood’s 1980 911 Targa.
• Area East, Preservation: Porsche Mechanicsburg’s 2003 911 Carrera 4S Coupe.
• Area East, Restoration: Porsche Beachwood’s 1969 912 Targa Soft Window.
• Area South/Central, Individualization: Porsche Orlando’s 1997 911 Carrera 2 from the 993 generation.
• Area South/Central, Preservation: Porsche Cary’s 2001 Boxster.
• Area South/Central, Restoration: Harper Porsche’s 1978 930 Turbo.
• Area West, Individualization: Porsche Tucson’s 1973 914.
• Area West, Preservation: Gaudin Porsche Las Vegas’ 1996 911 Turbo from the 993 generation.
• Area West, Restoration: Porsche San Francisco’s 2003 911 Carrera 4S.

Where the public can see them

Judging is scheduled at Trilith Studios, and Porsche says the cars will be displayed during Luftgekühlt at Town at Trilith. Attendees can vote for a People’s Choice Award. Class winners and the Grand National Champion are due to be announced at the awards banquet.

The finalists also show how quickly “modern classic” boundaries are moving. The group ranges from a 1969 912 to two 2003 Carrera 4S projects. Owners interested in keeping later classics usable can also read our report on Porsche’s planned smartphone-connectivity retrofit for 2009–2016 models. For a broader enthusiast-event calendar item, see the upcoming RADwood NorCal evening show.

Primary source

Porsche Cars North America: 2026 Classic Restoration Challenge finalists, published October 8, 2026. Finalist descriptions and event details are organizer-supplied.

Featured image: Porsche Tucson’s 1973 Porsche 914 before its Individualization-class transformation. Photo credit: Porsche Cars North America. Image source and Porsche Newsroom media page (editorial reporting use).