Harper Porsche’s 1978 Turbo Wins National Restoration Challenge
Porsche announced its national restoration-challenge winners October 16, 2026, following judging at Luftgekühlt 12 in Fayetteville, Georgia. The awards recognize three distinct approaches to classic-car work.
The national winners
| Award | Porsche Center | Project |
|---|---|---|
| Grand national and Restoration | Harper Porsche | 1978 911 Turbo 3.3 |
| Preservation | Gaudin Porsche of Las Vegas | 1996 911 Turbo |
| Individualization and People’s Choice | Porsche Orlando | 1997 911 Carrera Coupe |
Porsche describes extensive rust repair and mechanical rebuilds for Harper’s green Turbo. Gaudin reversed earlier modifications while preserving original finishes and verifying authenticity through a Porsche Classic Technical Certificate.
Orlando’s RS-inspired 993 has a high-revving 4.0-liter engine and won the enthusiast vote. These project descriptions and judging outcomes come from the organizer.
Three kinds of craftsmanship
The distinction between the categories is the useful part of this result. Repairing a badly deteriorated car, conserving surviving original material and deliberately creating a personalized specification are not the same assignment. A successful custom build should not be mistaken for proof of factory originality.
For an owner considering a similar project, the first decision is therefore the goal: preserve what survives, reconstruct an earlier specification or develop a documented personal interpretation. That choice should come before decisions about paint, mechanical changes and replacement parts.
A competition award recognizes a particular project under that event’s judging. It does not establish the market value, condition or originality of another car wearing the same badge. Anyone evaluating a classic should examine the individual vehicle’s records and work performed.
The outcome follows our earlier report on the nine national finalists. That preview describes the regional entries; this report records the subsequently announced winners.
Source and illustrative archive photo
Source: Porsche Cars North America, October 16, 2026, linked above. Chiefs Review has not inspected the winning vehicles.
Illustrative archive photo of a different 1978 Porsche 911/930 Martini Turbo, photographed July 11, 2024. This is not Harper Porsche’s green winning car or any 2026 finalist. Photo: Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; resized for display.
