Showking Porsche Part 1 of 3: Starting the Ultimate Build

The Showking Porsche project is a meticulous restoration and customization of a classic 911. In this first installment, we lay the groundwork: selecting the donor car, stripping it down, and preparing for the transformation ahead. Whether you're planning your own build or just following along, this guide covers the essential early steps.

What Is the Showking Porsche Project?

Showking is a custom automotive shop known for blending vintage Porsche style with modern performance and luxury. Their latest undertaking is a complete rebuild of a classic 911—dubbed the "Showking Porsche"—aimed at creating a daily-drivable restomod that honors the original design while embracing contemporary engineering. Part 1 focuses on the initial tear-down and evaluation phase.

The Vision Behind the Build

The goal is to produce a Porsche that looks timeless but drives like a new car. That means preserving the iconic silhouette and interior ambiance while upgrading suspension, brakes, engine, and electronics. The Showking team wants no compromises: it must be reliable, fast, and comfortable enough for cross-country trips. This vision drives every decision from donor selection to the final nut and bolt.

Choosing the Right Porsche Model

Not all 911s are created equal for a restomod. The team chose a 1987 911 Carrera coupe—a sweet spot in the lineage. Why?

Why the 911 Carrera?

• Body style: The classic narrow-body (not wide-body Turbo or 4WD) keeps weight down and lines clean.
• Engine: The 3.2-liter flat-six is robust, durable, and a great base for forced induction or displacement increases.
• Electronics: Early 3.2 cars have simpler engine management (Bosch Motronic 1.0) that’s easier to modify or replace with a standalone ECU.
• Legacy: The 911 Carrera of the mid-80s is widely regarded as a high point in the 911’s evolution—still analog but more refined than earlier models.

Sourcing the Car

Finding a solid donor is critical. The team looked for a car with minimal rust, a straight chassis, and a complete interior. They avoided cars with heavy accident damage or salvage titles. A service history was a plus but not mandatory, since everything gets replaced anyway. Patience paid off: they found a running example with 120,000 miles and intact body panels in a neutral color (Guards Red) that will eventually be refinished anyway.

Initial Disassembly and Assessment

Once the car arrived at the shop, the first step was to document everything with photos and notes. Then the tear-down began.

Stripping the Body

Every removable part came off: fenders, doors, hood, engine lid, bumpers, glass, trim, and interior. The goal is a bare shell. This reveals hidden rust, previous repair bodges, and structural issues. The Showking crew found minor corrosion in the kidney bowls (common on 911s) and a few patched areas on the floorpan. All flaky metal was cut out; new panels were sourced from Dansk and Porsche Classic.

Evaluating the Drivetrain

The 3.2-liter engine and G50 transmission were pulled and placed on stands. The engine was compressed-tested and leak-down-tested to gauge its health. While it ran, the test showed low compression in cylinder #4—a future rebuild is in order. The transmission shifted fine but had typical seal leaks. Both will be completely rebuilt and upgraded in later parts.

Setting Up the Workspace

A project of this scale demands an organized workspace. The team cleaned and painted the work bay, installed a rotisserie for the shell, and laid out a color-coded parts storage system. Every nut, bolt, and bracket is bagged and labeled. This upfront effort saves hours of hunting later. They also created a digital inventory of all components to track what needs replacing.

Part 1 Summary and What’s Next

By the end of this phase, the 911 is a bare shell on a rotisserie, the drivetrain is out and awaiting rebuild, and a pile of new sheet metal is ready for welding. The vision is clear: a reliable, powerful, and beautiful restomod that stays true to the original Carrera spirit but drives like a modern GT car.

In Part 2, we’ll cover metal work—repairing rust, fitting new panels, and sealing the shell. We’ll also dive into the suspension and brake upgrades. Stay tuned.

Final Recommendation

If you're considering a similar project, take these lessons to heart:

1. Start with the best donor you can afford. Fixing rust is expensive and time-consuming. A straight, solid car is worth the premium.
2. Document everything. Photos, notes, and labels save you from mistakes and confusion during reassembly.
3. Plan for the whole build before you start. Know what engine, transmission, brakes, and interior you want. This prevents mid-project changes that waste money.
4. Set up your workspace properly. A clean, organized shop is not a luxury—it’s a requirement for a successful restoration.

Part 1 is about laying the foundation. Do it right, and the rest will come together much smoother.