Here’s a closer look at the winners — and what makes each achievement so noteworthy.

The fifth-annual Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge has delivered once again — showcasing incredible craftsmanship, deep respect for heritage and bold creativity. Porsche Newsroom+2Porsche Newsroom+2 On October 13, 2025, Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) announced the four national champion teams, culminating a competition that began with submissions across the United States and concluded at the finale alongside the Luftgekühlt 11 gathering in Durham, North Carolina. Porsche Newsroom+1

🏆 Champions at a Glance

• Grand National & Individualization Champion: Porsche Bend — 1973 Porsche 911T, RSR Tribute Porsche Newsroom+1
• Restoration Champion: Porsche North Houston — 2004 Porsche 911 GT3 (Speed Yellow) Porsche Newsroom+1
• Preservation Champion: Gaudin Porsche of Las Vegas — 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S Porsche Newsroom+1
• People’s Choice: Harper Porsche — 1992 Porsche 964 RS Porsche Newsroom+1

🔍 Champion Details & Highlights

Porsche Bend – 1973 911T RSR Tribute

From the mind of the Porsche Bend team came a build that speaks volumes: a 1973 911T transformed into a wide-body RSR-style tribute. Porsche Newsroom+1
Key features:

• Hand-shaped steel RSR fender flares, welded and integrated to create an aggressive silhouette. Porsche Newsroom
• Finished in Viper Green, retaining the classical Porsche spirit while presenting bold presence. Porsche Newsroom
• Inside: bespoke houndstooth inlays on custom “S” dash trim, RS-style door cards, 964 RS America door pulls wrapped in houndstooth. Porsche Newsroom
• Under the hood: a 2.8-litre engine built on a Porsche Classic “8R” case, with modern fuel injection. Over 280 hp paired to a modified 915 gearbox with limited-slip differential. Porsche Newsroom
  This car wasn’t just a restoration — it was a vision of what the team grew up dreaming of, inspired by childhood Matchbox cars. Yahoo Autos+1
  Winning both the Individualization category and the overall Grand National title underscores the level of innovation and execution.

Porsche North Houston – 2004 911 GT3 (Speed Yellow)

In the Restoration category, Porsche North Houston delivered a project rooted in fundamentals: bringing a modern classic back to as-new glory. Porsche Newsroom+1
Highlights include:

• Starting with a 2004 911 GT3 in Speed Yellow — analog, raw, Mezger-engined. Porsche Newsroom
• Comprehensive inspection and disassembly: undercarriage and engine bay dry-ice blasted to efficiently remove decades of build-up without damaging finishes. Porsche Newsroom+1
• Engine received new seals, coolant pipes replaced, clutch refreshed; transmission fully inspected. Porsche Newsroom
• Paint restored to its original vibrant Speed Yellow; interior freshened and smartly maintained. Porsche Newsroom
  This restoration shows how powerful a well-executed “back to factory spec” rebuild can look and feel — clean, sharp, faithful to design intent, and with real driving character.

Gaudin Porsche of Las Vegas – 1988 944 Turbo S

Preservation isn’t always the flashiest category, but perhaps it’s one of the most meaningful. Gaudin Porsche’s entry – a 1988 944 Turbo S with quite a story – shows that originality and authenticity matter. Porsche Newsroom+1
The back-story: the car was wagered in a poker game in 1994 and sat untouched for nearly twenty years. Porsche Newsroom
What the team did:

• Minimal intervention: original hood struts, wiper-blades, air deflectors all preserved. Porsche Newsroom+1
• Mechanical refresh: full fluid service, new belts, water pump, coolant expansion tank, brakes overhauled — but only as required to return it to reliable operation without compromising the original character. moto+match
  This kind of preservation honours history while acknowledging the importance of usability — the car didn’t just sit in a museum, now it moves, breathes, and drives, still very much in its original spirit.

Harper Porsche – 1992 964 RS (People’s Choice)

This build is a standout for creativity and public appeal. Harper Porsche’s 1992 964 RS was the crowd favorite, winning the People’s Choice Award. Porsche Newsroom+1
Noteworthy items:

• Built in the spirit of Porsche’s Sonderwunsch program — bespoke, bespoke, bespoke. Porsche Newsroom+1
• Exterior features: painter developed a color-shifting pearlescent finish, with hints toward Porsche greens and exotic accents reminiscent of Chromaflair. moto+match
• Interior: black Alcantara base, green accent stitching, carpet embroidery, green RS door releases, custom gauges inspired by Rolex Daytona and Porsche Design timepieces. Porsche Newsroom+1
• Engine bay: functional carbon fibre components, 3.8-litre build producing 394 hp and 343 lb-ft of torque — surpassing 100 hp per litre, aiming for performance benchmark parity with newer GT models. moto+match
  In short: this car captured imaginations — combining heritage, bespoke design and performance wrapped inside a piece of art.

🎯 Why This Matters

• The 2025 challenge drew a record 73 vehicles nationwide — a clear sign of growing enthusiasm and investment in Porsche’s heritage. Porsche Newsroom+1
• It champions three distinct categories — Preservation, Restoration, and Individualization — ensuring all approaches to classic Porsche care are honored. Porsche Newsroom+1
• These are not “garage” builds; they’re executed by Porsche-trained technicians with access to Porsche Classic Genuine Parts (over 85,000 items) and factory support. Porsche Newsroom+1
• The results bridge generations: from a high-end wide-body tribute to a faithful factory rebuild, to a near-barn-find brought back to life, to a custom dream car beloved by fans — illustrating the spectrum of classic car culture under the Porsche umbrella.

🧭 What’s Next for Enthusiasts & Owners

If you’re a Porsche classic owner, or aspiring to become one, here are a few take-aways from this year’s challenge:

• Originality counts: Whether you’re preserving or restoring, the details matter — factory finishes, correct parts, documentation.
• Thoughtful customisation works: The Individualization category proves you can push boundaries while respecting brand heritage and making something unique.
• Technical support is key: Access to correct parts, skilled techs and a trusted team makes a big difference.
• Community & story matter: The back-stories of each build (poker-game 944, childhood Matchbox inspiration, etc) deepen the appeal — for judges and audiences.
• Follow along: For those curious, the competition uses the hashtag #PorscheChallenge25 — a good way to explore each entry’s journey. Porsche Newsroom+1

📝 Final Thoughts

The 2025 Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge reaffirms that classic car culture is thriving — especially when it comes to Porsche. Every build showcased intense dedication: from fabricating custom bodywork and resurrecting long-dormant machines, to crafting bespoke interiors and delivering performance upgrades worthy of enthusiasts.

Congratulations to all the winners — Porsche Bend, Porsche North Houston, Gaudin Porsche of Las Vegas, and Harper Porsche — for pushing the envelope of what’s possible. In the hands of passionate technicians and build teams, Porsche’s heritage lives on, not just as a museum piece, but as a road-worthy, adrenaline-inspiring reality.

To learn more about each winning entry, visit Instagram and search the official event tag #porschechallenge25.