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Beyond 911: Inside Aerfal Automotive’s Bold 904 Restomod Vision

Walk into any Concours event today, and sometimes even your local Cars & Coffee, chances are, that you’re never too far away from a restomodded 911. While several makes and models continue to make waves in the thriving restomod scene, Porsche’s iconic sports car, across several generations, has become one of the most popular platforms for modern reinterpretations for decades. Now, a new Dutch startup, Aerfal Automotive, is taking a shot at reviving a model that you’ve most likely only seen at auction, the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS.

A follow-up to the immensely successful 718 RSK, Porsche’s earlier mid-engine racer that dominated endurance sports car racing in the 1950s with back-to-back wins at Targa Florio in 1959 and 1960, besides class victories at Le Mans and Sebring, the 904 carried that same momentum, taking the overall win at the 1964 Targa Florio, GT2.0 class wins at Le Mans in 1964 and 1965, and strong results at the Monte Carlo Rally and Sebring. 

A classic silver race car with the number 33 on the hood and doors, featuring a low, aerodynamic body inspired by Aerfal Automotive's distinctive automotive vision, plus a front license plate reading S-TJ 24, displayed against a plain background.
A vintage 904 Restomod race car rounds a curve on a coastal road as a man stands by the roadside in the background; trees and ocean are visible, capturing the spirit of Beyond 911 and Aerfal Automotive craftsmanship.

Most cars featured a 2.0-liter Carrera 4-cam flat-four making about 180 horsepower, with a handful of examples later fitted with six- and even flat-eight engines with 240 horsepower and top speed in excess of 160 mph. Thanks to a fiberglass body bonded to a ladder frame, the 904 weighed just under 1,450 pounds, giving it a serious advantage over heavier rivals at the time. Just 120 examples were built between 1963 and 1965 to meet FIA homologation regulations, and it became one of Porsche’s most versatile race cars. The 904 would eventually pave the way for the 906, 910, and 917, which are some of Porsche’s top motorsport models.

Now that you have some context about the 904’s rarity and racing pedigree, it should come as no surprise that original examples are now trading hands for well over seven figures. That high cost is exactly why Aerfal founder Daniel Robledo has chosen the 914 as a donor platform for the AE94. These digital design renderings, done by Alan Derosier in a stunning shade of classic silver, give us a first impression of what the production car could look like. Some of the many modern visual touches that you can see include carbon fiber finishes inside the headlight housing, comprising of LED units. You’ll also find LED taillights.

Expect engineering inputs from established names like Multimatic and Tutthill Porsche, and a bespoke flat-eight engine with 400 horsepower, being co-developed with Cosworth. The modern-day 904 restomod is set to feature top-rated hardware from proven names like Brembo, Michelin, and BBS. Inside, expect vegetable-tanned leather trimmed bucket seats, titanium hardware, and a Momo steering wheel. Even the dials are being designed with a luxury watchmaker, with each car set to include a matching chronograph.

Aerfal’s approach also highlights a shift in the restomod scene. Builders are beginning to move beyond the 911. Nardone Automotive has reimagined the 928 with a carbon-bodied reinterpretation pushing around 400 horsepower. Fifteen Eleven Design has turned the once-overlooked 914 into a $440,000 Cayman-powered sports car. Kalmar has tried to capture the essence of the 959 with their 9×9.

While 904 replicas and kit cars have existed for decades, and Porsche itself did a modern-day tribute when it debuted the 904 Living Legend concept in 2013, Aerfal is taking the idea further, combining modern engineering with OEM-level execution, while maintaining the design and ethos of the original 904.

If production begins as planned, the Aerfal AE94 could stand out as one of the most unique and highly anticipated Porsche restomods in years. Amid a sea of 911s, a modern take on the 904 would be rare, purposeful, and refreshingly different. Watch this space.


Images: Porsche, @aerfal_ @alan_derosier