Finally, a Restomod Builder Brave Enough to Ignore the Porsche 911

Dutch Boutique Turning Porsche 914 Into 904 Restomod

The Porsche 904 Carrera GTS stands as one of Stuttgart’s most significant racing machines. With only 106 examples built between 1963 and 1964, this mid-engined marvel won several races, including first and second at the 1964 Targa Florio. Meanwhile, the Porsche 914 occupies the opposite end of the desirability spectrum. Often dismissed as Porsche’s ugly duckling, it lacks the racing pedigree and emotional appeal that collectors crave. 

Enter Aerfal Automotive, a Dutch startup that’s challenging the saturated market of Porsche 911 restomods by doing something refreshingly different. The company aims to revive the Porsche 904 in the form of the AE94 restomod, based on the 914 chassis. Rather than adding to the endless parade of reimagined 911s from Singer, Tuthill, and others, founder Daniel Robledo saw potential where others saw a parts car.

The Porsche 904: Love at First Sight

Robledo, an industrial designer, first conceived the idea when he visited Porsche specialists Tuthill to buy an engine for a go-kart and spotted an original 904 in their workshop. His creative instincts kicked in immediately. The choice of the 914 as a donor makes practical sense beyond availability. With 118,978 units produced between 1969 and 1974, finding affordable donor cars isn’t the challenge it would be with an actual 904. But this isn’t just a rebodying exercise. 

Aerfal plans engineering inputs from established names like Tuthill Porsche and Multimatic, plus a bespoke flat-eight engine producing 400 horsepower, likely being co-developed with Cosworth. The project also features components from Brembo, BBS, Bilstein, Momo and luxury watch makers, all to ensure standards in line with a Singer 911 build.

Singer 911-Money For a 914?

The high-end Porsche restomod market has become somewhat predictable, much to many enthusiasts’ dismay. Whether you’re at a concours event, Goodwood, or just the neighbourhood Cars & Coffee, you’ll find multiple 911-based builds competing for attention, each trying to out-Singer Singer with air-cooled engines and impeccable craftsmanship. It’s exceptional work, but the formula has grown familiar. Aerfal’s AE94 project offers something genuinely different for enthusiasts tired of seeing another 911 interpretation. 

Six-figure sums are standard for premium restomods, and given the bespoke flat-eight engine and partnership with respected engineering firms, Aerfal has started taking deposits with a starting price of $3.5 million. For buyers seeking exclusivity beyond another reimagined 911, this 914-based 904 tribute could represent the alternative the restomod world needs. Especially since only 94 will ever be built.