TUNNING

Aerfal Automotive is reviving Porsche's classic sports car

Dutch startup Aerfal Automotive is reviving the classic sports car with a modern restomod based on the humble Porsche 914 platform.

The Porsche Carrera GTS, better known by its internal codename 904, is a rare example of a homologated sports car from the mid-1960s, and six decades later, Dutch company Aerfal Automotive wants to "revive" it in the form of a restomod with modern technology and Porsche underpinnings.

The reborn classic is the work of French automotive designer Alain Derosier, known for projects such as supercars such as the Stratos-inspired Kiska APG-1 and the Dakar-ready Marc Philipp Gemballa Marsien. CGI expert Antoine Brigot, who works as a 3D artist for Avatar, was responsible for the modeling.

The exterior remains faithful to the proportions with the mid-engine and attractive curves of the original, with a few changes to the cooling intakes, LED lights and vintage aluminum wheels. The doors open along with large sections of the roof, allowing easier access to the two-seat cabin. The interior will please fans of the analog era thanks to its minimalist dashboard, retro dials and combination of leather and titanium.

Porsche produced 106 road-going examples of the 904 between 1964 and 1965, which was a homologation special. This means that acquiring the original chassis would have been prohibitively expensive.

Aerfalo founder Daniel Robledo told Motor1 magazine that their restomod will be based on the humble Porsche 914. The mid-engine sports car, developed by Porsche and Volkswagen, is much easier to find, with a total of 118,978 units rolling off the production line between 1969 and 1974.

The project aimed to answer the question "what if Porsche's visionaries from the 1960s had access to the tools of today?".

This meant that the 914's base wouldn't be enough, so the chassis will receive reinforcements from Multimatic, while Porsche specialist Tuthill will work on the suspension and chassis tuning. The restomod will also use parts sourced from Brembo, Michelin and BBS.

More importantly, the reborn 904 will be powered by the "reborn legendary eight-cylinder engine" found in the original race car, which is said to include Cosworth. The displacement of the air-cooled naturally aspirated engine will be increased from 2.0 to 4.0 liters, with a target power output of 400 hp.

"This is not about chasing numbers, but about creating an engine that exudes character, has a great sound and provides a feeling that directly connects the driver to Porsche's original racing heritage," says Aerfal.

Currently, Aerfal's 904 only exists in the digital world, but the company plans to build a prototype and will start taking pre-orders soon. Pricing, planned production figures and a target date for first deliveries have not yet been announced.

Autonews