Porsche 964 restoration: the points to check first

The 964 holds a particular place in the story of the 911. It keeps the air-cooled flat-six and the silhouette you recognise from across the street, yet it brings far more modern engineering and equipment. That is what makes it such a pleasure to drive today. It is also what makes a Porsche 964 restoration more demanding than it first appears: there is more to check, and each system has its own weaknesses.

These are the points we examine at our Mougins workshop, on the French Riviera, before proposing a programme of work. They are just as useful if you are thinking of buying a 964.

A 911 of transition

Built from 1989 to 1994, the 964 was offered as the rear-wheel-drive Carrera 2 and the four-wheel-drive Carrera 4. Coupé, Targa and Cabriolet share the same basis. Compared with earlier 911s, it introduced ABS, power steering and coil springs in place of torsion bars. The 3.6-litre engine gained twin-plug ignition, with two spark plugs per cylinder.

The consequence is simple. A 964 is restored like a more recent car than a classic 911. Electrics, hydraulics and engine management matter as much as the metal.

The body comes first

A restoration always starts with the body. Mechanical parts can be rebuilt; a badly repaired structure is far harder to put right.

Where corrosion hides

The 964 shell is galvanised, which protects it better than older 911s. It is not immune. The areas to inspect:

• the sills and their ends, front and rear;
• the front suspension mountings and jacking points;
• the base of the windscreen and the seal channels;
• the floor of the front luggage compartment, around the battery tray;
• the wheel arches and the lower edges of the wings.

Corrosion that shows on the surface is rarely alone. On a car destined for a thorough restoration, only a bare shell tells the whole truth.

Signs of an old repair

Many 964s have had an accident at some point, repaired with more or less care. Uneven paint thickness, irregular panel gaps and non-factory welds under the carpet or in the luggage compartment are all clues. None of them rules a car out, but they change the project: a straightened shell is checked on a jig before any paint. Our bodywork and paint page explains how we work on the metal.

Engine and drivetrain

Oil leaks

An air-cooled flat-six nearly always shows a little oil. The question is where it comes from. Rocker covers, oil return tubes, crankshaft seals, crankcase: a light weep may be routine maintenance, a heavy leak sometimes means opening the engine. A spotless underside is not always good news if it has just been cleaned. We prefer to look at it hot, after a road test.

Twin-plug ignition

Twin-plug ignition is a strength of the 964 engine, but its twin distributor, driven by a small internal belt, deserves particular attention. Its condition, its servicing and any modifications already made are part of our inspection.

Flywheel and clutch

The 964 uses a dual-mass flywheel. When worn, it gives itself away with noise at idle or as the clutch is released. Replacing it often goes hand in hand with the clutch: best considered together, with the gearbox out.

Carrera 2 or Carrera 4

On a Carrera 4, the four-wheel-drive system and its controls need a diagnosis of their own. A Carrera 2 is mechanically simpler. Neither is the better choice in absolute terms; you simply need to know what you are restoring.

Running gear and systems

A 964 may have a sound body and a healthy engine, yet still drive poorly. We check:

• the ABS, its sensors and its hydraulic unit;
• the power steering, its pump and hoses;
• dampers, bushes and alignment;
• brakes, discs, callipers and flexible hoses;
• heat exchangers and heater controls;
• the wiring loom, connections and ancillaries.

Each of these falls under servicing and maintenance when it is merely tired. Together, they can account for a significant share of a restoration.

The interior

The upholstery often tells a car’s true story. A sagging driver’s seat, a cracked dashboard or hastily refitted carpets say more than the odometer. Depending on its condition, the original leather may be kept and cared for, or retrimmed. We cover this question in a separate article: original leather upholstery, restore or retrim.

All upholstery is carried out in our workshop, from the patterns to the stitching.

The history file

A 964 without a history file is not necessarily a bad car, but it calls for more checks. Invoices, the service book, engine and gearbox numbers consistent with the car: these documents matter both for the value of the car and for planning the work. A well-run restoration adds to the file, too: every stage photographed becomes part of the car’s history.

Restore, or maintain

Not every 964 calls for a full restoration. Some sound cars mainly need thorough maintenance and a few targeted jobs. Others justify starting again from the bare shell. The right programme depends on the real condition of the car and on how you intend to use it.

In our workshop, we restored a Porsche 964 Carrera 4 coupé in metallic grey: paint, cognac leather upholstery sewn in-house, a quilted front luggage compartment, side lettering and Fuchs wheels. On the lift in 2018, on the road in 2019. The car’s page shows the work in photographs and on film.

How we work

Everything begins with photographs and a few questions. We send you a first opinion, then a detailed quotation, confirmed once the car has been examined at the workshop. Every restoration is quoted individually: the condition of a 964 varies too much from one car to the next for a general price to mean anything. During the work, you follow the project in photographs, stage by stage.

Our full restoration page describes the whole process, and the Porsche page the models we look after.

In closing

A well-restored 964 is a 911 you can drive often, for a long time, without a second thought. It all rests on an honest diagnosis at the start. If you have a project for your car, or a doubt before a purchase, you are welcome to write to us or request a quotation.