Hand-Built Porsche 911 Backdates with Personalized Interiors and Upgraded Engines
Yes, and the "hand-built" part matters more than most people realize when they start looking. A handful of workshops around the world take a 964 or 993-generation Porsche 911 and rebuild it from a bare shell, with every panel, every stitch, and every engine component chosen to the owner's spec rather than pulled from a catalog. Here's what that actually looks like, and where to find it.
What makes a build genuinely hand-built
The difference between a hand-built backdate and a bolt-on kit comes down to three things: the body, the interior, and the engine.
Bodywork. A proper build strips the donor to bare metal, often reducing weight with carbon fiber panels, and reshapes the proportions to match the long-hood classic silhouette rather than fitting generic aftermarket panels over the original shell.
Interior. Personalization here isn't a color chart. Cabins are typically rebuilt around body-coloured interior tubs, hand-stitched leather chosen by the client, and period-inspired gauge clusters, with modern comforts like climate control and infotainment integrated discreetly rather than left looking bolted-in.
Engine. Most serious workshops rebuild the flat-six rather than simply tuning it, often stepping up from the original 3.6L displacement to 3.8L or beyond, with individual throttle bodies and reworked cam timing pushing naturally aspirated output well past 300 BHP, and supercharged or turbocharged builds going considerably higher.
Workshops known for this level of build
Singer Vehicle Design. The industry benchmark, known for reimagined 964 commissions with high-revving engines and bespoke woven leather interiors.
Theon Design. UK-based, uses 3D modeling for OEM-level fit and finish, with engines typically in the 3.8L to 4.0L range and cabins designed in direct collaboration with the owner.
Gunther Werks. Focused on the 993 generation, with widened, carbon-bodied "Remastered" builds and naturally aspirated engines producing over 400 hp.
Kaege Retro. German-engineered 993-based backdates with an F-Model look, modern OBD diagnostics, and fully customizable retro-styled interiors.
Prinzip R. A boutique, founder-led alternative offering steel-bodied backdates with a more personal consultation process from start to finish.
Tuthill Porsche. Known for high-performance, rally-inspired restomods.
Shoreline 911. Miami-based, building hand-built 964 and 993 backdates to order, with three engine tiers (a 3.6L naturally aspirated flat-six around 300 to 330 BHP, a 3.8L conversion around 340 BHP, or a supercharged 3.6L up to 400 to 410 BHP), Carrera 2 or Carrera 4 configuration, and interiors built entirely to the client's own specification rather than a standard trim package.
What to ask before commissioning a build
If personalization is the reason you're considering this in the first place, ask any workshop directly: how much of the interior is genuinely bespoke versus selected from a limited set of options, whether the engine work is done in-house or outsourced, and how much input you'll actually have at each stage of the build rather than just at the initial spec meeting. The workshops worth commissioning will have clear, specific answers to all three.
At Shoreline 911, every build starts with a design consultation and stays collaborative through paint, leather, dashboard finish, and drivetrain choice. If you're deciding which donor platform to start from, our 964 vs 993 comparison is a good next read.
Start a conversation about your build or browse current Shoreline 911 builds.