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Nardone Automotive's Porsche 928 Restomod fuses classic design and modern technology into one neo-retro art-on-wheels.
Restomods are gaining quite the traction nowadays. And with electric powertrains slowly seeping in, people are now transforming classic beauties into EVs too. It sure is scandalous for those who love classic cars to be stock, but for those who love to see things the creative way, these restomod creations are down-right impressive. Porsches seem to be the choice of many for doing cool restomods.
And the 911s from various generations are the top picks with Singer's 911-based creations always taking the spotlight. But for a change, someone decided to bring an underrated Porsche to the limelight with a restomod. Nardone Automotive from France has converted a Porsche 928 into a modern classic.
The mods are subtle on the outside but way cooler on the inside. But the impressive feat is that this restomod doesn't stray far away from this classic Porsche's natural layout. The freshly-minted French custom house has used carbon fiber panels and has also managed to bump up the power figures of the stock engine.
Thankfully, you will be able to order one without any rush as Nardone Automotive states that it is not a limited-run model. BorremeodeSilva and Podium Advanced Technologies are the names behind this uber-cool and modern redesign of the Porsche 928. These are the same guys that helped create the Automobili Amos Lancia Delta Futurista.
Nardone Automotive's Porsche 928 Restomod fuses classic design and modern technology into one neo-retro art-on-wheels.
A front-engined Porsche with a V8. Sounds awkward right? In the world of rear-engined boxer motors, the Porsche 928 was an out-of-the-box creation. It was a bold car from the German automaker, and it was this boldness that also led to its demise. The 928 debuted at a time when Porsche was thinking of axing the 911 because it was getting old. The 928 was a grand-tourer that almost had the 911's fame. But things didn't go that way.
Bold is not always good. But Thierry Nardone, a French guy obsessed with the 928 decided to remind people of how cool this Porsche was with his take on a modernized 928. And a Porsche 928 S4 was his pick. The S4 was a superior iteration of the 928 with the improved transmission, and notable styling changes. It was also a more worldwide car with less modification needed to export it to other countries.
Related: 10 Things Gearheads Forgot About The Legendary Porsche 917
This Porsche 928 Restomod uses the stock 5.4-Liter naturally-aspirated V8 motor. But it now pumps out 400 hp from the 350 hp that was available from the factory for the most powerful top-sped 928. The gearbox has been bumped up from a five-speed unit to a six-speed manual here along with a limited-slip differential to put down power more efficiently.
The chassis has also been souped-up with improved suspension and braking bits. This restomod 928 gets bigger brakes, electronic dampers for the suspension setup, and an electric power steering. But despite these tweaks, we expect this old-school Porsche to drive planted, just like it did when stock.
The visual makeover is serene here. The Porsche 928's original silhouette is retained but Nardone Automotive has swapped all body panels with custom carbon-fiber ones. The odd pop-up headlights are now LED enclosed in carbon-fiber housing, and so are the custom thin strip taillights.
The front fascia gets subtle design tweaks with a series of narrow cut-outs and LED lighting for the rectangular lights. This restomod rides on bigger 18-inch forged wheels but retains the original aero-disc design. Sportier Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires wrap around these cool wheels.
Related: This Is Not A Render, But A Real Life Classic Four-Door Porsche 911
The Porsche 928 Restomod interior gets a drastic makeover, and it instantly reminds us of those futuristic concept cars from the 70s and 80s. The redesigned dashboard now houses a retro-styled instrument cluster with a pixel display that vibes 80s-styling. The center console houses the climate controls and the infotainment unit in the design of a hi-fi stereo system from the days begone.
Almost every surface is wrapped in Foglizzo leather or Alcantara, except for the center console which has a contrasting brushed aluminum layout. The three-spoke steering wheel looks cool and goes on well with the classic vibe.
The press images show a cabin wrapped with peanut-brown colored Alcantara and Foglizzo leather, and it has a funky vibe to it. Also interesting is that Nardone has used the Porsche Classic Communication Management (PCCM) system that brings modern features like Apple CarPlay to this old-school charm. And the key to entering this retro-futuristic cabin is in itself a piece of art!
This particular 928 Restomod is on display at Milan Design Week this month. Then it will be shipped over to the UK to be showcased at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from June 23 to 26. Nardone Automotive plans to build eight Launch Edition models for a starting price of €480,000 (~$505,000).
This price is only for the futuristic work involved. A donor car and tax charges are extra. They have stated that the 928's modern take will not be limited. Production of these cool Porsches is set to being this year, with the first delivery slated for 2024.
Sources: Nardone-automotive.com, Instagram.com/borrowmeodesilva, Instagram.com/nardone_automotive
Tijo is an engineer, mechanic, gamer, and an avid content creator. He is a grease-monkey who loves tinkering with automobiles every now and then, when not busy penning down his passion for them. He has always had a soft spot for JDM and is keen on diving deep in for anything that involves wheels and engines.