Willhoit Auto Restoration has been in the business of restoring the Porsche 356 since 1976. Unlike many shops that oversee the subcontracted work, we perform all metalwork, paint, mechanical work and interior installation at our 7000 sq.ft. Long Beach, California facility. All work is performed to the highest standards and our cars are often in the winners circle at Porsche club  concourse events. While the cosmetic standards of our work are extremely high, we believe the real joy in owning a 356 is the driving experience.  Our goal in restoration is to provide you with a 356 that is not only stunning in appearance but also a pleasure to drive and use the way  Dr. Porsche intended. 

Please look over the shop features and services listed below.  If you have any questions or need guidance in selecting a model that will be right for you do not hesitate to contact us.

We welcome visitors and encourage you to come by the shop and examine our work. Please go to our  HOW TO FIND US  page for details. 

Shop features include:

  • A custom built spray booth that enables us to paint an entire 356 at one time. Replicating the factory procedure and eliminating color matching and blending problems, particularly with metallic colors. 

  • A complete factory paint library with samples of virtually every standard color used by Porsche from 1950 - 1965. Included as well are samples of the various component colors, such as, engine and chassis black, steering column tan, wheel silver, Koni shock blue, etc..

  • A custom built chassis rotisserie with body jigs for precise replacement of floor and longitudinal panels without body twisting (after extensive testing we now offer installation of our own specially engineered stiffening panels which considerably reduce flexing of the longitudinals in open cars).

  • Engine, transaxle and suspension rebuilding to precise factory specifications as well as performance modifications suited to your individual driving style. Years of experience give us the ability to offer you fully tested performance combinations. See the catalog section for engine options, etc.

  • Most recently, all ground-up restorations, and most partial restorations, are fully documented with  detailed digital photographs. This has made it possible for us to document the progress of each job and  to provide the owner with a complete photo history at any time. 

Of course, any of the services we offer during a complete restoration are available separately. We often provide metalwork, paint, engine/ trans. rebuilding and other mechanical or assembly work for customers who are restoring cars themselves. No job is as they say "too big or too small".

Additional services:

  • Complete servicing of all 356 models.

  • Expert rust and collision repairs.

  • Paint samples of over 50 original factory colors (a  5x8" color sample card that is suitable for color matching with your painters paint of choice is available for $35 per color).

  • Stripping and restoring of engine and chassis sheet metal and components to original satin black finish (correct fan shroud and oil can refinishing).

  • Refinishing of steering wheels, steering columns, blinker housings and dash knobs to original color and finish.

  • Restoration of original tarpaper sound insulation.

  • Restoration of fuel tanks.

  • Complete restoration of Rudge knockoff wheels to concourse condition (no longer provided).

  • Restoration of original jacks to concourse condition.

  • Dyno testing of every rebuilt engine on Carobu Engineering's $150K DTS engine dyno.

Pre-purchase inspection service:

If you are considering the purchase of a 356 in the Southern California area we are available to inspect the car and provide a full evaluation. The charge is $90/hr plus fuel expense.

Labor rate and scheduling:

Our shop labor rate is $90/hour plus parts and materials. There is usually about a 1.5 year waiting period for restoration work. The average time/materials required to perform certain aspects of the restoration process are listed on the Restoration Planner page. The Restoration Planner can be used as a guide for any Porsche restoration, whether it is performed by Willhoit Auto Restoration or any other quality restoration shop. A complete ground up restoration is very seldom possible for less than $100K. Our average restoration is between $100-150K.

We can also do servicing and minor repairs on a "when we can fit you in" basis.  Please call.