A Leading Land Rover Custom Builder Is Bringing Its Talents to the Porsche 911

While ECD Automotive Design started its life as a Land Rover restoration and customization specialist (the ‘D’ in the name is short for Defender, after all), with time, the Florida-based outfit has continued to expand its portfolio.

As such, nowadays, you’ll find that ECD dabbles in everything from Range Rover Classics and old-school Toyota FJs to Jaguar E-Types and first-generation Ford Mustangs. In each case, the operation works its magic by updating the car inside and out with more power, premium finishes and modern conveniences.

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Not content to settle there, ECD has just unveiled its first Porsche commission, and the brand has indicated that it will now be challenging the likes of Singer and Co. with 911 restomods of its own.

ECD takes on the 993

ECD has dubbed its debut effort ‘Project Gravette,’ and the car is based on a 993, Porsche’s fourth-generation 911 produced from 1994-1998.

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As such, even though ECD hasn’t shared what makes its particular Porsche special (i.e., powertrain or interior options), it nevertheless amounts to big news and an ambitious effort. 

For starters, many Porsche purists consider the 993 to be the end of an era and a high watermark for the 911’s development — as the last air-cooled model of the line, it’s the ideal compromise between old-school charm and modern refinement. To say that it carries hefty expectations would be an understatement.

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What’s more, seasoned Porsche customizers like Gunter Werks and RUF are well-established (and worldwide names) because of their 993 expertise, so it’s a bold move for an upstart like ECD to be challenging them at their own game.

Nevertheless, according to ECD, the Porsche 911 makes for “one of the largest and most lucrative markets within the broader restomod industry” — with “strong demand” from its customer base, the opportunity is evidently too good to pass up.

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An emerging opportunity?

Although it probably seems like the last thing the market needs is another 911 restomod, ECD does have good cause to be attempting the venture. Given the company’s “boutique production focused on low-volume, high-touch vehicles that command premium prices,” vintage 911s are a perfect fit. 

What’s more, this isn’t the first time that ECD has worked with classic sports cars. Having developed restomods for old-school Ford Mustang and E-Type fans, the outfit knows how to cater to vehicles with a cult-like enthusiast following.

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Ultimately, though, ECD’s best chances come because of timing, and it’s something that the company is eager to highlight. By “offering clients a faster build time relative to incumbent providers of this service” it could certainly capitalize on a problem that plagues the likes of the competition: delays.

That is to say — if you’re looking at purchasing a new Singer commission, don’t hold out for one any time soon. Because of the excessive demand for the company’s eye-catching Porsche 911 restomods, the wait time can reportedly stretch as long as three to four years.

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While others, like RUF or Gunter Werks, can supposedly beat that kind of time frame, they can’t always provide the same kind of Stateside support or individualized customization. ECD is making a gamble, but it could pay off in the long run.

Of course, like anything, it ultimately all comes down to a question of cost. Given that ECD’s Defenders can run $200,000 or more, one of these Porsches isn’t likely to come cheap.

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