Some cars don’t just sit in a garage – they represent a lifetime’s dream. For Hertfordshire-based contractor and long-time Porsche fan David Hutchinson, that car is his 1977 Porsche 911 Turbo.

“I’m a self-confessed Porsche nutter,” David laughs. “My love of Porsche really started in the mid-80s. The 911 was always a bit out of reach until my mid-20s, but I was lucky enough to buy my first one – a 1978 SC – and I’ve still got it today.”

That first 911 opened the door to a collection that now includes several projects and classics. But the one he’s proudest of is the Guards Red Turbo sitting behind him, a car that has been through a huge restoration journey.

A Poster Car of the ’70s

If you grew up in the 1970s or ’80s, the 911 Turbo – with its wide arches, whale tail, and big boost punch – was the car. “This was the dream car back in the day,” says David. “It was my absolute passion to one day own one, especially a Turbo. It’s iconic. Anyone into Porsche will get it just by looking at it. And when you drive one, they’re amazing.”

This isn’t just any Turbo either. It’s one of the early 3.0-litre cars, made before Porsche switched to the larger 3.3 with an intercooler. Raw, quick, and a bit unforgiving, these early cars demand respect – which is exactly what makes them so exciting.

A Car with Racing Heritage

Dig into this Turbo’s backstory and things get even more interesting. The car was originally sold in the US, where early Turbos were badged as Carrera Turbo. Its previous owner? None other than Dick Barber, a well-known American racer.

Barber is famous for running the Hawaiian Tropic Porsche 935 Turbo at Le Mans in 1979, where his teammate was Hollywood legend Paul Newman. “He’s a lovely guy,” says David. “He’s now in his 80s. We started talking about buying the car in 2021, but because of COVID restrictions it didn’t actually arrive here until 2022.”

When it did, the Turbo wasn’t complete. The bodywork had been restored in the States, but the car arrived in boxes – and a lot of those boxes were missing parts.

Design911 to the Rescue

Anyone who has taken on a Porsche restoration knows the pain of trying to track down the right parts. David quickly found that a lot of what he needed was missing.

“This is where Design911 came in,” he explains. “We had to source loads of rare items. To be honest, they supplied most of what I needed, apart from a few absolute rarities I had to chase elsewhere.”

From trim kits and interior details to mechanical pieces, having access to genuine Porsche parts, aftermarket replacements, and even custom solutions made all the difference. “They’re almost a one-stop shop,” David says. “You can get something as small as an exhaust bracket for a nearly new Carrera T, or you can go all the way back and find a ’60s trim kit. That’s why I always use them.”

For David, the personal touch matters too. “I prefer to pick up the phone rather than just click online. You always get through to someone, they’re reasonable on price, and they’ll point you to genuine, OEM, or custom parts depending on what you need.”

Back on the Road

The car has been put back to factory specification as much as possible. It’s still a matching-numbers example, with a freshly re-trimmed interior. David went for period details like the gold wheels – an original option at the time – and the retro Turbo decals down the side.

“The car is an absolute joy to drive,” he says. “You do have to respect them. People get caught out with these early Turbos, and I can understand why. The trick is to keep it in second gear on the lanes near me – that way you can have all the fun in the world and still keep up with modern Porsches.”

A Garage Full of Projects

The Turbo isn’t David’s only passion project. “I’d be bored without one,” he admits. Alongside it, he has a 1972 911 oil-clapper that’s nearly finished, a 1969 hot rod build, and even a 914 fresh from the States waiting for a full strip-down.

“I just love tinkering and putting them back together,” he says. “There’s always fettling to do. Even this Turbo still has bits I want to improve, but that’s part of the fun. It’s pretty much where I want it now, and I’ll keep it that way for years to come.”

More Than Just Cars

Like many Porsche owners, David values the community as much as the cars. He’s a member of the Porsche Club GB, as well as the smaller Red Bull and Porsche Owners Club (RPOC) in Hertfordshire.

“The best thing about these cars is the people you meet,” he says. “You end up surrounded by like-minded enthusiasts who all share the same passion – and who all spend crazy money on cars like I do!”

Why Porsche is Different

Ask David why he keeps coming back to Porsche and the answer is simple. “You can do whatever you want to a Porsche. You can outlaw them, customise them, or keep them completely stock. Put your own twist on them – and I don’t think there’s another brand in the world that gives you that freedom with such a big following. That’s why I’ll always be Porsche through and through.”

Final Word

From a dusty collection of boxes to a gleaming 1977 911 Turbo back on the road, David Hutchinson’s story is one every Porsche fan can relate to. It’s about passion, patience, and the joy of keeping an icon alive.

Thanks to support from Design911, sourcing parts that could have easily stalled the project, David now has the car he dreamed about as a teenager. And if his garage full of projects is anything to go by, this won’t be the last restoration story he tells.