{"id":13647,"date":"2025-12-31T16:52:50","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T16:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.design911.co.uk\/blog\/?p=13647"},"modified":"2026-01-02T08:51:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T08:51:45","slug":"the-people-we-met-in-2025-stories-from-across-the-porsche-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.design911.co.uk\/blog\/the-people-we-met-in-2025-stories-from-across-the-porsche-world\/","title":{"rendered":"The People We Met in 2025: Stories from Across the Porsche World"},"content":{"rendered":"

If there\u2019s one thing 2025 reminded us of, it\u2019s that Porsche isn\u2019t just about the cars. It\u2019s about the people behind them. The workshops keeping classics alive. The specialists pushing modern cars further. The builders, racers, craftspeople and owners who all share the same obsession, just in different ways.<\/p>\n

Throughout the year, we travelled, talked, listened, and spent time with some brilliant individuals and businesses across the Porsche world. From family-run garages to world-renowned specialists, from rugby players to metal-shaping masters, each story reinforced why the Porsche community remains as strong as ever.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look back at some of the people we met in 2025 \u2014 and why their stories stood out.<\/p>\n

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Independent Specialists Doing Things Properly<\/h3>\n

A recurring theme across the year was independence. Not just in name, but in mindset.<\/p>\n

At Williams Crawford<\/strong>, that independence comes from depth of experience. Whether it\u2019s an early 356 or a modern 992, their workshop reflects decades of Porsche knowledge applied calmly and methodically. What struck us most wasn\u2019t just the breadth of cars they handle, but the consistency of their approach \u2014 every model treated with the same respect, regardless of age or value.<\/p>\n

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A similar ethos runs through Dove House Motor Company<\/strong>, where passion for Porsche is backed up by years of hands-on experience. Their story isn\u2019t about scale or flash; it\u2019s about trust, long-term customer relationships, and doing the job properly. The kind of place where cars come back year after year, and owners know exactly who\u2019s working on them.<\/p>\n

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That same feeling carried through at Philip Raby Specialist Cars<\/strong>, one of the most recognisable names in UK Porsche circles. Walking through their operation, it\u2019s clear why they\u2019ve built such a reputation. There\u2019s an ease to how everything runs \u2014 a confidence that comes from doing this for a long time, and doing it well.<\/p>\n

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Family Garages and Modern Independents<\/h3>\n

Not every great Porsche story starts with a big name.<\/p>\n

Our visit to Julia 911 Porsche<\/strong> took us just outside Barcelona, to a specialist garage doing things properly and without shortcuts. Led by Jan Juli\u00e0<\/strong>, the workshop handles everything in-house \u2014 from engines and gearboxes to fabrication and trimming \u2014 which gives them full control over the builds they produce.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re best known for their work with air-cooled cars, particularly 911 SCs, 3.2 Carreras, 964s and 993s, with projects ranging from careful restorations to full backdate-style builds. What stood out most was the clarity of their approach: build cars that feel right to drive, not just impressive on paper.<\/p>\n

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At Sports Vehicle Performance (SVP)<\/strong>, the family-garage spirit is very much alive. Their workshop feels like a place where enthusiasm still drives everything, backed by proper technical ability and a genuine love for 911s in all forms. It\u2019s the sort of garage many Porsche owners actively seek out \u2014 knowledgeable, approachable, and invested.<\/p>\n

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That modern-independent mindset was also clear at LAP911<\/strong>, a workshop doing things slightly differently. Their approach blends technical expertise with a fresh outlook, proving that Porsche specialists don\u2019t need to follow a rigid formula to succeed. Instead, it\u2019s about adapting, evolving, and understanding what today\u2019s owners want from their cars.<\/p>\n

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We also spent time with SCS Porsche<\/strong>, whose story charts the move from dealership life into successful independence. It\u2019s a transition many technicians dream of, but few pull off well. Their journey shows what\u2019s possible when experience meets the freedom to do things your own way.<\/p>\n

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Builders, Visionaries and Big Ideas<\/h3>\n

Some of the most memorable moments of 2025 came from those pushing Porsche culture forward creatively.<\/p>\n

Hexagon Classics<\/strong> is a perfect example. Paul\u2019s journey from a single mews garage to one of the most respected names in classic Porsche speaks volumes. What stood out wasn\u2019t just the cars \u2014 although they\u2019re exceptional \u2014 but the long-term vision. Building something slowly, carefully, and with genuine intent.<\/p>\n

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At the other end of the spectrum, Von Schmidt<\/strong> showed us what happens when craftsmanship meets bold imagination. Their special builds blur the line between restoration and reinvention, producing cars that feel personal, considered, and unapologetically individual. It\u2019s not about trends \u2014 it\u2019s about creating something meaningful.<\/p>\n

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Then there\u2019s Porschemode<\/strong>, whose work asks an interesting question: what if Porsche had built this<\/em> version themselves? Their projects sit in that sweet spot between factory logic and creative freedom, offering a different take on what a Porsche can be.<\/p>\n

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Craft, Restoration and Attention to Detail<\/h3>\n

Behind every great Porsche is someone who understands materials as much as machines.<\/p>\n

Spending time with Precision Panel Craft<\/strong> was a reminder that restoration is an art form in its own right. Watching classic cars stripped back and rebuilt the right way gives you a new appreciation for what goes into keeping these vehicles alive. It\u2019s slow, careful work \u2014 the kind that doesn\u2019t shout for attention, but makes all the difference.<\/p>\n

That dedication to craft is something we see time and again across the community. It\u2019s also why so many of these businesses thrive quietly, through word of mouth and reputation rather than noise.<\/p>\n

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Porsche People Beyond the Workshop<\/h3>\n

Not every Porsche story starts in a garage.<\/p>\n

Meeting Miles Reid<\/strong>, Bath Rugby player and Porsche 911 SC owner, offered a refreshing change of pace. His relationship with his car mirrors how many enthusiasts feel \u2014 it\u2019s part escape, part passion, and part personal reward. Whether on or off the pitch, that connection to driving remains a constant.<\/p>\n

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We also followed Triniane Racing<\/strong> to the Tour de Corse Historique, where 25-year-old driver Tanguy<\/strong> took on Corsica\u2019s demanding roads in a freshly built Porsche 911 SC Group 4. Surrounded by Porsche from a young age, Tanguy now works within the family-run workshop preparing historic race and rally cars the old-fashioned way \u2014 strong, simple, and built to last.<\/p>\n

The Corsica rally is tough on both cars and crews, but the 911 SC proved exactly why it has such a strong rallying reputation. Supported with the right parts and preparation, it\u2019s a reminder that Porsche\u2019s motorsport heritage is still very much alive \u2014 not in museums, but out on the stages where it belongs.<\/p>\n

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What These Stories All Have in Common<\/h3>\n

Looking back, the common thread across all these features is authenticity.<\/p>\n

None of the people we met were chasing shortcuts. They\u2019ve built their reputations through experience, consistency, and genuine care for what they do. Whether restoring classics, maintaining modern cars, or creating something entirely new, the focus is always on doing things properly.<\/p>\n

For us at Design911, these stories matter because they reflect the wider ecosystem we support every day. Porsche ownership doesn\u2019t exist in isolation \u2014 it relies on skilled hands, trusted specialists, and a community that shares knowledge openly.<\/p>\n

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Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n

As we move into 2026, we\u2019re excited to meet even more people who keep the Porsche world moving forward. More workshops, more stories, more perspectives – all connected by the same passion.<\/p>\n

To everyone we met in 2025: thank you for welcoming us into your world. And to the wider Porsche community, we\u2019ll see you on the road, in the workshop, or at the next story waiting to be told.<\/p>\n