The Path to Perfection

Giltrap Porsche recently marked a significant milestone—becoming New Zealand's first Porsche Classic Certified dealership and 92nd globally.

In order to gain accreditation, two Giltrap Porsche technicians, Kai Newstead and Ricky Urry, underwent two years of comprehensive training in Germany to become Porsche Classic Certified.

The partnership brings exclusive factory training and support to the Giltrap team, enabling them to restore and protect classic Porsche vehicles with a level of care, precision and expertise never before seen in New Zealand.

The first vehicle to be fully refurbished under the Porsche Classic Partner programme was longtime Porsche enthusiast Deb Simpson’s rare right-hand drive Porsche 356.

After decades of searching, Deb finally found her dream 356.

For Deb, the love for Porsche is deep-rooted. “I don’t think you can call yourself a true Porsche enthusiast until you’ve owned a 356,” she says. “It’s just a beautiful shape – the curves, the lines… this is just a real classic.”

The 356 debuted with the advantage of an air-cooled engine and superb, engaging handling. The design of the 356 is special because it led to the design of the 911 – an iconic design still with us today. The 356 production project commenced in the late 1940s, and over the model’s lifetime, Porsche built just over 76,000 356s. The first example arrived here in 1955.

Deb’s primary goal with the refurbishment was to get the 356 performing at its best, while still retaining the vehicle’s authenticity. Naturally, she chose the Classic Porsche Partners and their best-in-class expertise, especially when it comes to classic Porsche restorations that keep the vehicle as original as possible.

After talking with the team, Deb and technicians Kai and Ricky devised a plan that was all about preserving the vehicle’s current state – such as the existing paintwork and engine – to best effect.

“We’ve chosen to do as much as we can without changing too much of the car,” says Deb. “Basically, they’ll replace what needs replacing and give it all a really good tweak.”

For everyone at Giltrap Porsche, the new Porsche Classic Partner status comes as a special privilege.

“It brings a lot of inspiration. The customers love the vehicles, we love the vehicles, and we just get to meet in the middle and renew them, bring them back on the road, and keep them alive,” says Workshop Manager, Paulino Saavedra Jnr.

Adds Kai: “The knowledge is getting scarcer as time goes on. We’ve had a chance to go to Stuttgart and learn from the baton carriers of the past, and I guess we’re carrying the baton now.”

Across several months, the team meticulously restored original components, removed rust, reconditioned the engine, enhanced the brakes, and restored the suspension—all while staying as true as possible to original specifications. It’s a lengthy process, but as they say, good things take time. Finally, almost a year after the refurbishment project began, the Porsche Classic team has reached the finish line.

And the result is stunning.

“The car has been brought back to new factory spec, Porsche components have been used, and existing parts have been refurbished, so most of the car is still original,” explains Kai.

It’s clear alongside the considerable elbow grease expended, there’s been plenty of passion put into the project from the Porsche Classic Partner team too. 

“I’m starting to feel very attached to this car, to the point where I’ve been researching extra details at home,” says Kai. “Deb is going to feel like she won the lottery when she gets this car back.”

After many months of careful work, the handover finally arrived. As it’s a first, the Giltrap Porsche team brought Deb into the dealership and sent this first of a new breed of classic New Zealand Porsche vehicles on its way with a special celebration.

“It’s been such an amazing journey, and this has just topped it off beautifully,” concludes Deb. “I’m absolutely blown away. It’s been very emotional actually, knowing the history of the car and what it’s been through, and now she’s just in these loving hands. What a wonderful way to begin this stage of her life.”