Coachwerks Restoration Studio Project Spotlight

Charlie Smith’s Porsche 914-6 Restomod: The Ultimate Build Takes Shape

3.6 liters. A 916 gearbox. Electronic suspension. Custom everything. And a whole lot of Porsche DNA.

Charlie Smith’s Porsche 914-6 body shell in gray primer on a dolly, seen head-on from the front

Charlie’s 914-6, back from metal fabrication and in primer at PMB.

Some cars are restored. Others are reimagined. Charlie Smith’s 914-6 falls squarely into the second category.

Underside of Charlie Smith’s Porsche 914-6 body in gray epoxy primer, turned on a rotisserie at PMB

The ultimate 914-6, taking shape one detail at a time.

What began as a Porsche 914 is becoming one of the most ambitious 914-6 conversions we’ve undertaken at PMB Performance. We’re talking about a modern, electronically fuel-injected 3.6-liter Porsche flat-six, a 916 transmission, electronically controlled suspension, fully integrated air conditioning, and a long list of custom touches that bring modern Porsche performance and refinement to a classic mid-engine platform.

Oh, and did we mention it’s going to be Ferrari Giallo Modena Yellow?

Charlie’s car has just returned from metal fabrication, and we’re now deep into the painstaking preparation work that happens before paint. This month, we’re taking you behind the scenes to show you what makes this build so special, and why some of the most important restoration work is the work you’ll never see.

More Power Demands More Engineering

Dropping a 3.6-liter flat-six into a 914 is one thing. Building a car that can properly handle that power is quite another.

With significantly more horsepower and torque than the original 914-6 ever produced, Charlie’s chassis has received additional structural reinforcement and stiffening to accommodate the increased demands of the modern engine.

Paired with a 916 transmission, this combination promises to transform the lightweight mid-engine Porsche into something truly extraordinary.

But we aren’t simply building a hot-rod. Our goal is a fully integrated 914-6 that feels as thoughtfully engineered as it looks.

Porsche 914 underside with chassis stiffening welded in, on a rotisserie in the PMB shop

Stiffening the chassis to handle the 3.6-liter’s extra horsepower and torque.

That’s where things get interesting.

Classic Lines. Modern Attitude.

At first glance, Charlie’s car will be unmistakably Porsche 914-6. The familiar silhouette is still there, complete with beautifully widened fenders and the classic proportions that have made these little mid-engine cars increasingly desirable.

Look a little closer, however, and you’ll begin to notice some distinctly modern touches.

The front fenders feature custom high-pressure air extraction vents inspired by contemporary Porsche performance cars. Additional high centered rear-quarter scoops have been incorporated to channel fresh air into the engine compartment.

We’ve also fabricated provisions for a custom front-mounted oil cooler and air-conditioning condenser, carefully incorporating the necessary cooling systems into the body.

Glen Cordle rendering of a yellow Porsche 914-6 with Fuchs wheels, flared fenders, fender vents, and a rear-quarter scoop

The vents and scoops on Charlie’s 914-6, in a rendering by Glen Cordle.

A particularly clever modification is the addition of a dedicated engine access hatch in the rear firewall. This will allow access to the 3.6-liter engine’s belt and tensioning components, making future maintenance considerably more convenient.

We’ve even shaved the exterior door handles and incorporated electric windows for a cleaner, more contemporary appearance.

Every modification has been considered with one guiding principle in mind: make it better without losing what makes a 914 special.

Engine access opening cut into the rear firewall of a Porsche 914 cabin

Thoughtful engineering extends to the details that make future maintenance easier.

Modern Comfort Meets Modern Control

Charlie’s 914-6 will also mark a first for PMB: our first build with a completely integrated air-conditioning system, not an afterthought.

Air-conditioning components mocked up in the front trunk of a Porsche 914

Packaging modern climate control into a space never designed to accommodate it.

We’re working with our friends at Classic Retrofit in the UK to make it happen. Jack, a fellow 914 enthusiast, has been particularly excited about this project and the challenges of incorporating modern air conditioning into the limited space available.

Rather than hanging an aftermarket unit beneath the dashboard, we’ve integrated the necessary components into the car during the metal fabrication stage, including the custom dash provisions and cooling-system packaging.

And the modern technology doesn’t stop there.

Charlie’s car will feature a fully electronic suspension system from our friends at TracTive, bringing sophisticated, electronically adjustable damping technology to the classic 914 platform.

The objective is to deliver exceptional handling while maintaining the comfort and control expected of a modern performance car.

As for the interior? Let’s just say it’s going to be completely custom.

We’re saving those details for another article. Trust us, it’ll be worth the wait.

Getting the Details Right: The Art of Factory Seam Sealing

With the major metalwork complete, Charlie’s 914-6 is now on our rotisserie, where we’re working through one of the most important, and often overlooked, stages of a proper restoration.

Seam sealing and undercoating.

When Porsche assembled the original 914-6, the factory used several different methods to seal body seams, panel joints, and areas where moisture could penetrate the overlapping steel panels.

These applications weren’t always perfectly smooth or uniform. In fact, some of the most recognizable factory details are the textures and application marks left behind.

At PMB, we pay particular attention to recreating those characteristics.

Brush-Applied Seam Sealer

One technique involves applying seam sealer with a brush, leaving distinctive strokes and ridges visible in the finished material.

Rather than smoothing these joints into something that resembles modern bodywork, we’re deliberately recreating the appearance of the original factory application.

It’s a small detail, but one that makes a significant difference when examining a properly restored Porsche.

Gloved hand brushing seam sealer along a panel joint

Brushed-on seam sealer leaves visible strokes, as seen in this image from 3M.

Blown-In Seam Sealer

The factory also used sprayed, or Schutz gun blown-in, sealing techniques in selected areas, including portions of the front and rear trunks.

These applications leave a different texture around seams, panel joints, and various plugs and spot-welded areas.

We’re recreating those characteristics as well, paying careful attention to the amount of material applied and the resulting finish.

We’ll show you examples of both techniques in the accompanying photographs so you can see the differences for yourself.

Close-up of textured blown-in seam sealer along a Porsche 914 body seam

Schutz gun sealer leaves the textured seams you’d find on a factory 914.

Brush-applied seam sealer with visible brush strokes along a seam in Charlie Smith’s primed Porsche 914-6

Brushed on by hand, with the strokes left visible like the factory application.

Why go to all this trouble on a heavily modified 914-6?

Because even when we’re building something this extraordinary, we believe the original Porsche construction details deserve to be respected.

Protecting What’s Beneath the Paint

Charlie Smith’s Porsche 914-6 body shell in gray epoxy primer, seen from the front

Protecting the steel beneath the finished car is every bit as important as the paint above it.

With seam sealing completed, Charlie’s body has received an epoxy primer coating in preparation for the next stage: protective undercoating.

Before we complete the underside, we’ll also apply LizardSkin Sound Control to the interior.

This spray-applied sound-damping material helps reduce vibration and unwanted panel resonance, adding another layer of refinement to what will be a surprisingly sophisticated little Porsche.

We’ll then turn our attention to the underside of the chassis, where we’ll apply the final protective coating while carefully considering the texture and appearance of the original 914-6 factory finishes.

It’s important work.

Once the car is assembled, much of this craftsmanship will disappear beneath carpeting, suspension components, and interior trim. But the protection and preparation will remain, preserving the work beneath the finished surfaces.

Porsche 914 cabin floor and bulkheads coated in dark gray sound-damping material

Modern sound control adds another layer of refinement to Charlie’s 914-6.

These are the details that distinguish a carefully executed restoration from a quick respray.

And we’re not taking shortcuts.

Next Stop: Giallo Modena Yellow

Once the remaining seam-sealing, sound-control, and undercoating work is complete, Charlie’s 914-6 will come off the rotisserie for the last time.

We’ll transfer the body to a dedicated paint dolly and send it out for its final Giallo Modena Yellow finish.

That’s when things are really going to get exciting.

Imagine those flared fenders, sculpted air vents, and rear-quarter scoops wearing Ferrari’s unmistakable Giallo Modena Yellow, with a modern 3.6-liter flat-six waiting to fill the engine compartment.

Add the 916 gearbox, TracTive electronic suspension, integrated air conditioning, and all those subtle custom touches, and you’ve got the ingredients for one seriously special Porsche.

A classic 914-6 at heart, with the engineering and performance of something considerably more modern.

Charlie Smith’s Porsche 914-6 body on a rotisserie with its underside coated, masking along the edges

The next time Charlie’s 914-6 comes off the rotisserie, it goes to paint.

We’ve got plenty more to share as Charlie’s build progresses, including a closer look at the custom interior, powertrain, suspension, and the final assembly.

For now, there’s still plenty of work to do before that first coat of yellow.

And that’s exactly where the magic happens.

Stay tuned for the next chapter in Charlie Smith’s ultimate 914-6 build.

PMB Performance | CoachWerks Restoration Studio