“It’s the project of his life”: in Aix, entrepreneur Thierry Nardone transforms a Porsche 928 into a “restomod”

“Reset”. The word does not yet appear in Larousse, but it may enter the dictionary soon. It refers to an old car that has been restored and then updated. Being a unique example, ready to attract wealthy collectors in a market that is still a market. Influenced by this type of innovation from the United States and Italy, the entrepreneur Thierry Nardone decided to create his own restomod in Aix-en-Provence. He revisited the Porsche 928, a coupe sold in the 1970s, immortalized in the movie “Dangerous Business” with Tom Cruise.

It is in Pertusato’s studio, in Luynes, that he presents a model of his car, on a rolling platform in a clean environment. The atypical design of Porsche is respected, even crossed, by the famous Italian studio BorromeodeSilva. Keen eyes will notice the inclusion of new retractable taillights, an LED strip at the rear, and carbon fiber bodywork. The cost of such a creation? “Three million euros of investmentsays the entrepreneur of Aix, who started work on its renovation in 2021. CThese are expensive projects. Investing a lot of money is risky.“

“I’ve always had a way of fixing my cars”

Before adding this total, Thierry Nardone had several lives. “I have done fifty jobshe says, leaning on 928. I worked in construction, in garages specializing in racing cars, then moved into sales.“He also opened Big Fernand restaurants in the region.”It was a way to afford the cars I wanted. I’ve had this way of fixing them, actually.“He now owns four Porsche 928s, including the one that became the 928 Nardone.

Even if its hood still does not have a V8 of more than 400 horsepower, the restomod is causing a sensation in the small world of cars. The car was presented at the prestigious Pebble Beach, California, Concours d’Elegance last summer, after being unveiled at Milan Design Week. “International chat“, recalls Thierry Nardone, who does not hide his satisfaction that the Type 7 media – associated with Porsche – shared images of the car, while the German manufacturer has nothing to do with the project.

At Luynes, motoring journalists come from all over France to see the 928 Nardone. Like Renaud Roubaudi, founder of the YouTube channel Petites observations automobiles, who came to film the car and will release a one-hour video about it. “In fact, I was completely surprised by the project“, he admits, explaining the success “skill“.”We tell ourselves that it could be today’s 928, if Porsche didn’t stop the story. He has thought of everything, he goes far, and he has an army working for him in Italy. And then he plays big, he puts his own marbles. For me, this is the project of his life.“

Amazing price for Porsche 928 Nardone

The Porsche 928 Nardone is now entering the final phase of its production. In the Aosta Valley, several companies work on cars. “We made almost 3,000 partsit believes its designer. We hope to complete the new model in May, which we will test in hot and cold countries.“This is the last stage, before the limited production of the series.”If we make fifty copies, I’ll be happy“, sighs Thierry Nardone.

The fact remains that the car is sold at a very high price. Excluding options, the entry ticket is €480,000 tax-free and excluding the sponsor’s car. You need at least €30,000 to get a Porsche 928 in good condition. “I think he can sell them“, Judge Renaud Roubaudi, who explains “a small market of billionaires or a few millionaires in the world” and predicts the production of six or seven 928 Nardones per year.

Precisely, buyers are on the spot. The former should receive their copies by the end of the year. Recently, Thierry Nardone went to Miami to present his restomod to Víctor M. Gómez IV, president of the North American branch of Ruf, a manufacturer whose cars are inspired by Porsche models. A Puerto Rican businessman could supply Nardone 928 on the other side of the Atlantic. Logical, since the original model was aimed at the US market.