Making Bank from Restoring Porsches

Emory Motorsports President Rod Emory said turning his lifelong passion for Porches into a successful business was something that came naturally to him.

“This has been a lifelong passion. I’ve been doing it for twenty-five years, building and racing Porsches,” Emory told the FOX Business Network’s Stuart Varney.

Emory showed off the first Porsche he restored that led to his successful business.

“This is a 1953 356 Coupe. This was the first car that I built, a little over 25 years ago, as a vintage race car and it was the catalyst for my business. This was the car that started it all for me,” Emory said.

He said that particular Porsche needed a full restoration, but that he wasn’t satisfied with just building it to stock configuration.

“I wanted to build a car that I could enjoy and use and have fun and race. So I restored it back to a condition that I could take it out and compete and race in it,” said Emory.

He also explained the allure of the 356 model for collectors.

“Really, all the 356 models have become classics.  They built the cars from 1949 to 1965 and collectors from all over the world are seeking these cars out, not only to enjoy in their collections but also to drive,” he said.

In his 25 years in business, Emory said he has restored “just over 150 cars.”

And even though there is a big price tag for the restored Porsches, “it’s really about how we build these cars and how we create something special for our client,” he said.

And in regard to that price tag, he said “the cars that we build range from $250,000 to $450,000 -- depending on what the components are.”