Imagine walking into a warehouse and finding around 700 classic Porsches waiting for their next chapter. That is the extraordinary reality behind Early 911S, the German Porsche specialist founded by Manfred Hering and operated together with his wife, Sarah Hering.
Based in Wuppertal, Germany, Early 911S has grown from a small Porsche restoration business into one of the world’s largest specialist operations dedicated to classic Porsche models.
The company currently has around 700 Porsche vehicles across its facilities, with approximately 140 projects being worked on simultaneously. Its facilities cover more than 215,000 square feet, or roughly 20,000 square metres, giving the business an almost industrial scale despite its highly specialised work.
But these 700 cars are not simply a collection of finished showpieces.
Some are waiting for complete restorations, others are undergoing mechanical or bodywork repairs, while some serve as donor cars or future projects. The inventory includes a wide range of air-cooled Porsches, particularly classic 911s, alongside rare and historically significant models.
FROM ADVERTISING TO PORSCHE RESTORATION
Manfred Hering’s journey into the Porsche world was somewhat unexpected.
Before founding Early 911S, Hering worked in the advertising industry. His interest in classic Porsches intensified after purchasing an early 911 for an advertising project in the early 2000s.
The car eventually needed restoration, but Hering was unhappy with the quality of the work available to him. Instead of giving up, he decided to develop the expertise required to restore these cars properly.
That decision eventually led to the establishment of Early 911S in 2006.
What started as a specialist Porsche operation gradually expanded, bringing bodywork, paint, mechanical work, engines, transmissions, electrical systems and interiors under the same organisation.
Today, the company employs dozens of Porsche specialists, with various reports putting its workforce at around 80 to nearly 100 people, including apprentices.
SARAH HERING’S ROLE
Although Manfred Hering is the founder and best-known figure behind the company, Sarah Hering has also played an important role in its development.
Sarah has been involved in the company’s operations, marketing and communications, while also handling areas such as press enquiries, Porsche Club requests, tours and events.
Her involvement illustrates that Early 911S is not simply a founder-led workshop. It has developed into a large operation requiring a considerable management and organisational structure.
Together, Manfred and Sarah have helped turn a passion for old Porsches into a business capable of managing hundreds of cars and more than a hundred restoration projects at the same time.
NOT EVERY PORSCHE IS RESTORED THE SAME WAY
One of the defining philosophies of Early 911S is its focus on originality.
The company works with Porsche models ranging from the 356 to the 993, paying particular attention to historically important cars, unusual specifications and rare original colours.
The goal is not simply to make an old Porsche look new.
Instead, restorers attempt to understand what the car originally was and return it as closely as possible to that specification, preserving original materials and details whenever possible.
That approach can make restoration extremely time-consuming.
Some projects require hundreds or even thousands of hours of work, depending on the condition and complexity of the car. A complete restoration can involve virtually every part of the vehicle, from the body shell and engine to the interior and electrical system.
The company’s portfolio has also included some exceptionally rare Porsches, including examples such as the Porsche 959 and the unusual Porsche 916.
A PORSCHE COLLECTION THAT KEEPS GROWING
The sheer scale of Early 911S is what makes the operation particularly unusual.
A typical classic-car restoration shop might have several projects occupying its workshop. Early 911S, by comparison, has hundreds of Porsches spread across its facilities, with many undergoing work simultaneously.
The cars represent different stages of their lives. Some are ready to return to customers, some are being completely rebuilt, and others may be waiting for the right moment to begin their transformation.
That makes the facility less like a conventional warehouse and more like a huge archive of Porsche history.
For enthusiasts, there is something fascinating about the idea that hundreds of classic 911s—including cars that might otherwise have disappeared from the road—are being preserved under the same organisation.
The most impressive part of Early 911S is not simply the 700-car figure, but the philosophy behind it. Restoring one classic Porsche correctly is already a huge undertaking; managing hundreds of them while trying to preserve their originality is on another level.
It also shows how far a personal obsession can go when passion is combined with the right expertise and business vision.
What do you think about Early 911S and its collection of around 700 classic Porsches? Would you rather own one perfectly restored 911, or have access to a warehouse filled with hundreds of them? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Adhe is part of the 88 Eight Box Editorial Team, covering JDM culture, motorsport, automotive technology, and industry news. The team focuses on delivering original automotive stories, reviews, and insights for enthusiasts worldwide.
