Owning a classic Porsche 911->ke282 can be a lot of fun. However, with historic vehicles->ke503 in need of constant maintenance and with original parts not exactly easy to find, the hobby can get really expensive. Fortunately, Porsche's->ke1 Classic division is here to give U.S. enthusiasts a hand with a range of services and products for early 911 models. After it had launched a navigation radio system that blends modern technology with a retro look earlier in 2015, Porsche Classic has also announced it will reproduce dashboards for vintage 911 models from years 1969 to 1975.

Much like any other restomod item from Porsche Classic, the dashboard looks just like the original, but features a modern substructure. The automaker claims that "the fluted texture, tactile feel, gloss and shade of black" were designed to be as close as possible to the original. At the same time, it was created using a sophisticated manufacturing process that meets today's high-quality standards. Porsche says the materials used in the new dashboard will hold up better against solar radiation and fluctuations in temperature and humidity, and help preserve the value of classic Porsche cars in the long run.

The new part is available from any authorized Porsche dealer in the U.S. for $1,353, not including taxes and shipping. The manufacturer recommends the dashboard replacement be performed by authorized dealer partners who have trained experts, as it can only be installed by the original procedure, which involves removing the windshield.

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Why it matters

This is great news for owners of classic 911s, who can now purchase one more part needed to restore their cars right from the dealership. Not many carmakers provide such services for models that are now out of production and it's nice to see that a beloved model such as the pre-turbo era 911 gets the attention it deserves. Early 911 dashboards in tip-top, unrestored shape are hard to find and expensive, which makes this new part that much more feasible to owners that don't necessarily need an original item. Replacing the old part with the new one should be easy too, with more and more Porsche dealers becoming Porsche Classic partners.

On the other hand, I can't help wonder whether these restomod dashboards won't affect a 911s resale value. Selling a car that has such a dashboard could prove difficult if the buyer is interested in a completely unrestored product. Still, the restomod dashboard remains a great initiative from Porsche Classic to owners who aren't that crazy about having a 100 percent original car. It's better to be able to restore a 911 with original-looking parts from the company than struggling to find a replacement that's in mint condition or restoring a significantly altered component.

Porsche 911 (993)

You can check our thorough review of the 993 youngtimer here.