PrinzipR – “We build your dream Porsche – together with Germany’s best craftsmen”

Backdates or restomods based on the Porsche 911 are now available in countless facets, variants, engines and designs. Building these pieces of art on wheels, which can be customized down to the last detail, requires an incredible amount of know-how, creativity, top-quality materials and, of course, the best craftsmen in their respective trades. Combining all of this in one location is an almost impossible task. That’s why Marco Hinderer and Martin Anders are taking a completely new approach with PrinzipR. They have neither their own workshop nor permanently employed mechanics. Nevertheless, or perhaps precisely because of this, they create Porsche 911 backdates of the very highest quality. They were very open and transparent when they told me about the advantages this has for their customers.

Turning passion into a vocation

Marco Hinderer’s passion for Zuffenhausen sports cars began early on. “I was always allowed to go to Porsche Club races with my godfather. After I felt the engine behind me in the back seat of his 911, I was infected with the Porsche virus”, explains the PrinzipR founder. In 1992, the then 25-year-old bought his first 911. Over the years he has bought, modified and sold everything from the SC to the 991.

It was precisely this passion that Marco Hinderer turned into his vocation. The thoroughbred entrepreneur put everything on the PrinzipR card. Today, as the technical head of PrinzipR, he makes the experience he has gained over more than three decades available to his customers. His credo is: “We make your Porsche light, fast and beautiful – always individually tailored to you.”

There is little that fulfills you more professionally than when you notice that the spark is ignited in the customer.

Martin Anders, PrinzipR

In Martin Anders, Hinderer found an equally passionate partner for his project. In his mid-20s, it was clear to him that he wanted to drive a Porsche himself at some point. He fulfilled this dream at the age of 32 and has since driven models from almost every generation. Martin even ended his career as a management consultant and executive at companies such as McKinsey, Meta and ProSiebenSat.1 to pursue his passion. “Professional fulfillment is more important than the bank balance”, is how he sums up the reasons for his reorientation.

The principle behind PrinzipR: specialist network instead of high fixed costs

Martin Anders retained his affinity for efficient and flexible solutions. “Having your own workshop costs a lot of money every month. Especially if you want to deliver the highest quality! You need very expensive equipment and, of course, the best people. In the end, the customer would have to pay the costs”, is the simple calculation. That’s why the duo is now taking a different, unusual approach.

We are essentially project managers and networkers.

Martin Anders, PrinzipR

In Esslingen, not far from the Porsche plant in Stuttgart, Marco Hinderer and Martin Anders run PrinzipR, a kind of project office. They do not have their own workshop or employees. Instead, their aim is to network the best minds in the scene. “Our philosophy is based on working with the best partners and finding the best specialists for each project.”

Thanks to the concept of working with partner workshops, the customer has more freedom of choice with PrinzipR

“There are partners who have particular expertise in the area of 964-based backdates, others are G-model specialists and still others are luminaries in OEM Plus 930 Turbo restorations”, explains Martin. I want to know what exactly PrinzipR means by OEM Plus. “These are restorations that use modern processes and improved components to raise a vehicle to a level above its original condition”, Marco tells me. This allows customers to make targeted optimizations and individualizations while still retaining the character of the original.

Depending on the base car and planned conversions, the two always have the right master workshops to hand, from saddlers to coachbuilders. “Our partners are hand-picked, of course. For example, we work with engine specialists who build racing engines for winning cars on a daily basis or coachbuilders who deliver multi-million dollar restorations”, emphasizes Martin Anders.

We build a team in which the specialists do what they do best.

Marco Hinderer, PrinzipR founder

The result: high-end Porsche conversions that combine traditional craftsmanship with modern performance and individual customer wishes. “This flexibility gives our customers more options and gives us the opportunity to respond specifically to their wishes”, explains Martin.

LSZ Classics as an important strategic partner

One of PrinzipR’s most important partners is Bernd Szafranski. The former chief mechanic of Jürgen Alzen’s racing team is the founder of LSZ Classics. Especially when it comes to 964 backdates, Szafranski is second to none. As workshop manager, he once realized Dirk Lührmann’s vision of the Mletzko Heartbeat. Today, with his company LSZ Classics, he works as a service partner for world-famous names in the backdate scene. In addition to PrinzipR, his customers include Kalmar Automotive, for example.

“With Marco & Martin, I can see my own genuine Porsche passion. I’m really looking forward to working with PrinzipR to make the most discerning customers happy,” says Szafranski about the partnership established in 2024. “PrinzipR saves me having to hire someone for international sales and marketing as well as intensive customer advice”, says the master craftsman, summarizing the advantages of the cooperation.

“There are no limits with us!”

I would like to know exactly how a conversion project at PrinzipR works. “Such an individual car should fit like a bespoke glove. That’s why it’s so important to find out what suits the customer and what he or she wants to do with the car. Should it be a backdate or an OEM Plus restoration based on the G-model or 964, naturally aspirated engine or turbocharged?” Martin summarizes the first steps of the customer consultation. This is followed by a rough calculation and a delivery time. This is currently 9-18 months, depending on the type of project.

We see our task as exploring the dreams and visions of our customers and ultimately making them tangible, turning them into reality.

Marco Hinderer, PrinzipR founder

Once the base car has been procured – either from the customer or through PrinzipR – the disassembly begins. “The next step is the precise design. Here we are guided by genuine tailor-made products. There are no limits with us! We send our customers a beautiful box with paint frogs, i.e. color samples on specially created 3D printed parts and fabric samples. We also send various renderings and even hand-painted sketches by a designer. This makes it easy to discuss the decision with friends and family at home.

There are also no technical restrictions at PrinzipR. I ask which engines customers can choose from. Martin explains that the starting point is a simple engine overhaul, but 3.6 to 4.0 liter displacement with 400 hp and more are also possible. “If a customer wants a supercharged engine, then we will make that possible, just like a 500 hp turbo engine”, Marco Hinderer tells me. He has the right engine builders on hand for every scenario – no matter how crazy.

“We treat every project as if it was our own”

As soon as the final configuration has been finalized – which takes some time, considering there are for example eight different seats available in every conceivable fabric combination – the coordination work for the “project managers” begins. The workshop, upholsterer, coachbuilder and painter also have to make arrangements.

We want to create functional art. Quality plays a central role in this!

Martin Anders, PrinzipR

I ask Martin how consistent quality can be ensured with so many different partners. “Basically, a garage is always the general contractor. They take care of the TÜV, historic plates, or country-specific regulations and also provide the warranty on the vehicle. Quality assurance is of course our responsibility, after all, our name is on the product”, explains the 42-year-old. “At the same time, we consistently contribute our own backdate parts, design and configuration experience to every partnership.”

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Marco emphasizes: “We treat every project as if it was our own. That’s why we enjoy working with equally passionate customers who value individualization and personalization so much. Ideally, they also enjoy driving the car and showing it off. That’s the best advertising for us.” He does not always recommend a full restoration, though, as he also advises against it if it is not necessary or sensible.

PrinzipR delivers a piece of Swabian virtue to the whole world

Marco Hinderer and Martin Anders, together with Bernd Szafranski, have big plans. The customer base in Europe, the USA and the United Arab Emirates is to be further expanded with new projects. In the future, in addition to 964 backdates, there will also be more OEM Plus projects – all made & engineered in Germany, of course. Many partners even come directly from the “Porsche region” around Stuttgart.

The duo sees the advantages of PrinzipR in particular in the greatest possible flexibility and individuality. “We don’t have a single backdate design that is available in different colors. Instead, we work together with our customers to create their very own dream design from scratch” emphasizes Martin Anders.

Our goal is to continue to exceed expectations and inspire Porsche enthusiasts worldwide with unique vehicles.

Marco Hinderer, PrinzipR

© Elishua Bachor & PrinzipR