Manufaktur 964 by Michael Gerischer – All or nothing

If you want a pristine, like-new Porsche 964 these days, there’s no getting around Michael Gerischer. At his Manufaktur 964 workshop, he fulfills dreams of technically perfect 964s that drive as if they had just rolled off the production line in Zuffenhausen – perhaps even a touch better. During a visit to Mannheim, the founding location of Manufaktur 964 and the new company in Gau-Algesheim, the 59-year-old showed us what drives him, what he stands for, and which partners he has been working with for 15 years now.

“When I turn the key, everything has to work – one hundred per cent” – Michael Gerischer

Michael Gerischer lives in Mannheim and has been passionate about cars since childhood. It’s no surprise that he chose a career in this field. Gerischer worked for many years in sales for the British luxury brands Jaguar and Aston Martin. However, his heart has always belonged to the Porsche 964.

In his own 964 Turbo, the energetic former salesman discovered a whole new dimension of driving at track days in the mid-1990s. When the material reaches the limits of its resilience, there is no room for compromise. This experience shaped his current attitude: “When I turn the key, everything has to work – one hundred percent!”

If you really want to use your car, and perhaps decide on Thursday evening that you want to drive to Italy over the weekend, then the car has to be 100% technically perfect. That’s just not possible if you buy a car and run it on a budget.

Michael Gerischer, Manufaktur 964

So Gerischer began systematically optimizing his own Porsche 964 Turbo 3.3 in his garage at home – to become a gentleman driver, as he puts it. “I wanted to drive the car to the track day, push it on the circuit during the day, and then cruise back home in it in the evening,” reports the passionate tinkerer.

From a passion project to Manufaktur 964

What began as a hobby developed into a business idea over the years, as more and more friends sought Michael’s expertise. Since the Mannheim native had devoted himself solely to the 964 series, he accumulated a depth of detailed knowledge that was unmatched. The driving force behind putting this idea into practice was ultimately the desire for independence. Michael Gerischer wanted to decide for himself who he worked with and which projects he took on.

In 2011, he therefore took the plunge and founded Manufaktur 964. From 2017 onwards, the large number of orders made a reorientation necessary. Manufaktur 964 GmbH was founded in Gau-Algesheim with his friend and now also business partner Jochen Dronia, who supported the Manufaktur with his expertise from the very beginning.

In 2026, the company will celebrate its 15th anniversary – and remain true to its philosophy: All or nothing! Anyone who wants to restore or buy here consciously chooses a 100 percent strategy. “There’s no such thing as half measures,” says Michael. When in doubt, he rejects projects if the requirements and expectations don’t match. From the outset, his goal was to found a craft business based on passion.

It’s not about huge margins, but about restoring cars to perfect condition. However, Gerischer doesn’t want to be constrained by manufacturer specifications or make half-baked compromises. After all, the Manufaktur 964 workshop should stand for the highest level of craftsmanship – down to the smallest detail.

Where and how it all began: two-car garage, a two-post lift and a Carrera racetrack

“I started here about 15 years ago,” recalls Michael. He used to work on customers’ cars in and in front of his double garage at home, where he now plays fetch with his dachshund Otto. “At some point, however, it became clear that I had to think bigger for the company. I could never have hired staff here. The regulatory requirements would have made that impossible,” explains the family man.

Michael’s garage in Mannheim is a small textbook on efficiency: everything is tidy and sorted, every square centimeter has its function. There are markings on the floor for different vehicles. “This way, every car is perfectly positioned to be lifted.” Next to his white 964 Carrera 4, there is also a Porsche 914 with a 2.6-liter four-cylinder engine in the garage – a private fun project with more than 170 hp. Parked in the driveway is his daughter’s Boxster 986, “an underrated source of joy.” Also on the lift: a BMW and a Ducati – reminders of past motorcycle tours.

Michael invites me in. In the living room hangs a huge printed photo of his Porsche 964 Turbo. But what he really wants to show me is one floor below. There, the perfectionist reveals his enthusiastic side, full of childlike joy. Michael has set up his own motodrome here with great attention to detail. He has suspended a huge Carrera racetrack from the ceiling. “I’ve spent countless hours here with my daughters and friends.” There it is: the sparkle in the eyes of a true car enthusiast!

Manufaktur 964 is not just a workshop, but also a loft, event location, and oasis of well-being

Today, Manufaktur 964 is based in Gau-Algesheim near Mainz. Together with his employees Raul and Joshua, Michael Gerischer works exclusively on Porsche 964 models here every day – from Carrera to Turbo. Michael sees the team as family. That’s why he doesn’t have a separate office, but a desk in the multifunctional common room with a kitchen. “We never want to reach the point where we just go to work,” says the boss.

That’s why he created a loft above the workshop, which is not only a favorite hangout for his team. “We also hold technical workshops for our customers in the Manufaktur 964, while a chef in the loft takes care of the catering,” explains the native of the Palatinate region. From his desk, he has a direct view of the workshop – the heart of Manufaktur 964.

Work can be carried out on up to four cars at the same time. But it’s not about maximum throughput, it’s about perfection. That’s why Michael has standardized many of the processes in the workshop. Several rollable shelves are available for each car to keep all parts sorted. There are compartments and boxes with appropriate labels for all the different assemblies. Everything is meticulously labeled and organized. Nothing is left to chance here. Vacuum cleaners and floor mops are everyday tools: the workshop should reflect the high standards of the cars.

Michael Gerischer relies on a network from the region: short distances, long-term cooperation

But why Gau-Algesheim? The answer is – as is typical for Michael Gerischer – entirely pragmatic. Jochen Dronia has been working on the engines for the projects in this small town near Mainz since Manufaktur 964 was founded. So it was only logical that Michael wanted to relocate the company from Mannheim here when the inevitable move came around.

Today, Manufaktur 964 and Dronia Sportwagen, as Jochen’s own company is called, are located about 200 meters apart as the crow flies. “This means we can discuss everything in person and work very flexibly,” explains Jochen. In addition to the engine work carried out by his “neighbor” and partner Jochen Dronia, Michael also relies on expertise from the region for bodywork and painting. Markus Sinsig’s paint shop in Ingelheim is only a five-minute drive away.

We are spontaneously given a short tour of both partner workshops – short distances pay off in the long run… “This network has grown over many years. We speak the same language and know that we can rely on each other,” Michael explains proudly. “It’s a bit like in the kitchen. You don’t need exotic ingredients and recipes. The only things that matter are the quality of the products and the craftsmanship. With Jochen and Markus, I know for sure that they deliver both.”

How does a project at Manufaktur 964 proceed? Diagnosis, disassembly, documentation, and optimization in harmony with originality

Ultimately, it makes no difference to Manufaktur 964 whether the customer brings in the base vehicle or Michael Gerischer tracks one down. The process remains the same. It always starts with a test drive. Switches, buttons, all systems – nothing is left untested. This is followed by a typical used car check: paint thickness measurement, review of the vehicle’s history, and afterwards definition of objectives with the customer.

The customer decides how extensive the cosmetic overhaul should be. “The intended use determines the interior. If I want a daily driver with the original look, I don’t need a bucket seat and probably don’t need a domed steering wheel either,” explains Gerischer. However, there are virtually no limits to creativity in terms of design, materials, and colors. Basically, anything is possible, from simple refurbishment to complete repainting and a completely renewed, customized interior.

However, the technological overhaul is non-negotiable. Every vehicle is completely dismantled – engine out, suspension out, everything off. “In addition to mileage-related defects, there are always age-related defects. Plastic parts, rubber hoses, and cables become brittle… And many of these defects can only be seen when the car is actually dismantled,” explains the 964 expert. Everything is measured and recorded in detail so that the scope of work can be calculated precisely.

Michael Gerischer checks even new parts for correct functionality before installation

This also allows the specialist to find out where corners may have been cut during previous repairs. A typical scenario from external projects: the clutch slave cylinder has been replaced, but the old hydraulic lines remain. This does not happen at Manufaktur 964. Even new or reconditioned injectors are not simply installed here, but tested in advance. They are connected to a test bench specially developed by Michael Gerischer. There, the spray pattern and the injection quantity is checked – an even result is particularly important for clean power delivery in the 964 Turbo.

“Like new, only better” – thanks to Manufaktur 964’s 15 years of experience

The refurbishment of a Porsche 964 at Manufaktur 964 respects the history and originality of each vehicle. “We try to refurbish as many parts as possible instead of replacing them,” explains mechanic Raul. Certain things, such as the factory noise insulation, are also made to a standard of quality that is almost impossible to reproduce today. That’s why Gerischer advises against completely repainting the interior, even when repainting the exterior in a different color. Only a true 964 professional knows tips like this.

The guiding principle: newly rebuilt vehicles from Manufaktur 964 should drive like new, only better. Thanks to today’s manufacturing tolerances, improved components, as well as modern tire and chassis technology, this requirement can be met. “The suspension setup is always a compromise. However, the key thing is that it functions as satisfactorily as possible in the desired use cases,” reports experienced instructor Gerischer.

In my opinion, two suspension setups have proven themselves in the 964: Bilstein B6 dampers with Eibach springs for road drivers and an H&R Clubsport suspension for track day enthusiasts.

Michael Gerischer, Manufaktur 964

There it is again, Michael’s pragmatism. As in his daily work, he does not focus on innovation at any price when it comes to optimization, but rather on a systematic approach. Instead of chasing the latest trends in the hi-fi industry for even clearer opera house sound from the speakers, Gerischer breaks the “problem” down into its individual parts. “In a 964, no one is going to sit with the engine off and listen to a concert lasting several hours. So I use multimedia components that deliver very good quality but require little to no adjustments in the interior,” the 59-year-old sums it up.

Manufaktur 964 – for people who really want to drive

Anyone who meets Michael Gerischer quickly realizes that for him, there is only one way forward – and that is without shortcuts. The result of his projects at Manufaktur 964 always pursues the same goal: turn the key, drive, experience maximum driving pleasure, arrive. It’s about perfection without pretension, about processes that create transparency. This is where cars are made for people who really want to drive!

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Manufaktur 964 enables fans of the classic Porsche 964 to literally travel through time. Admittedly, traveling back in time to take delivery of a virtually brand-new 964 is not a cheap undertaking. But what will ultimately bring you more joy? A small condominium or a “new” 35-year-old Porsche 911 with today’s quality standards?

The future of Manufaktur 964 has already been planned out

Two things are of essential importance to Michael Gerischer: his own quality standards and sensible planning. So it’s no surprise that he already has a clear vision of where Manufaktur 964 should be headed. “I’ll soon be turning 60. In ten to fifteen years, I would like to have established the Manufaktur 964 brand to such an extent that a successor can be found who will continue to run the company as we have built it up,” he says.

But that’s not all. In front of the workshop, my eye is caught by a Porsche 997 Carrera, whose interior is already decorated with beautiful tartan. Will there soon be a 997 workshop alongside the 964 workshop? “We’ll see,” says Gerischer meaningfully.