OWNER & OPERATOR
Franz founded California Sportscars in 1980 to apply his knowledge of vintage sportscars for repair, rebuilding, and modifying Porsches. Starting out as a mechanic transitioning from carburetors to fuel injection, he learned the ins and outs of engine and transmission systems and quickly became fascinated with the world of sportscars and racing. He grew to love ground-up restoration and establish his own business a year after moving to the San Luis Obispo area. Since then, he's only refined his craft and widened his restoration abilities—from factory authentic restorations to resto-mods and modern race cars.
His expertise lies in the Porsche 911 and 356 street cars, Porsche 911 racing cars, racecar builds, full restorations, and transmission overhaul and modification. While he has learned what it takes to restore a vehicle to its original glory, he also ensures each car is tailored to the owner's specific needs and preferences. Let's get it done!
— Franz Lang Bluschke
STARTING OUT
Franz started out with his first car, a 1960 Porsche 356. After some miles, a value seat came out of the cylinder head. At 16 years old, he embarked on a complete engine overhaul, studying the factory repair manuals and accomplishing an upgraded Porsche 356 engine. Next up was learning about the gearbox, full rebuild, and—already interested in performance—gear ratio changes.
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Interested in working through high school, he went to work at Precision Engineering and learned about the new fuel injection systems of the 70s and 80s and Porsche 911 engine variants. Soon, he began doing his own cylinder head porting and mechanical fuel injection studies.
RACING COMPETITION​
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Racing was always an interest of his, and he soon started autocrossing the 356, then his 1966 911 he has built up with a 2.7 RS engine. Scoring wins with both cars, he soon joined the Porsche Owners Club and began time trialing the 911 and the hot rod 356 roadster he built with a 2.8 litre RSR engine and custom Bluschke bodywork. Not having the money for the best engines or parts, he continued to drive the two cars.to absolute maximum limit for wins.
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Franz now had the experience of repairing and restoring all systems of cars. In 1990, Franz started racing his modified 1970 911 with Porsche Owners Club up the West Coast Championships and setting numerous lap records and the fastest time of the day. He also competed in the Porsche Club of America club races, winning these, too. The cars Franz races are designs and hand built by himself in his San Luis Obispo shop.