Washburn's Metal — Porsche Services
Celette Frame Bench.Know before you buy.
We measure 356, 912, and 911 bodies on a Celette frame bench and give you a written inspection report showing every measurement — before you restore, buy, or build.
Why frame checking matters
A twisted body costs more to fix than to find.
Vintage Porsches absorb accidents, water, and decades of deferred work — and none of that shows in a photo. A car that looks clean can have a firewall 20mm off spec, a door pillar that’s been pulled, or a floor pan that was shimmed instead of straightened. You won’t know until it’s on a bench.
Frame measurement before a restoration tells you exactly what you’re dealing with. It tells your painter how much work the gaps and reveals will need. It tells your engine builder whether the rear suspension geometry is starting from the right place. And if you’re buying a car, it’s the one piece of due diligence that justifies the price or gets you a better one.
A written report with real numbers is the difference between a guess and a plan.
What poor alignment costs you
- Doors and lids that won’t fit or seal no matter how much you adjust them
- Suspension geometry that can’t be aligned — handling and tire wear problems that have no tuning solution
- Panel gaps that the painter is left to hide with filler, not fix
- Engine lid and trunk reveals that look wrong even on a perfect repaint
- A finished car that’s worth less because the body was never right to start
- Repair costs mid-restoration when problems surface after panels are already fitted
The equipment
What a Celette bench actually does.
Celette is the frame bench standard used in professional collision repair and factory restoration work worldwide. The bench holds the car at precisely defined reference points — the same points Porsche specified from the factory — and lets us measure every structural location against those targets.
It’s not a visual check and it’s not a tape measure on a floor. It’s a fixture-based measurement system that gives you actual numbers relative to actual reference points, so there’s no ambiguity in what the report says.
What we measure
- Floor pan reference points — front and rear, left and right
- Firewall lower rail — height and lateral position
- A-pillar base — fore–aft and lateral to spec
- B-pillar base (coupes and cabriolets) — door opening squareness
- Rear wheel arch reference — suspension pick-up geometry
- Longitudinal rails — twist and bow across the full length
- Diagonal cross-measurements — the numbers that reveal hidden pulls
Sample inspection report
What you get back from us.
Every inspection includes a written report with the actual measurements, a note on where each point sits relative to factory spec, and our findings on any areas that need work. Customer name has been removed from this sample.
Inspection Report
What the report covers
- Vehicle identification — year, model, VIN, date of inspection
- Measurement table — each reference point, actual reading, factory spec, and deviation
- Diagonal cross-check results — the numbers that show twist and pull
- Findings narrative — plain-language summary of what we found and what it means
- Photographs of the car on the bench and of any areas of concern
- Repair recommendations if applicable — what it would take to bring the body back to spec
The report is yours to keep and share with other shops, insurers, or prospective buyers. We can email it or hand it to you in person when you pick the car up.
How it works
Drop it off. Get your report.
The inspection itself takes a few hours. We’ll let you know when it’s done and go over the numbers with you in person or by phone.
Email or call first
Tell us the year and model and what you’re trying to find out. We’ll confirm we have the reference data for it and get you on the schedule.
Drop the car off
Monday through Friday, 8am–5pm. No appointment needed for drop-off once you’ve confirmed the inspection date. Bring the keys and the VIN if you have it.
We measure and write it up
The car goes on the Celette bench, we take measurements at every reference point, and we write up the report with the numbers, photos, and our findings.
Pick it up with the report
We walk you through what we found. If there’s work to do, we can quote it then, or you can take the report and figure out the next step on your end.
Frequently asked
Frame bench FAQs.
What models does this cover?
Does the car need to be stripped?
How long does it take?
What does it cost?
Can I use the report for a purchase inspection?
Do you do the straightening too, or just the inspection?
Can I ship the car to you?
Ready when you are
Get the numbers on your Porsche.
Email us photos of the car and what you’re trying to find out, or call Brian directly. We’ll confirm we have the reference data for your model and get you on the schedule.
Brian handles Porsche and metal work direct. For parts and orders, call the shop line at (657) 438-7002.