Like many here, I simply abhor the "Special Edition" changes to the Original Original Theatrical (or OOT) version of Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983)…and while I would (and have at least a half-dozen times in several different media formats) gladly purchase a retail version of OOT, a "modern" restored version from either George Lucas or (new owner) Disney does not (currently) exist. This is my primary reason for being here on originaltrilogy.com
Moth3r's first post to this thread is a useful guide to several excellent past Star Wars Preservation efforts available here on this forum (and for an excellent historical context account, I would also highly recommend reading the "Fan Preservations" page at SaveStarWars.com).
The two or (hopefully) three current/active "modern" full-feature projects that most excite me in delivering the closest/best original 1977, 1980, and 1983 theatrical experience are (in no particular order):*
1. Harmy's "Despecialized Edition HD"
This "Despecialized Edition" draws upon a wide variety of multiple sources to create an outstanding, high definition 720p (as close as humanly possible to, but NOT quite 100% exact OOT) experience compiled from the BEST source(s) available for any given scene. (More on this project is available from each of their respective STAR WARS, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and RETURN OF THE JEDI threads…as well as Harmy's brief "Sources" documentary available HERE.)
2. Team Blu's "Star Wars Original Trilogy Theatrical Edition Blu-ray Set"
A quite remarkable extensively color corrected, de-jaggied, digitally cleaned high definition 720p "upscale" ENTIRELY, 100% sourced from George's Original Unaltered Theatrical (or GOUT) 2006 Bonus DVD version of the OOT. (More on this project is available in THIS thread and in THIS post.)
3. team negative1's "star wars 1977 - 35mm theatrical version"
A high definition 1080p "conversion/preservation" taken from original scans "of the 35mm version of star wars from 1) spanish lpp print (6 reels) 2) english print (5 reels) + 1 partial reel". (More on this project is available in THIS thread.)
Each of these three collaborative projects draws great strength from past and current full-feature and sub-projects by members of the originaltrillogy.com community, such as hairy_hen's "Star Wars 1977 70mm sound mix recreation [stereo and 5.1 versions now available]" available HERE and CatBus' "Project Threepio (Star Wars OOT subtitles)" available HERE.
My sincere gratitude goes to ALL those (past and present) responsible for helping to further advance the development and preservation of the Original Original Theatrical version of the original Star Wars trilogy!
*(IMHO, no collection would be complete without ALL THREE of the above currently "in progress" Star Wars "Fan Preservation" efforts!)