“Variety is the spice of life” or so the saying goes, and who am I to disagree? However, as much as we all like the occasional change of pace, we certainly have our favorites. Whether it’s sneakers, beverages or (of course) cars, we each have an affinity towards certain brands that we often can’t explain. Although my tenure at Speedhunters has been but a few months, likely many of you have noticed I am quite keen on one brand in particular…
Porsche. And not only Porsche, but more specifically, I have a thing for nine-elevens. You may suspect that, as a Speedhunter, one question I am asked quite frequently goes something like “what is your favorite car” or “if you could buy any car…” and the answer I deliver is always a Porsche 911. Depending on the day and mood I’m in the specifics of chassis and trim might change, but Porsche is always on my mind.
There’s just something about the shape of the car that I think I am genetically predisposed to like. My father owned Porsches, and my Grandfather, and I’ve always taken a liking to them. I often joke that when “Butzi” Porsche designed the 911 he stumbled upon the french curve of automotive design, creating a perfect golden ratio aesthetic.
Obviously not everyone feels the same way I do about the car, often referring to them as “Beetles” and complaining that they never change shape. But then again, if you stumbled upon perfection, would you change it? In the great Dr. Ferdinand Porsche’s own words “Change is easy, improvement is far more difficult.” Even still, despite the naysayers, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a 911 referred to as “ugly.”
Much like a pair of Chuck Taylors or Rayban Wayfarers, the 911 is impossibly cool and timeless. No matter where you are, no matter the season, no matter what the occasion, a Porsche is always in style. If not cool for what it is, I’d argue it’s cool for what it isn’t. The 911 has never had quirky design features that date it, but rather relies on one of simple elegance which can be appreciated by architects and laymen alike.
Over the years the 911 has evolved, albeit subtly, but much of the original shape remains today. Many would argue that, from an aesthetic standpoint, the nine-eleven is best in its original form and to me the allure of early cars is undeniable. On their own even the details like the door handle or the shape of the side glass is exquisite.
Therefore the downfall with original nine-elevens isn’t the shape, but the mechanical limits imposed by technology of the day. While the shape hasn’t been altered much in the last fifty years, the running gear most certainly has. Sure the latest 991 still retains a flat six boxer mounted at the very back of the car. However, aside from that, today’s Porsche power plants have very little in common with their ancestors.
Choosing between the style and purity of the original or the performance and reliability of the late model 911 has been a difficult struggle for potential buyers for years. If only there were some way to have a fresh-from-the-factory quality original 911 with newer underpinnings and a modern power plant. Up until recently this feat was either a crazy pipe dream or one that could only be realized by highly skilled mechanics or owners with unlimited budgets… that is until Singer Vehicle Design came along.
Combining the best of both worlds, this small shop in Southern California is gaining quite a bit of notoriety the world over for performing some of the most robust Porsche restorations ever seen. In a nut shell they offer a complete transformation of a donor 964, which they then convert to the shape of an original 911 and upgrade the drive line with more modern components.
But this isn’t just some run-of-the-mill refurbishment, these cars are completely bespoke restorations hand-tailored to the owner’s requests. In this case the original 964 engine was tossed aside and replaced with a fully-built 3.9L assembled by the racing engine experts at Cosworth in Torrance, California.
The engine has been assembled using a powerful but reliable combination of top-notch aftermarket components and factory performance bits. For example an extrude honed 996 GT3 intake manifold flows an ample amount of air to the Jenvey throttle bodies. The gearbox follows this same methodology using a 993 6-speed box with custom gears, a single-mass clutch and a Porsche Motorsport differential.
Being that these cars are built to be enjoyed every day, performance isn’t the only focus. In fact reliability, comfort and style all play equal roles in the the finished product. The interior work is impeccable and the craftsmanship quite literally rivals that of $500k super cars. To say that the interior has been reupholstered is a grotesque understatement.
The entire interior is completely stripped to the bone and rebuilt by hand. In the case of the seats alone, the original buckets are taken down to the wire frame and completely rebuilt, under padding and all. To finish off the seats, door panels and miscellaneous trim, top-quality Italian leather from Spinneybeck has been painstakingly sewn into place.
In front of the driver’s seat the steering wheel has been replaced with a quintessential Momo Prototipo and the gauges refreshed with new items from OEM supplier VDO. With just the right mixture of daily comfort and sporty driving feel, this is a cockpit I could very happily commute in every day, even in rush hour.
While the attention to detail and build quality of the car is top shelf through and through, the exterior seems to outshine the rest. Then again with the amount of work that has been put into the body, it’s only fitting that it should be the silver lining, no pun intended. Of course converting a 964 to a 911 is no easy task, but it’s the minor details that turn it from a conversion into a jaw dropping replica.
For example all of the lamp housings are replaced with brand new units sourced from Clearway Auto Parts in New York. Instead of using the dingy sealed-beam headlights originally found on the 911, Singer has ingeniously retrofitted a set of Hella projectors into custom headlight bezels. When the sun catches the chrome trim it’s literally blinding.
Converting this car into the short original-bumpered beauty it is today required many custom carbon fiber pieces made specifically for Singer by ARIA Group in Irvine, California. Once fitted checked for tolerances, the entire body is then hand sanded to perfection. In addition to being the first 964 that Singer has produced, this is also the first car to feature what they call a Touring Style body. Several items like the bumper trim, lack of filler necks for the fuel tank and the sunroof are all unique to this build.
To match the subdued exterior a set of seventeen inch Zuffenhaus five-spoke wheels have been fitted over the custom 993 brake kit. Although two inches larger than the original Fuchs optional wheels, the larger replacements don’t look out of place. Balancing quiet comfort and ultimate grip the team decided on a set of Continental Conti Sport 3 tires, the same found as standard on many contemporary German sports cars.
Unfortunately even seeing the finished product in person doesn’t do justice to the amount of work that goes into creating one of these masterpieces. The car just does such a great job of looking completely authentic that, unless you’re an expert, you’d have no clue as to how much has really gone on under the skin. Luckily the guys at Singer were kind enough to offer an exclusive tour of their shop, including observation of two in-progress vehicles. Tomorrow I will be bringing you the full scoop on just how intensive the rebuilds are so prepare to be shocked – I was.
For now I’ll leave you with one last shot of what could possibly be the best looking car my camera has ever photographed, and coming from a Speedhunter, that’s saying a lot.
Singer Vehicle Design 1991 Porsche 911 (964)
ENGINE
3.9L naturally aspirated flat-six cylinder engine built by Cosworth; LN engineering cylinders; JE pistons; Carillo rods, Jenvey throttle bodies, 996 GT3 intake manifold extrude honed,
ENGINE MANAGEMENT / ELECTRONICS
Pectel SQ6M12 ECU; Apex Speed Technology custom engine harness
DRIVELINE
993 6-speed transmission; custom gears; GT3 lightweight single-mass flywheel, Porsche Motorsport differential
SUSPENSION / CHASSIS
KW Variant3 coilover suspension
BRAKES
993 Turbo calipers and rotors (front), 993 base calipers and rotors (rear)
WHEELS / TIRES
17″ Zuffenhaus wheels custom finished by Harvey Weidmann; Continental Contisport Contact 3 tires.
CABIN
Custom reupholstered interior by Little John and RayRay; leather from Spinneybeck; Momo Prototipo steering wheel; custom VDO gauges
BODY
Touring spec bodywork with trim accents and no external fillers; Carbonfiber body work by ARIA Group; Hella projector headlights; Parts Authority / Clearway Auto Parts light housings; misc OEM seals and moldings
More stories by Sean Klingelhoefer on Speedhunters
More car features on Speedhunters
More Porsche stories on Speedhunters
– Sean
photo by Sean Klingelhoefer
photo by Sean Klingelhoefer
photo by Sean Klingelhoefer
photo by Sean Klingelhoefer
photo by Sean Klingelhoefer
photo by Sean Klingelhoefer
photo by Sean Klingelhoefer
photo by Sean Klingelhoefer
photo by Sean Klingelhoefer
photo by Sean Klingelhoefer
Absolutely stunning, perfect example of a classic 911.
Amazing...looking forward to the full scoop
Perfect !so clean, so simple, yet so great !
awwwwhhhhh, its beautiful!
Read about this on Top Gear sometime ago. Same idea like the E-Type Eagle...gorgeous car.
I have nothing but respect for this car. But given a choice between this or a similar british machine, I'm sorry, but the brits know how to make a really gorgeous car. And the engine is in the wrong place
A 911 isn't a 911 if the shape changes.
Gorgeous machine, I've told myself for a while if I ever won some kind of jackpot a Singer 911 is first on the list.
Amazing 911, they had one on Top Gear and is sounded great.
This is all I really want in life...seriously. Great write up.
I really like companies like these. They take a timeless shape (hopefully from a far too gone junkyard save), update the mechanics of it with the strong understanding not to alter the classic character of the car. Designers of yesterday with the engineers of today.
HAHA, photos at GMR Sean! NICE!
I haven't been there in years.
HAHA, photos at GMR Sean! NICE!
I haven't been there in years.
@yanes33537 exactly!
@yanes33537 exactly!
haha I actually thought about saying "the engine is still in 'the wrong place'" when talking about current models.
haha I actually thought about saying "the engine is still in 'the wrong place'" when talking about current models.
@KAG I need to see that episode...
@KAG I need to see that episode...
@HLB Ya they're incredibly well built... and the AC they install on them is amazing, totally daily ready.
@HLB Ya they're incredibly well built... and the AC they install on them is amazing, totally daily ready.
@super_mut Yep it was the closest interesting road, I think in the end the photos actually suit the car quite well. I'm hoping however to photograph one of these cars in an urban setting or a studio soon
@super_mut Yep it was the closest interesting road, I think in the end the photos actually suit the car quite well. I'm hoping however to photograph one of these cars in an urban setting or a studio soon
@s30zgt Yep it's really difficult not to like a car like these. Designs from the '50s-'70s are so great, just the right amount detail without all the gaudy useless bits.
@s30zgt Yep it's really difficult not to like a car like these. Designs from the '50s-'70s are so great, just the right amount detail without all the gaudy useless bits.
@TreyFiveOhJoe You and me both man!
@TreyFiveOhJoe You and me both man!
I'm working on the second part now... I hope you guys like it. From what I was told I am the only journalist to ever document a car in-progress, so it will give the Speedhunters audience a rare glimpse into the production of these incredible machines.
I'm working on the second part now... I hope you guys like it. From what I was told I am the only journalist to ever document a car in-progress, so it will give the Speedhunters audience a rare glimpse into the production of these incredible machines.
Just got my 10 new desktops =)
Just got my 10 new desktops =)
Beautiful. Has to be the perfect Porsche.
Beautiful. Has to be the perfect Porsche.
Wow this is gorgeous, a restoration done perfectly, love the simplicity of letting the elegant old-school Porsche lines shine through without gimmicks!
Wow this is gorgeous, a restoration done perfectly, love the simplicity of letting the elegant old-school Porsche lines shine through without gimmicks!
I've been wanting a Singer feature for years now. I can't even put into words how excited I am for the shop tour to be posted.
I've been wanting a Singer feature for years now. I can't even put into words how excited I am for the shop tour to be posted.
Unreal resto... Workshop tour please
Unreal resto... Workshop tour please
I am search youtube for it but here is this one for now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJPCglyG6Xs @sean klingelhoefer
I am search youtube for it but here is this one for now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJPCglyG6Xs @sean klingelhoefer
@scibO coming very soon
@scibO coming very soon
@Pita I've been wanting to visit Singer for years myself, so I was equally excited to finally go and check them out. These days it takes a lot to get me excited but these cars definitely get my heart pumping!
@Pita I've been wanting to visit Singer for years myself, so I was equally excited to finally go and check them out. These days it takes a lot to get me excited but these cars definitely get my heart pumping!
Pretty much the antithesis to RWB. Love the simplicity and understated elegance.
@sean klingelhoefer
maybe they will say the same thing about your ek civic hatch in 30-40 years. hell i wish honda would bring back that style now.
I used to own an '83 911 Targa, raced two 944's of my own, and was a Porsche tech at the local dealer when the 964's were new. Haven't had a Porsche in over a dozen years, and the one model I still miss is the 911. Staying based in reality, i would love another 80's 911, or a 964 of my own. But if I were to somehow make serious money, a Singer would be my first choice. RWB my second...
@Jmayhem The two truly cannot be compared, it's like apples to bowling balls. Both are great for their own reasons, but they are so incredibly different.
@s30zgt That's true, there's no denying for Honda the golden years were the '90s.
@sean klingelhoefer @Jmayhem one of each, please.
awesome
Wicked cool!
@Censport It's a truly unfortunate fact of life that often times the people that are seriously passionate about a car, and can do all the mechanical work, can seldom afford them. When I used to be a tech it bothered me to no end fixing people's cars that had no respect for them. It's a shame.
omg<3
@sean klingelhoefer I couldn't have said it better. Fortunately, I did have a few customers who were true enthusiasts and had respect not only for their cars but also the people who work on them. It was a happy day when they brought their cars in for service, and I would go above and beyond in looking after them. Those are the people I try to remember whenever I see Porsches.
@Censport There are certainly exceptions to the rule, and I would imagine Porsche probably has one of the better followings. It's definitely a good feeling when the work you are doing is appreciated though!
@Censport There are certainly exceptions to the rule, and I would imagine Porsche probably has one of the better followings. It's definitely a good feeling when the work you are doing is appreciated though!
What's with the re-done licence plate? Too many digits for that era plate.
What's with the re-done licence plate? Too many digits for that era plate.
Good eye, it's a replica.
such an amazing looking car! i love 911s with deep wheels or widebody 911s!!! there so sexy!
Perfection ..or as we germans say, Perfektion
Perfection ..or as we germans say, Perfektion
loving the paint
loving the paint
@WoutdeJong
what a fag