It seems like every 20 minutes, a different company unveils its take on a Porsche 911. Singer, Tuthill, RML, Sportclasse, the list goes on. Well, here’s the latest one. Rezvani, a company known more for making apocalypse cosplay SUVs, has just shown off a new customized Porsche 911, and you certainly won’t lose it in a parking lot.
While backdating has been a regular thing in the air-cooled Porsche world, adapting later models for the long-nose coachwork of early 911s, the water-cooled cars have experienced much shorter model cycles than the classic 911, so trying to imbue newer sports cars with classic styling has always been an extensive pursuit that involves custom fabrication and smearing retro on with a trowel rather than simply bolting on older parts.
Still, that hasn’t stopped Rezvani from taking a modern 911 and changing just about everything cosmetically to create the RR1. It looks very 934/5-inspired, with the round, relatively upright headlights contrasting against the dramatic tail, but there is something forced about the juxtaposition between old-school headlights and the doors and mirrors of a brand new sports car, a bit like pairing a tweed blazer with an Adidas tracksuit. It’s also worth noting that Rezvani claims the RR1 is inspired by the 935. You know, the Porsche that stretched fender flare rules to completely flatten out the headlight humps. Right.
The rear end of the RR1 is likely more agreeable, given that it’s more retro-inspired than retro-forced. Sure, it has a big wing and some seriously extended coachwork, but compared to the crude stretch of an old-school 935, the RR1’s rump complements the existing 992 styling language with a decent mixture of curves, a full-width light bar, and a little bit of factory rear bumper surfacing carried over. Add in the turbofan wheels, and you certainly get something distinctive.
Rezvani is serving up two flavors of RR1, the first being the Carrera-based RR1 600, available with either a manual or dual-clutch automatic transmission. In this trim, the standard three-liter flat-six has been fettled to produce 618 rear-wheel horsepower, which sounds absolutely explosive. Should you wish for even more grunt, Rezvani will serve up the Turbo-based RR1 750, with a promised zero-to-60 mph time of two seconds flat. Both trims get reworked suspension, and the options list includes such functional additions as extra heat exchangers and Öhlins TTX track dampers.
However, power is only half the equation. Because every panel save for the doors is made of carbon fiber, Rezvani claims a curb weight as light as 2,950 pounds. Considering a base 911 Carrera weighs 3,342 pounds, a 392-pound weight reduction combined with a boost in output to 600 horsepower in base trim ought to be dramatic.
Extensive tuner reworks are typically pricey, and this latest Rezvani is no exception. The RR1 starts at $195,000 plus whatever a donor car costs, although said donor car could be any current-generation 911, even a used 2020 model. Considering even the cheapest 2020 911 Carrera will run you nearly $100,000, a completed RR1 will cost proper supercar money. Still, if the prospect of a somewhat shocked-looking juiced-up lightweight 992 floats your boat, Rezvani plans to build 50 of these things.
Top graphic image: Rezvani Retro
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Some of these “re-imagined” 911s are pretty great, especially Singers and Gunther Werks, but this thing is fucking terrible.
I don’t know if it would be too low to meet height standards, but I think for any chance to work visually, the headlights would have to be lower and forward. Or chopped off and replaced with pop ups. Or returned to stock.
Ugly car in my view.
I have been a Porsche driver for decades and I never got the desire to modify/retro/recreate, remodel or the like. Admittedly I am no fan of any modified car.
I want an OEM car that I am happy with from the beginning and get the car I spec. In the fairly rare event that I am unhappy with it I will sell it but typically I hang onto them for decades.
I know people rave about Singers and the like, but at the price point I am heading for a Carrera GT .
This car needs the Monty Python 16 ton weight, and the world need a moratorium on retro 911s and restomods. Leve the poor car in peace
Dear Dog why?
Like a newer model is wearing the zombie-fied face of a beloved predecessor.
It’s a good effort, but slightly off. It ends up being more suggestive of sugar scoops than anything else. It does appear as if they used LED headlamp units actually designed to fit a G-body 911. As such they’re a touch too big, and the taller hood profile relative to the fenders gives more of a bucket effect than a pod effect.
I like it, but the headlights are just off somehow.
Is there too much distance from the lights to the bumper?
This is one of the best resto-mod Porsche exterior I’ve seen. It actually looks really good, arguably better than the current gen 911.
I like it. Can’t afford it and wouldn’t buy it if I could, but I actually do like this look better than the current 911 face.
I think the round intakes in the lower bumper are what they’re claiming 935 inspiration for, so it kind of has both 934 and 935 lights (or at least circles mimicking lights).But I still think it works.
It’s also worth a look at their site “studio gallery” to see the wheels at rest – they’re great.
The factory 935 track special Porsche did a few years ago looks way cooler IMO
This looks awful because on even classic 911s the “frog” look was still slanted downward from the base of the windshield. To fit this on a modern 911 they had to make it go higher than the base of the windshield before sloping back down.
I really don’t hate it, but it would look so much nicer if it didn’t have that wing.
We all have plans and goals, but this one feels a bit optimistic.
This seems awfully restrained for a Rezvani creation.
If I had supercar money, I’d most likely buy a 911 (but not this one). At least it isn’t a damn wedge.
On one hand, if Porsche sent it from the factory this way, I wouldn’t think twice. However, after seeing the real thing, now it just looks like sticking a RR grille on a Beetle. I both love and hate it at the same time.
The uncanniest of valleys!