One of the neat things about Porsche 911s is the seemingly endless ways in which they can be remixed. Whether backdated to look like a model from the 1960s, fitted with modern carbon fiber coachwork, or lightened to the extreme, Porsche’s iconic sports car is canvas for dreams. In that vein, Singer has a new Porsche 911 restomod, and it’s for anyone with hypercar money who grew up with a 3.2 Carrera poster on their childhood bedroom wall.
Officially called the Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer, this heavily restomodded 911 pays tribute to the impact bumper cars of the 1980s, specifically the Turbo-look Carreras that added pumped arches, spoilers, and 930 suspension to a naturally aspirated 911. However, like all Singer projects, it starts with the 964, meaning the base vehicle’s essentially backdated to the same decade, what with the 964 debuting for 1989.
Of course, none of the panels are original Porsche parts because they’re all made by Singer out of carbon fiber, then bolted onto a reinforced 964 structure to give a classic look with more modern handling. Of course, this has let Singer be creative with touches, such as the air ducts in the quarter panels, the bumper grilles reminiscent of the 993, and the available driving lights. Think of it as a greatest hits album of classic Porsches, and you aren’t far off.
Under either the tea tray spoiler or a more subtle rear lid with active aero, you’ll find a Cosworth co-developed four-liter flat-six pumping out 420 naturally aspirated horsepower. Spinning to north of 8,000 rpm, this engine uses a similar water-cooled cylinder head trick as the Porsche 959 supercar, enabling modern output from a decidedly air-cooled bottom end. A six-speed manual gearbox gets that power to the ground, and a titanium exhaust system lets you really hear what the engine is up to.
Since Singer bases its creations on the 964 chassis, this thing doesn’t feature the torsion bars of earlier 911s. Instead, coil spring wrap around new four-way electronically adjustable dampers for precise compression and rebound adjustment from inside the cabin, a bit like on a new GT3 RS. Available carbon ceramic brakes shave unsprung mass, while 18-inch Fuchs-inspired center-lock wheels allow the fitment of modern Michelin performance tires. Good rubber’s important when you’re dealing with 420 horsepower in a car with Miata-like weight, but there are five levels of traction and stability control on hand for an extra safety net.
Of course, being a Singer, you do get some exquisite details like hand-built gauges, burnished leather seams, an available exposed shifter mechanism, and a lovely steering wheel that manages to somehow be classic and modern at the same time. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but seven figures sounds about right, given what previous creations have gone for.
This is definitely a niche vehicle, but it’s not meant for everyone. The handful of people who want to pay for one of the wildest ’80s-looking 911s on Earth are sure to be happy, a childhood poster car turned up to the max.
Top graphic image: Singer
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Damn, that’s pretty.
The latest beautiful Singer poster car, okay.
That pastel blue with the white wheels looks absolutely phenomenal
Ugh! What is with the Jar Jar Binks eyes sticking out of the frunk/hood lid of the mustardy one?
I have admired some of Singer’s past creations, but even if I had Lotto winner money, these would not be on my list.
The blue has it too but they’re not popped up
The blue pastel is a really interesting shade. I assume the popup lights are auxiliary lighting of some sort but seem really unnecessary. Deployed, they are so ugly.
I’m sure it’s a blast to drive, but I’d be afraid to drive it anywhere other than on a track. IRL, I’d probably screw up and give those wheels curb rash. Door dings would be painful and probably enraging.
My car is now eight years old, mechanically happy and completely intact inside but has suffered some indignities to its exterior.
Cat Stevens wrote (and Sheryl Crow covered) The First Cut is the Deepest.
With a new car, it’s the first ding that is the deepest.
Look at many old 911s in rally race photos, they have a couple lights bolted to the hood in this fashion. I believe that’s the look they are going for. This modern interpretation seems to me much better since they appear to be motorized/retractable
Hmmmm. Those 911s actually went offroad and needed supplemental lighting. Nobody is going to take a Singer offroad. I suppose I’m being too pedantic and utilitarian.
It’s a moot point since I will never be in the queue for one of their cars. I saw a photo of a 928 in another article and had the same revulsion. I think pop-ups work better with rectangular lighting elements that don’t look like eyes. I had an ’86 US spec Accord that had pop-up headlights. They never failed or got stuck in an awkward position, but I envied the clean, no pop-up front-end treatment they got in Canada in that era. Pop-ups take away the ability to quickly flash to pass or warn oncoming traffic of a speed trap.
I don’t often really lust for things that I can’t have (breathes a heavy sigh of relief) at least not now that I’ve passed the half-decade mark. With that said, if I had actual rich douchebag quantities of spare cash, I’d happily give a bag of it to Singer in exchange for one of their reimagined 911s in some indescribably wonderful non-metallic color.
That, a decent (and expensive) haircut, and a Japanese former idol, now still appealing in her 40s as my new wife, would complete my rich douchebag persona. 😉
I’d steal some identities and sell a few houses that weren’t mine if they did a 914 restomod. That would be a giggle.
A spiced up 914/6 would be a hoot. But I don’t think Singer is the one to do it.
I used to love such halo cars, even if for the intellectual flex only, but maybe becoming older and now understanding who mostly actually buys them and how they are (not) used, I can’t get myself to care. Can y’all post more content about the gambler 500?
Kind of agree, whatever the newest highest buck Porsche/Ferrari/whatevs is about the least interesting automotive content out there. I can still get at least a little excited about stuff like this though, if I was an oligarch this is how I’d do my conspicuous consumption. Ethical, small batch, local, artisanal…
I honestly don’t know where Singer shows up on the “ethical” meter. Maybe keeping sad remains of original Porsches out of the shredder? I just don’t know.
Singers are and have always been out of my reach and lately, have not even been something I’d want, if I had that kind of mad money.
I only read this because there weren’t many new articles for lunchtime today. I generally give Singer stuff a pass. However I gotta say this is nice. Your comments are 100% spot on, and I’m not saying I care about this car, but this is neat.
I guess I can continue passing on Singer content for another 5 years.
A Singer will always be a masterpiece and somehow it feels worse because of that. Singer has nothing to do with this of course, it’s just the planet around us. I just saw an article about the only street legal 917 and it was ordered and driven by some italian count who was also a racing enthusiast. Nowadays it’s still daily driven fortunately but that’s how my young manbrain (noun) used to process halo cars’ owners: retired F1 pilots, astronauts with huge paychecks, Paul Newman and of course Steve McQueen. I feel weird typing this, maybe Adrian can set things straight? Should I not despise youtubers crashing McLarens?
We keep seeing more and more models in the billionaire price point, while the maybe-one-day range of sports cars keeps dwindling.
It’s fun to imagine myself getting an aspirational vehicle like the Lotus Emira or some such if my career goes really well and I catch a few lucky breaks, but it’s abundantly clear that these 7-figure vehicles aren’t for successful engineers or well-off orthodontists, they’re the exclusive playthings of people who measure net worth instead of income.
Kinda feels like a slap in the face that there seem to be more car models over a million dollars for sale today than there are fun cars under 40,000.
Not my thing, but very nicely done.
But “…420 horsepower in a car with Miata-like weight…” is an interesting thing to turn over in one’s mind. Could a Ford GT style 3.5L EcoBoost V6 fit under the hood of a Miata? What would a Singer tier NA be like?
Seems like I saw something like that from one of the British cartoobers recently-ish… Maybe Harry Catchpole? Nice restomodded na Miata with some spicy v6 in it, can’t remember what from.
From the Mondeo, Rocketeer does the swap kit.
That’s the one, thanks.
I love the way Singers look and the craftsmanship involved – but after having driven a mid-80’s 911 Carrera in Hollywood traffic, I was left thoroughly unimpressed.
Perhaps a newer one would be more my style.
Tesla is between a rock and a hard place. Musk going full-on fascist means he is a liability that limits any real growth. On the other side, Tesla’s value is 99% a bubble that was inflated by Musk’s ability to produce massive amounts of hot air.
Take away Musk, and Tesla could become a real company. However, their stock price would then also reflect that of a real car company. One company has shown no ability to produce new products that would allow it to maintain its position in an ever more competitive market. Especially when the Orange SA enthusiast Musk funded pulls all of their carbon offset income and the subsidies that are vital to selling their products.
I don’t disagree with the sentiment but was this meant for another article?
It means I typed it in the wrong tab!
It’s OK, that doesn’t make you a dunce…
I thought you were leading up to “Elon might be the only one who can afford this in the new economy”
I’ll take it!
truly beautiful
Who needs a poster of a 911 on your wall when you can have a poster of that motor.. my god, Singer makes gorgeous engines.
I thought it was a singer of music that made the car so I was looking for which singer likes 911’s…….
Thank god it’s Friday.
Well, Singer was founded by Robert Dickinson, the lead singer of Catherine Wheel and the cousin of Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer Iron Maiden. So you’re technically correct. The best kind of correct!
Amazing factoid, thank you so much!
Going to fire up black metallic on my way home.
Sewing machines. Very expensive sewing machines.
I’m not a Porsche person generally, but the Singers always get me – they’re just absolutely gorgeous vehicles. I think it’s the use of color and the interiors – they’re just so well put together and so distinct.
It’s funny, a Singer showed up at my local Cars & Coffee, first time I’d seen one in the metal. This particular one was underwhelming – it felt too “safe” and lacked any individuality from the owner. Usual nice interior but nothing distinctive about it — “stock” Singer if you will. And the very dark blue paint it was in killed the shape. I’m sure the owner liked it, but for me it missed the point.
I usually love Fuchs, but those look out of proportion and the spokes are supposed to be black, or at least an offset color. Body color would be cool. Otherwise, this thing is absolutely lovely.
I love the white but I agree about proportion being off, could be a lil smaller
My sole critique is that the Fuchs wheel design doesn’t look good once it gets past like 16″ in diameter. One of these on a set of restored BBS 80’s-era center locks would be the greatest thing.
Pop-up rally/fog lights?! Be still my heart! I’m not even a Porsche guy but Sploosh!
Ahh, when the thrill of rummaging though the Exclusive Manufaktur catalog to one up your buddies fades, you move on to Singer. Like cocaine in the 80s, you can never get enough. (Great car, just wondering about the buyers.)
I will say that I met 2 Singer owners at cars and coffee and they were dyed in wool enthusiasts who just happened to have great taste and obviously large check books. One of the cars already had over 35,000 miles on it if I recall correctly.
I can’t speak for all of them, but I get the impression most Singer owners are actual enthusiasts.. sure there is probably some one-upmanship going on, but I don’t think that is the motivating factor behind their purchases.
Plus the snob porschophile would turn his nose up at this non-original vehicle.
I hope that’s the average singer owner, would be nice to know the cars are actually being appreciated
You should try to sell them on borrowing one for Oblivion this year. It would make good press! Or at least that’s the excuse I’d use.