Singer Vehicle Design is a name that has gained much renown in recent years for their range of stunning Porsche air-cooled 911 restomods, culminating in the acclaimed Dynamics & Lightweighting Study powered by the scintillating ultimate rendition of a Mezger engine produced with Williams Advanced Engineering. Their latest 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagination work now channels the sought after wide-bodied 1980s Carrera Super Sport, amplifying its naturally aspirated ethos with technologically advanced powertrain and chassis upgrades for a significantly more sporting drive on both road & track.

Singer’s Founder, Executive Chairman and Creative Director Rob Dickinson stated, “In the 1980s you could order a new 911 Carrera with the pumped-up bodywork of the Turbo but powered by the company’s latest, naturally aspirated flat six. It became known as the Carrera with Super Sport Equipment. Our services reference this car and celebrate the era with a vision for an ultimate, naturally aspirated, G model 911, reimagined for the twenty-first century. At its heart is a remarkable flat-six, bringing together our learnings from the last fifteen years, and adding variable valve timing for the first time.”

As is normally the case, things start off with a commissioning owner sending their Type 964 911 to Singer with the request for a highly bespoke, personalized restoration; alternatively, Singer can source a suitable donor vehicle. Having left the Porsche factory over three decades ago, many such 964s are still being driven even today, giving their passionate owners thousands of joyous motoring miles and establishing a highly involved cult following in the process.

The restoration’s opening step is a careful disassembly of the owner’s car. All exterior bodywork and mechanical components are removed along with the interior, until the steel monocoque chassis itself is revealed. This is then assessed, cleaned, and prepared painstakingly to ensure its optimal condition for the restoration’s following stage.

Initial assessment of the 964 chassis was conducted by Red Bull Advanced Technologies, utilising their world-class simulation and structural analysis capabilities. This resulted in the development of a chassis strengthening system involving the application of composite and steel reinforcements to the 964 monocoque at each restoration’s beginning. The result is an optimally augmented basis for the following restomodding stages, with the increase in rigidity benefitting overall refinement, handling and braking dynamics.

Singer’s extensive carbon fiber composite experience enables them to imbue the new work’s exterior with an ideal balance of iconic heritage DNA and advanced material science & engineering. Being both stiffer and lighter than the standard steel panelling, it makes for even sharper dynamic responses that have become a key expectation of Singer’s clients.

The original G-model Carrera Super Sports remains a key aesthetic inspiration here with the wider front and rear sections, while also boasting suitably reimagined visual refinements along with honed performance functionality. A deep front spoiler improves frontal cooling airflow, while intakes integrated into the rear fenders duct cooling air into the engine compartment.

Owners of the Singer 911 Carrera Coupe will be able to specify their cars either with a fixed wing or speed-activated spoiler, both of which manage rear end airflow for improved high speed stability. This reflects the heritage of its classic 911 Carrera inspiration that could be optioned with or without its famous whale tail rear wing in period. A set of high-performance auxiliary driving lights can also be fitted, extending up from the front hood when activated and folding down flushly when switched off.

Dickinson added, “Porsche offered the option of a wide-bodied, naturally aspirated G model 911 Carrera for drivers in the 1980s. The Super Sport Equipment package was intended for what Porsche described as ‘the connoisseur of high performance’, incorporating uprated brakes and suspension along with its purposeful appearance. If you wanted a whale tail you could have one, if you didn’t, that was possible too. We’ve used this as inspiration for our latest services and as a home for this special engine. Hans Mezger’s masterpiece – restored, reimagined and reborn – is at the heart of the car.”

As for its engine, the  911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer gets another remarkable evolution of the iconic Type 964 flat-6 powerplant benefiting from the company’s extensive experience in developing them for its clients’ previous restorations, along with lessons learnt from the DLS program that resulted in Singer’s first in-house four-valve cylinder head. A revised version of this cylinder head debuts in the new work, along with the unparalleled technical experience & input of development partner Cosworth who have refined the variable valve timing, combustion chamber design, and intake & exhaust flow pathways.

That variable valve timing is deployed here for the first time in a Singer 911’s engine, enabling better low speed drivability with greater power at high revs. Drawing from the DLS Turbo program’s development, this is also Singer’s first naturally aspirated to utilize a combination of water-cooled cylinder heads with air-cooled cylinders. With these refinements, the bigger 4 liter flat-6 ultimately produces 420 hp and a wider, more responsive torque band over various engine speeds.

As a counterpoint to many modern performance cars’ less soulful turbocharged or even electrified engines, it will rev out to over 8000 rpm with a gloriously sonorous mechanical soundtrack courtesy of a new, freer flowing titanium exhaust. Drivers who wish to make the most of this incredible aural range can specify their cars with an optimized 6-speed manual gearbox and rear wheel drive powertrain. The raised gear shifter can be had with an exposed underlying shift mechanism, showcasing Singer’s famously unparalleled engineering craftsmanship.

The engine’s dynamic performance is matched with an equally considered & sophisticated approach to enhancing the suspension, brakes, wheels and tyres for a more sporting & rapid drive. New 4-way adjustable dampers build on Singer’s previous DLS Turbo suspension work with sharper yet more compliant handling, thanks to driver adjustable electronic damping control. Carbon ceramic brakes developed from the DLS programs can also be fitted behind the 18” centre-lock wheels for greater stopping power.

There’s also traction control and electronic stability control present here, with five drive modes & intervention levels (Road, Sport, Track, Off and Weather) able to be selected based on road conditions and each driver’s own abilities. The latest Michelin Pilot Sport tyres will enable each Singer 911 Carrera Coupe to put its power to the road more effectively.

Clients who benefitted from Singer’s bespoking capabilities have long praised its extensive range of possible interior customizations encompassing paint, leather, and material finishes. Things will be no different with the new restorations, with a choice of lightweight sports or track seats able to be fitted for the ideal driving position. The iconic 911 drivers’ instrument layout is reborn with hand-built gauges executed to high watchmaking standards, while owners can now also request stitched and burnished leather seams throughout the cabin for the first time thanks to Singer’s mastery of traditional leatherworking techniques. Phone connectivity & navigation can now even be discretely incorporated via contemporary technology solutions.

As each Singer 911 is a bespoke commission for an individual client, they often end up being highly distinctive representations of each owner’s personality and tastes. The two examples featured here are no different, with the more touring oriented car featuring a Celeste Passalacqua lightweight carbon fiber body with speed-activated rear spoiler. Its interior is finished in Mars Pink with stitched and burnished leather seams, while the sports seats will have velvet corduroy centers.

A more sporting focus is exhibited by the yellow 911 Carrera Coupe with its lightweight carbon fiber bodywork in Giallo Segnale with the fixed rear wing, sports front splitter and high-performance auxiliary driving lights. The more racy ethos extends to its cabin as well with lightweight track seats & rear cross-brace, Black and colour matched surface elements,  stitched & burnished leather seams, and Interferenza fabric finishes.

For the ultimate freedom of choice, owners can also specify both sets of bodywork to be included with a bespoke flight case, enabling them to change their car’s configuration as they desire. Due to the uniqueness of each restoration with highly personal preferences and bespoke engineering requirements, prices for Singer’s services are highly dependent on each owner’s final specification. And as with their previous works, there will only ever be 100 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer commissions, offered mainly to a clientèle made up of the world’s most discerning and sophisticated drivers.