R&T tests a $575,000 Singer built Porsche 911

[Sticky]

What Singer is doing is admittedly cool. Basically, you can send them an older air cooled 911 and they will modify/restore it. On average it will run you north of $400k for Singer's work on your 911. Is that really worth the money? In performance terms, absolutely not.

This is for niche client that wants a classic 911 that feels brand new with updated performance. The Singer built cars are not slouches with 390 horsepower from a 3.9 liter flat-6. This particular model weighs only 2743 pounds meaning it moves quite well with that amount of naturally aspirated power. Singer's carbon fiber bodywork (detailed at the bottom of this page) helps keep the weight down.

0-60 takes only 3.3 seconds and it blasts through the 1/4 mile at 11.7 @ 119. That is performance similar to what a modern 911 Carrera S will do. Just without turbochargers and for a whole lot more money.

Singer also updates the suspension and the result is a Laguna Seca laptime .75 seconds quicker than a Ferrari 458. That is quite impressive.

This is a classic 911 built for driving. There is no denying Singer puts a ton of effort into their builds. Those who own classic Porsches likely do not drive them as that tanks the value. The Singer 911 fills a void in that instance. Is that void really worth half a million dollars?

• Our customers supply a fully road legal 1990-1994 Porsche 911 coupe or Targa for the basis of restoration and varying degrees of modification. When the work is complete the car retains its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and odometer reading and is legally registered, operated and licensed in the same manner. We see this process as a modest contribution to the recycling culture and one by which old 911s are reclaimed and perhaps saved from an uncertain future. We are proud to be affiliated with the globally recognized Aria Group in Irvine, California, providing state-of-the-art composite technology and world-class body preparation and painting processes.
  
  • The cars are comprehensively disassembled and the monocoque (unibody) is cleaned and media blasted to bare metal and then treated for rust prevention.
  • All bodywork to be replaced is stripped from the car and the chassis receives additional welding and strengthening in preparation for its new bodywork.
  
  
• The carbon fiber bodywork is constructed from premium ‘pre preg’ carbon fiber and is correctly vacuum bagged and baked to a temperature of over 250 degrees in a pressurized environment . These are true carbon fiber parts made to military and motorsport specifications benefiting from the attributes of extreme strength and light weight.
  
  • The areas of the car replaced with carbon fiber parts are as follows:
    
    • Front fenders
    • Front bumper
    • Front hood (bonnet)
    • Rear fenders
    • Rear bumper
    • Rear engine deck lid/speed sensitive active rear spoiler
    • Roof (a carbon roof is not fitted if a sunroof is specified)
    
    
  • Note: The doors remain in steel in order to retain side impact resistance as they contain the impact safety beams fitted on later model 911s. Carbon fiber doors can be ordered at additional cost but must be specified in conjunction with a full roll-cage.
  • The front spoiler is constructed from a flexible urethane with a black textured finish.
  • The lower rockers and lower rear valances are constructed from a high temperature resistant urethane with a black textured finish.

• Our engines are comprehensively stripped and then meticulously blue printed, balanced and hand built using new or state of the art componentry. Customers are offered a choice of three engines, each with a unique output and character, designed to match the dynamics of their car.
• 3.6-liter engine, producing 270 hp
  
  • The 270BHP 3.6L engine is comprehensively rebuilt and blueprinted for maximum efficiency and retains the standard engine management system, exhaust and ancillaries maintaining the engines regular emission calibration.
  
  
• 3.8-liter engine, producing 360 hp [* intended for off-road use only in certain territories]
  
  • Our 3.8L normally aspirated, Porsche flat six engine was developed in partnership with Cosworth. Our engines are hand-built in California to motorsport tolerances and benefit from state-of-the-art breakthroughs in intake design, fuel injection, cylinder head design, piston, cylinder and rod design, overall construction and engine management. We feel it’s a wonderful compromise between a high-revving, high horsepower Porsche racing engine and a torque rich, tractable and durable engine for the road.
  
  
• 4.0 liter engine, producing 390 hp [* intended for off-road use only in certain territories]
  
  • Our ultimate 4 Litre engine was born from the blueprint of our 3.8L Cosworth engine and has been meticulously developed by the engineers at Ed Pink Racing Engines to create an ultimate incarnation of the normally aspirated flat six. This engine is a monster in the best sense of the word and imbued with heroic levels of torque – around 315LB/ft, and thrilling peak power of close to 400hp. As with all our engines it retains the case of the 964 and employs a bespoke crankshaft, oil pump, pistons, cylinders, connecting rods, cams, cylinder heads, throttle bodies and intake system. Performance is extreme with 60mph and 100mph arriving in sub 3.3 seconds and 8.2 seconds respectively.

• The regular suspension features adjustable KW dampers and coil over springs.
• The aluminum rear trailing arms are retained and all bushings, connectors and front and rear sway bars are replaced by state of the art units
• The regular suspension is specified and set up to offer an excellent compromise between daily usability and sporting potential. It is specified and tuned to provide a compliant, quiet and comfortable ride on the street while still offering great control during fast road use.

• Suspension Options
  
  • Sport suspension package.An optional Sport suspension package is available. This system is specified and set up to give ultimate control and driver feedback during high performance road and track driving and was developed at Sears Point
    Race Circuit with the US Ohlins distributors and renowned driver and journalist Richard Meaden of EVO magazine.At the center of this set up are state of the art Ohlins dampers that are finely adjustable for bump and rebound. The addition of lightweight EVO uprights from the racing program further increases precision and unsprung weight. The anti roll bars are uprated units from the sport and racing programs and these along with additional suspension components minimize deflection while increasing body control and allow greater adjustability while the advanced damping system can be further stiffened or softened depending on usage.

[ND75R]

Is that void really worth half a million dollars?

That's one of those "If you have to ask" kind of questions. Personally I love these cars, couldn't care less about the performance or price because those aren't what you're buying!

[Sticky]

That's one of those "If you have to ask" kind of questions. Personally I love these cars, couldn't care less about the performance or price because those aren't what you're buying!

None of us are buying this.

[ND75R]

None of us are buying this.

Amen to that.

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Evo also reviewed one of their cars last winter: http://www.evo.co.uk/porsche/911/169...-singer-review

[Sticky]

Evo also reviewed one of their cars last winter: http://www.evo.co.uk/porsche/911/169...-singer-review

Here, better to post the vid: