1990 PORSCHE 911 REIMAGINED BY SINGER

This Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer is a sensational bespoke sports car, boasting a wonderfully well-judged specification, as well as a number of desirable upgrades. It is powered by the optional 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six built by Ed Pink Racing Engines, producing 390hp and 315lb-ft of torque, which drives the rear wheels through a six-speed close-ratio manual transmission. The odometer indicates 1,100 miles since the build was completed.

For those less familiar with Singer Vehicle Design, the process of creating one of these masterpieces starts with sourcing a solid, accident-free Porsche 964 donor with a straight chassis. The car is stripped down to the monocoque, which is media-blasted and strengthened, and is then built back up using carbon-fibre body panels, and refinished to a unique specification. Every detail is carefully considered, and Singer is now renowned as having developed the finest interpretation of the ‘race-bred, road-mannered’ air-cooled Porsche 911. Performance from the 4.0-litre motor is incredible; capable of launching the 911 from 0-60mph in just 3.3 seconds, or from 0-100mph in just 8.2 seconds.

This particular Singer uses the chassis of a UK-market 964 Carrera 2 that was first registered in April 1990. The 964 was still in active use in early 2014, and there is an MOT test on record from January that year showing it passed with no advisories - a testament to the impressive condition of the donor car.

Between January 2015 and July 2015, the build was carried out at Singer’s Los Angeles workshop, and it was back in the UK by Christmas 2015 with its first owner post-restoration. In June 2016, the car was revealed to the world at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and it was kept by the commissioning owner for around four years, before being acquired by the current owner in June 2020.

Having been restored and strengthened, the monocoque chassis of this 911 has been clothed in carbon-fibre panels developed by the world-renowned advanced composites specialist Aria Group in California. The motorsport-specification carbon-fibre components include the front and rear wings, front and rear bumpers, the bonnet, engine lid and spoiler, and the roof. The doors remain fabricated in steel as they retain the side-impact safety beams.

The colour chosen for this 911 was Singer Racing White, which presents as a very light ivory hue, complemented by ‘ghosted’ Light Blue stripes around the bumpers and flanks, and with blue and black ‘Porsche’ motifs. It rides on a set of 17-inch Fuchs-style alloys, which have white nickel RSR-type wheel barrels and blue centre petals, and exposed brass-plated wheel bolt fixings. The wheels house the optional Brembo ‘big brake’ upgrade, including substantial Racing Red callipers.

Other cosmetic details include nickel-plated rear bumperettes, joining the other nickel-plated body trims, and the car features redesigned light housings with polycarbonate lenses and with Hella bi-xenon headlight units at the front. There are perforated aluminium hinges for both the bonnet and the engine deck lid, and this 911 also has the centre-fill fuel cap and fuel safety cell. Both the engine bay and luggage compartment are smartly trimmed in diamond-quilted blue leather.

In the cabin, this car was specified with the optional carbon-fibre lightweight track front seats, original style folding rear seats, and drilled floor boards and pedals. The upholstery is a combination of blue semi-suede and blue leather. The former adorns the seat bolsters, sill covers and kick panels, transmission tunnel, and the areas around the footwell. Elsewhere, the optional ‘leatherweave’ upgrade features an incredible woven finish in two-tone blue leather for the seat facings, door panels, rear quarter panels, and the dashboard insert. Black leather is used for the luggage shelf and dashboard top, while the gear lever and handbrake mountings, as well as the front seat backs, are finished in glossy Piano Black.

The remarkable interior specification is rounded off by an Ivory headlining, blue non-contrast stitching, blue carpets, and black rubber floor mats. There is a black ‘Reimagined’ motif on the dashboard trim strip, combined with a brass ‘Singer’ logo. Other fitted options include air-conditioning, iPod Connect, a black suede-trimmed Momo Prototipo steering wheel, and Carrera 3.2-style VDO instrument gauges. The central rev counter is finished in orange, and - in a fun nod to the famous Spinal Tap line - it reads all the way up to ‘11’.

All of the original 964 wiring was discarded as part of the rebuild, and in their place is a state-of-the-art MoTeC M1 series Engine Control Unit and dual MoTeC Power Distribution Modules (PDMs). Bosch components replace the entire fuse system, and the wiring harness and connections are custom-built military-grade units.

As well as the most powerful 4.0-litre 390hp engine, this Singer’s mechanical specification includes the optional sport suspension with sophisticated Öhlins dampers, as well as the servo-assisted Brembo ‘big brake’ upgrade derived from the 993 Turbo with 322mm drilled discs. As standard, all 911s Reimagined by Singer feature the superb 993-type steering rack in place of the stock 964 item.

The Singer-specification 4.0-litre flat-six developed by Ed Pink Racing Engines features a bespoke crankshaft, oil pump, custom Mahle pistons and cylinders, Carrillo con-rods, and Xtreme cylinder heads. Its ceramic intake plenum is coupled to custom throttle bodies, while at the exit side there is a lightweight exhaust with stainless steel headers, and with the complete system coated in matt titanium grey with polished tailpipe tips.

This car is fresh from a service carried out by Tuthill Porsche in June 2020 at approximately 800 miles, which comprised renewal of the engine oil and filter, gearbox oil, and the brake fluid. The most recent MOT test was on 22 June 2020 at 801 miles, which resulted in a first-time pass with no advisories or defects noted. All four wheels are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres.

Driving one of the earliest Singers for Evo magazine in 2013, Richard Meaden summarised the car’s appeal by stating: “So convincing is the concept and so complete and cohesive the execution that this car oozes the right stuff with the same assurance as any Pagani Zonda or McLaren F1. What Singer does results in a car that transcends what you thought you knew about 911s to deliver a quite unique experience”.

The ‘Newcastle Commission’ by Singer is an incredible example of the car pitched as “the ultimate expression of the air-cooled Porsche 911”. While many have tried their own take on the ‘resto-mod’ 911, nothing comes close to the design, quality, and attention to detail of Rob Dickinson’s Los Angeles workshop. It blends classic styling with modern mechanicals and technology, as well as unparalleled hand-built craftsmanship. If you have been tempted by the prospect of owning a Porsche 911 by Singer, then now is your chance to acquire a rare right-hand drive car in a stunning specification.

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Please note: the cherished plate shown on the vehicle is not included in the sale. It will be switched back to an age-related registration plate in the event of a successful auction.