This is the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Reimagined by Singer — with a 420bhp Cosworth engine
Singer has done what it has been doing since 2009, this time taking inspiration from and reimagining the wide-body variant of the 911 Carrera Cabriolet from the 1980s.
Changes dished out by Singer include a new lightweight ‘Z pattern’ folding roof mechanism and a restored 420bhp naturally aspirated flat six from Cosworth, which Singer Founder Rob Dickinson says “can now be heard more clearly than ever.”
A meticulous process begins
All of this restoration has been worked around an original donor Type 964 monocoque, and the journey begins when the owner of a Porsche 911 Cabriolet sends their car to Singer for a personalised restoration, often with thousands of miles on the clock across over 30 years of life.
The interior, exterior bodywork and mechanical components are all removed to leave a bare steel chassis, which is cleaned and prepared for strengthening to make it roadworthy for many more decades to come. Composite and steel reinforcement are applied to the monocoque at the beginning of the process, giving it a good foundation for each stage of the restoration.
Engine changes
Singer has worked with Cosworth and drawn on years of experience with 911s to maximise the performance potential of the Type 964’s iconic flat-six engine. The development of a revised four-valve cylinder head makes it the first engine for a Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer to feature variable valve timing, optimising drivability at low speeds and power at high revs. It is also the first naturally aspirated engine restored by Singer to use water-cooled cylinder heads combined with air-cooled cylinders, and an electrically powered fan.
These features enable the 4.0-litre flat-six to produce 420bhp and 8,000rpm, all controlled from a six-speed manual gearbox sending power to the rear wheels. On top of that, a new titanium exhaust system helps the Carbiolet achieve that clear soundtrack that Dickinson referenced.
Exterior tweaks
Singer prides itself on its vehicles being more lightweight than the originals, and that is no different here. Carbon fibre has been used on the bodywork to reduce weight, but make it more robust, while the car itself sits on 18” centre-lock wheels with carbon ceramic brakes developed through the DLS services.
As well as this, there’s a newly designed lightweight ‘Z pattern’ folding roof mechanism that Singer says ‘preserves a clean profile with the roof raised or lowered.’ This profile is further optimised with a deep front spoiler providing airflow across the car, while intakes in the leading edges of the rear fender direct cool air to the engine.
Interior
Having thrown out the old interior at the beginning of the process, owners are able to personalise the inside of their Singer according to personal preference. A range of paints, leathers and materials are available to choose from, while lightweight sports or track seats can be requested if whipping around the circuit is your vice.
The cabin layout is also reimagined, with Singer saying the hand-built gauges are built to ‘high-watchmaking standards’. Owners are also able to request stitched and burnished leather seams throughout the cabin for the first time, and the implementation of modern-day tech allows for discrete sat-nav and CarPlay connectivity.
How many will be made and what will they cost?
As with so many personalised restorations, asking how much one will cost is like asking how long a piece of string is. Owners are able to go to town with unique requests, although this will obviously add zeros to the price tag.
The Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Reimagined by Singer models will be limited in number, with only 75 commissions being created.
Could this be the pinnacle of high-performance open-top driving?
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Singer Vehicle Design