Singer Vehicle Design shows Porsche 911 restoration project

Singer Vehicle Design (SVD) is an automotive design, engineering and coach-building company that restores, modifies, tunes and customizes existing Porsche automobiles.  SVD is dedicated to the passionate study, preservation and optimization of the world’s most respected high performance vehicles through modern techniques and unique and fresh perspectives. Founded in 2009, SVD was created to explore the creative possibilities in existing and future vehicle design.

As Singer makes its first display at the Quail Motorsports Gathering annual event, it will showcase the restoration work performed on a vehicle headed to a customer in Dubai.   A burgeoning global client base including those in France, Sweden, Indonesia, Taiwan, Mexico, Hong Kong and the UK, have already commissioned Singer Vehicle Design to restore their vehicles by hand to craft uniquely personalized and exquisite vehicles that remain an enthusiasts dream.

The car to be shown at Quail will be the first to feature a unique ‘second skin’ interior treatment that evokes the racing chic of a lightweight stripped down race car interior, with the refinement gained from concealed cutting edge and compact sound absorption materials developed for the private jet industry.  Another first for the brand, and on this particular customer’s car, will be new carbon fiber race seats with integral shoulder support and adjustable headrests – creating a weight savings of 79kg.

The racing theme expands the modification assets and envelops a highly technological process when it comes to the overall performance for the machine.  In addition to the carbon fiber bodywork, features selected by this customer include a close ratio 6-speed gearbox with LSD, Ohlins suspension, a super lightweight motorsport spec electrical system, as well as a state-of-the-art engine management system and a Singer/Cosworth developed 360 hp Porsche flat six normally aspirated engine – the heart of this incredible machine.

The result is a “halo” car that could claim to epitomize Porsche’s old methods and the 37 year history of the air cooled 911 to a new audience that never got to experience this magic originally.

Working with two key Southern California-based partners – internationally-renowned motorsport engineers, the Cosworth Group, and globally-recognized composite experts, Aria Group – Singer has gained invaluable credentials and experience that guarantees world-class production standards.  Both Cosworth and Aria share in Singer’s passion for restoring and refining the iconic air-cooled Porsche 911 for its customers.

SVD’s vision involves taking a customer’s existing 964 model Porsche 911 (from 1990-1994) vehicle and performs both restorative work and cutting–edge modifications to update the cars’ performance, aesthetics and modern day use-ability in an attempt to optimize its strengths, while preserving the essence and magic of the original.

The engine program with Cosworth specifically presents advanced theory and development in all areas including assembly techniques, cylinder head design with intake and exhaust optimization, all geared toward delivering a completely drivable power unit with maximum reliable power.

“This is a celebration of Porsche’s genius,” said Rob Dickinson, owner of SVD. “The fact that our work visually recalls the past is more a product of thoughtful consideration of the term “optimized” than a pre-occupation with nostalgia.  Sometimes the finest 911 characteristic comes from 1964 and sometimes it’s lifted from 1997.”

SVD begins with a customer’s car and repatriates the best 911 chassis of the early ‘90’s with the most beautiful Ferdinand ‘Butzi’ Porsche coachwork from 1964. The company’s view is about preserving a moment in time for the owner and capturing a snapshot of the air-cooled period of the Porsche 911. Dickinson concludes, “The essence of the Porsche 911 is vivid and unique –we’re simply trying to bottle and preserve it for our customer to savor.’’