Porsche enthusiasts are no strangers to Singer, the company that restores worn 964s with a money-no-object approach that yields obsessively reworked cars and a formal title of “Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer.” The company’s efforts, which require at least half a million dollars, avoid the restomod moniker — they’re arguably something well beyond that somewhat derisive category with Singer distilling the essence of air-cooled 911s in their machines.
As if to reconfirm that image, Singer is taking a step into even more obsessive engineering territory and has partnered with Williams Advanced Engineering (yes, that Williams) as well as Porsche engine designer Hans Mezger. The driving force behind this partnership was the need to achieve even more demanding power and weight characteristics for several customers’ cars, beyond the regular Singer power upgrades.
The first result of this Dream Team is a newly upgraded engine, still based on a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter six-cylinder but bored out to displace 4.0 liters. Extensive upgrades include titanium connecting rods, four-valve heads, aluminum throttle bodies, a ram-air induction system piping in air from the rear side windows, a new exhaust system made from titanium and Inconel, aluminum throttle bodies with carbon-fiber trumpets, and a carbon-fiber air-box with active multistage resonator chamber for midrange torque optimization. The yield is an even 500 hp, with the engine speed range extended north of 9,000 rpm.
The new unit was built with expertise from Williams Advanced Engineering and Porsche engine designer Hans Mezger.
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What prompted this even more mental build process? A client who already owned several Singer models requested an even more powerful flavor of a Singer 964.
“My journey with Singer Vehicle Design began with the restoration of two coupes,” Singer client Scott Blattner said. “In 2016, these were joined by my Targa, which recently ran in the famous Hill Climb at Goodwood Festival of Speed. I became intrigued by the possibility of further evolution, and I’m very excited to be sharing the first details of the engine for my car.”
The engine rebuilt and upgraded by Singer will go into a 1990 Porsche 964 owned by Blattner; titanium, carbon fiber and magnesium will also be used throughout the car to shed even more weight in this new specification, on top of the weight-loss program that Singer already puts its cars through.
The project was prompted by a customer request for an even more powerful and lighter 964.
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“Helping our clients realize their unique vision for a reimagined Porsche 911 with the help of automotive royalty is very much a privilege,” said Rob Dickinson, founder of Singer Vehicle Design. “Singer is delighted to be working with Williams Advanced Engineering and Hans Mezger to offer our clients a “next level” of restoration and modification services for their Porsche 911s. With careful and dedicated development, this iconic air-cooled engine has much to give both its existing devotees and a generation of new enthusiasts.”
It’s a little too early to talk about pricing — each car is, of course, built to customer specs — but it’s worth pointing out that even “standard” Singer engines break the six-figure mark.