The Singer 911 Carrera Cabriolet

The Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Reimagined by Singer represents the latest services from Singer, the California-based luxury specialist that restores and reimagines classic Porsche 911s in collaboration with their owners.

Rob Dickinson: Singer’s Founder and Creative Director explains:

“By the mid-1980’s the personalization Porsche first offered for the Carrera Coupe had reached the Carrera Cabriolet, which could be ordered with the wider body of the 911 Turbo but powered by the company’s latest, naturally aspirated flat six. Our services reference this car and celebrate another chapter in the evolution of the 911, with the ultimate, open-roof, naturally aspirated G model 911, reimagined for the twenty-first century. The sporting nature of the Carrera led us to reappraise the period roof mechanism to reduce weight and enable a sleek profile with the roof raised or lowered. The remarkable flat-six brings together our learnings from the last fifteen years and can now be heard more clearly than ever.”

Raj Nair, Singer’s Chief Executive Officer, says:

“We’ve concentrated on a high-revving, naturally aspirated sports car that’s compelling to drive and beautifully executed. We only work with the best, so we’ve developed partnerships with companies that have built their reputations at the very highest levels of motorsport and the automotive world to help us in this mission.”

Mazen Fawaz, Singer’s Chief Strategy Officer, notes:

“Porsche offered drivers a wide-bodied, naturally aspirated 911 Carrera Cabriolet in the 1980s. It was a rare car that included uprated brakes and suspension along with its dramatic appearance, and you could order it with or without the famous whale tail rear spoiler. We’ve used this as inspiration for our latest services which bring together a very special naturally aspirated flat-six with the driving dynamics and standards of execution Singer is known for.”

The restoration process

The process begins when the owner of a Porsche 911 Cabriolet (Type 964) sends their car to Singer with the request to carry out a personalized restoration. Originally manufactured by Porsche more than thirty years ago, these sports cars have been on the road ever since, covering thousands of miles in the hands of many drivers.

The first step of the restoration involves the owner’s car being carefully disassembled. The interior is removed, as is the exterior bodywork and all mechanical components, until the steel monocoque (chassis) is revealed. The chassis is painstakingly assessed, cleaned, and prepared so that it is in optimal condition for the next stages of restoration. During this phase, chassis strengthening is applied to enhance the rigidity of the original Type 964 monocoque.

Engine and transmission

The engine in a 911 Carrera Cabriolet Reimagined by Singer draws on long experience with the 911 and learnings from the DLS program, where the company’s first four-valve cylinder head was born. This expertise allows Singer to continue exploring the performance potential of the Type 964’s iconic flat-six, on behalf of its clients, through a continuous process of careful optimization and the development of a revised four-valve cylinder head. Singer have jointly developed the execution of this engine with Cosworth, who have deployed their unparalleled experience, specifically in the areas of variable valve timing, combustion chamber design and intake and exhaust path.

The engine is the same as that used in the Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer and represents multiple firsts. It is the first engine restored for a Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer to feature variable valve timing, optimizing 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, utilizing learnings from the DLS Turbo program.

Together these features help the 4.0L flat-six to develop 420HP and broaden the torque delivery across a wider range of engine speeds, while enabling owners in a growing range of countries to restore their cars through Singer’s services.

The engine will rev to over 8000 rpm and, to encourage drivers to explore that range, an optimized, six-speed, manual gearbox sends power to the rear wheels. A raised gear shifter may be specified with an exposed shift mechanism, underlining the engineering craftsmanship. A newly developed titanium exhaust system provides free breathing for the flat-six and its famous soundtrack.

Chassis

The original Type 964 monocoque remains at the heart of the car. Over the last fifteen years, on behalf of owners, Singer has invested in extensive simulation and structural analysis of this chassis. The result is a chassis strengthening system, using composite and steel reinforcement, that is applied to the monocoque at the beginning of the restoration process. Augmented with this strengthening, the chassis is an optimized foundation for each subsequent stage of the restoration, with increased torsional rigidity benefitting handling, braking and overall refinement.

Heritage and cutting edge

Singer’s experience with carbon fibre enables careful balancing of iconic DNA with cutting-edge engineering and material science. While inspired by the G model cars of the 1980s, the bodywork is reimagined for aesthetic and functional performance. The use of carbon fibre allows reduced mass and enhanced stiffness, further sharpening dynamic responses in the manner that Singer’s clients have come to expect.

Inspired by the Turbo-look variants of the 1980s, the carbon fiber cabriolet body style features wide front and rear bodywork. A new, lightweight ‘Z pattern’ folding roof mechanism has been designed, allowing simple, smooth operation and preserving a clean profile with the roof raised or lowered. A deep front spoiler optimizes cooling and airflow at the front of the car, while intakes in the leading edges of the rear fenders direct cooling air to the engine compartment.

The 911 Carrera Cabriolet could be specified in period with or without the famous whale tail rear wing, and Singer’s restoration services allow today’s drivers the same choice. A fixed wing or speed-activated wing manage airflow over the rear of the car for stability at speed. High-performance auxiliary driving lights may also be specified, rising from the front hood when activated and folding down flush when not in use.

Ground control

In common with the 911 Carrera cars in period, the dynamic performance of the engine is enhanced with a sophisticated approach to suspension, brakes, wheels and tyres.

Suspension developed for Singer’s turbocharged services provides the foundation for compliant, sporting handling. New, four-way adjustable dampers with electronic damping control can be adjusted from the driver’s seat and incorporate a nose lift system. Carbon ceramic brakes developed through the DLS services may be specified, sitting behind 18” centre-lock wheels, providing deep reserves of stopping power.

Tyre technology has developed dramatically since the end of the twentieth century and the use of the latest Michelin Pilot Sport tyres allows the restored car to transmit its power effectively to the road. The driver may select from five drive modes (Road, Sport, Track, Off and Weather) to adjust the levels of intervention from the traction control and electronic stability control, depending on the road conditions and their own capabilities.

Driver-focused interior

Singer’s restoration and modification services enable owners to personalize the interior presentation of their car according to their personal preferences, through bespoke paint, leather, and material finishes. Lightweight sports or track seats may be requested, providing the perfect driving position in combination with the raised gear shifter mechanism.

In front of the driver, the familiar 911 instrument layout is reimagined, with hand-built gauges bringing high-watchmaking standards into the cabin. Singer’s mastery of traditional leatherworking techniques allows owners to request stitched and burnished leather seams throughout the cabin for the first time. Technology is incorporated with restraint, allowing for discrete navigation and phone connectivity.

Personalization

As with every Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer, the two cars featured in this press release have been personalized by their owners, according to their individual requirements.

Specification overview – as inspiration for an owner with a touring focus:

• Type 964 chassis
• Lightweight carbon fibre bodywork in Pacific Blue with speed-activated rear wing, touring-focused front splitter and high-performance auxiliary driving lights
• 4.0L, four-valves per cylinder, naturally aspirated flat-six with variable valve timing
• Six-speed manual transmission
• Rear-wheel drive
• Carbon-ceramic braking system
• 18” centre-lock wheels
• Convertible folding roof
• Interior presented in Tangerine with stitched and burnished leather seams
• Sports seats with velvet corduroy centres
• Air-conditioning, nose lift, navigation and Car Play connectivity

Specification overview – as inspiration for an owner with a sports focus:

• Type 964 chassis
• Lightweight carbon fibre bodywork in Guards Red with fixed rear wing, sports-focused front splitter and high-performance auxiliary driving lights
• 4.0L, four-valves per cylinder, naturally aspirated flat-six with variable valve timing
• Six-speed manual transmission
• Rear-wheel drive
• Carbon-ceramic braking system
• 18” centre-lock wheels
• Convertible folding roof
• Interior in Ink with stitched and burnished leather seams, and Interferenza cloth.
• Lightweight track seats
• Air-conditioning, nose lift, navigation and Car Play connectivity

For ultimate freedom of choice, the owner may specify both sets of front and rear bodywork, with a bespoke flight case, allowing their car’s configuration to be changed as required.

Testing

Singer’s restoration services are proven through a rigorous development schedule. Test cars complete thousands of miles of intensive evaluation at some of the most famous automotive proving grounds in the world, including Millbrook in the UK, IDIADA in Spain, Nardo in Italy and the Nürburgring in Germany, where TÜV certification for Singer’s services is carried out.

Price and availability

Each restoration is unique. Every owner shares their personal preferences and requirements for bespoke engineering as part of the process of working with Singer to personalize their own 911. Prices for Singer’s restoration services are dependent on the specification requested by each car’s owner. The Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Reimagined by Singer will be limited to just 75 commissions.

Customer experience

Singer’s clientèle includes the most discerning and sophisticated drivers in the world. They are supported through the specification, restoration and ownership experience by a world-class team of experts at Singer. In a growing number of markets around the world, local support is available to owners through the company’s Global Partner Network (GPN), incorporating some of the most experienced automotive specialists in the world. GPN support is available in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australasia.

Fs and Gs to 993s – a short history of the air-cooled Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 was born in 1963. Ever since then, the model has been known publicly by this name. However, across six decades, Porsche carefully evolved the 911 through different generations, sometimes referred to as ‘types’. These types were identified internally by Porsche using first letter and then number designations (and sometime both) They’re all 911s, but the Porsche community often uses these types as a shorthand to distinguish between different generations of this famous sports car. Here’s a quick overview:

The F model cars

The first generation of Porsche 911, covering the period from 1963 to 1973

F model cars inspired Singer’s Classic and DLS services.

The G model cars

The next generation of Porsche 911, manufactured between 1974 and 1989. This was the first generation to include both naturally aspirated and turbocharged cars.

Turbocharged G model cars inspired Singer’s Classic Turbo services (inspired by the Type 930) and DLS Turbo services (inspired by the Type 934.5).

The naturally aspirated, widebody G model is the inspiration for a Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Reimagined by Singer.

The Type 964

This generation arrived in 1989 and ran to 1994 with more than 60,000 units produced.

Each restoration Singer carries out begins with the owner’s Type 964 car.

The Type 993

Manufactured from 1994 to 1998.

The last Porsche 911 to be powered by an air-cooled flat six.

After the air-cooled cars came the water-cooled generations. These began with the Type 996 of 1999, followed by the 997, 991 and most recently the 992, which is the current generation.

About Singer

Founded in California in 2009, Singer represents a philosophy expressed as A Relentless Pursuit of Excellence. The company has become renowned for its collaboration with owners of the air-cooled Porsche 911 to reimagine bespoke restorations. Singer’s philosophy embodies:

• A highly personalized approach and exquisite execution.
• A passionate focus on iconic design and a homage to the world’s most iconic sportscars.
• Modern engineering and material science combined with jewel-like details.
• A deep connection with California and its automotive zeitgeist.

Singer’s automotive services enable owners to restore and personalize beautiful, analogue sports cars for the road and track.

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