The Ultimate Vintage 911: $3-Million Porsche Reimagined by Singer Makes Canadian Debut
To appreciate Singer’s work, you’ve got to see it up close — which is why Pfaff Automotive Partners recently brought Singer’s latest restoration project to Canada for the first time. The golden-coloured $3.6-million (US$2.7 million) Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer, Dynamics and Lightweighting Study (DLS) Turbo, seemed to glow under the lights at the Pfaff Motorsports workshop. This is precious metal.
Singer needs no introduction, at least among gearheads. “If you know, you know,” as one current owner (who wished to remain anonymous) told us. That’s part the appeal; these cars fly under the radar, at least compared to new multi-million-dollar supercars from the usual Italian and British brands.
The Singer Story, So Far
For all the non-gearheads out there, however, here’s the short version of Singer’s story: the company sprang up in California in 2009, founded by Rob Dickinson, the frontman of U.K. shoegaze band Catherine Wheel. (They released a few critically acclaimed albums in the early ‘90s and Black Metallic absolutely still holds up.) Today, his company has grown from a local restomod shop into an international powerhouse that receives gushing reviews from the automotive press.
Singer doesn’t sell cars though; it sells bespoke restoration services to owners of the Type 964 Porsche 911. To date, Singer has completed more than 300 restorations for owners in more than 30 countries. “Demand for our services has increased significantly over the last few years,” a company spokesperson said. To keep up with that demand, the firm recently expanded to a larger facility in Torrance, CA and is expanding its Oxford, U.K. facility as well. All told, the company employs more than 500 people.
Singer’s latest and most extreme project yet is the result of the Dynamics and Lightweighting Study, Turbo. This reimagined 911 made appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July as well as this summer’s Monterey Car Week before appearing under the lights one evening at the Pfaff Motorsports workshop on the outskirts of Toronto.
Everything Is Important
It’s almost hard to believe this car started life as a regular old Porsche 911 Type 964, originally manufactured from 1989 to 1994. The car’s bodywork is about as wide and racey as it can be while still being instantly recognizable as a 911. As Singer explains, the design is inspired by the Porsche 934/5, “which dominated the SCCA Trans American series, winning 6 of the 8 races and the championship in 1977.” That rear wing is a work of art.
The cabin offers a near-infinite level of customization. The deeply-bolstered racing buckets and lack of rear seats are clues as to the extreme speed and g-forces this car is capable of. In the cockpit you’ll find three pedals and a six-speed manual shifter. It sits in a bare carbon-fibre tunnel with a special cut-out so drivers can appreciate the shifter’s exposed mechanical linkage. The wind-up windows serve two purposes: they save weight versus electric power windows, and they serve as a reminder of the analog nature of this vintage, air-cooled 911.
The car’s engine is built off an original Porsche flat-six block, heavily modified by Singer. As the company explains, “The unique, 3.8-litre, 4-valves per cylinder flat-six uses twin turbochargers, with electric wastegates, air-to-water intercooling and a horizontally mounted, electrically powered fan. This evolution of the engine developed for DLS restorations enables power outputs over 700 horsepower at more than 9,000 rpm.”
It’s not just the colours and trim that are customizable; Singer tailors the character of each restored 911 to the individual owner. So, whether you want a track day weapon or a machine for carving up country roads, Singer can do that.
The company mantra is “Everything Is Important,” and now having seen their work up close, it shows.
One current owner who was on his second 911 reimaged by Singer likened these cars to a home-cooked meal, made with expertise and love. They’re personal, he said, whereas a brand new 911 can feel slightly clinical, almost too perfect, like a MICHELIN-starred meal.
The Other Car
You may also notice a baby-blue car in some of these photos. That’s the $1.1 million (US$835,000) Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer — Turbo Study. It’s more tame in both appearance and performance.
A quick look inside the cabin reveals less carbon-fibre and more of the original 911 inside. The twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre engine produces 450 to 510 horsepower, depending on the owner’s wishes, and the chassis is available in either rear-or-all-wheel drive configurations. (If it were our money? This is the Singer-reimagined 911 we’d have, if only for the classic 911 Turbo looks and its more understated appearance.)
What if I Want One?
A representative from Pfaff, which supports owners of cars restored by Singer in Canada, said that roughly 30 reimagined 911s have landed in this country so far. And, despite the company’s recent expansion, there’s still a healthy waiting list. If you want either of these limited-edition reimagined 911s — the DLS Turbo restoration or the Turbo Study restoration — you’ll likely be waiting until 2026 or 2027 to take delivery.
