Not to be confused with the sewing machine manufacturer or the British motor vehicle manufacturer, Singer is a Los Angeles-based firm that specializes in 964-gen 911 restomods. Founded in 2009, the company is called Singer Vehicle Design after German automotive engineer Norbert Singer, a gentleman who played a vital role in Porsche's dominance at the 24 Heures du Mans.
Singer has recently unveiled its 300th restomod in the form of a carbon-bodied 1990 Porsche 911 Targa, which can only be described as insanely gorgeous. Finished in Resistance Blue with ghosted stripes on the sides, the air-cooled masterpiece also rocks carbon-fiber track seats with nickel grommets, orange leather upholstery with black stitching, and a sports exhaust made of titanium.
As opposed to stainless steel, titanium dissipates heat much quicker. It's also significantly lighter than steel. Because of their high thrust-to-weight ratio, titanium alloys are widely used by the aircraft industry. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird comes to mind, which – according to SR-71 pilot Colonel Rich Graham – is 92% titanium inside and out.
Turning our attention back to the Neunelfer, the rear-engined sports car was commissioned with Fuchs-inspired wheels and orange-painted brake calipers. Zooming in on said calipers also reveals massive carbon-ceramic rotors. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber can be seen at every corner, which is a very inspired choice for a vehicle that will be driven on public roads rather than on the circuit.
Lovingly dubbed Sotto by its owner, this 964 isn't powered by the original 3.6-liter engine, but a Singer-Williams-Mezger sixer with a displacement of 4.0 liters. Aluminum throttle bodies, four valves per cylinder, titanium connecting rods, and dual oil circuits make it a different animal from the standard motor.
Photo: Singer Vehicle Design
The 3.6 was originally rated at 247 ponies and 229 pound-feet (310 Nm) of twist. Singer didn't say how much power the 4.0-liter unit produces in the Sotto, but it's more than safe to assume that we're dealing with at least 390 horsepower and 315 pound-feet (427 Nm) of torque.
Said engine is capable of up to 9,000 revolutions per minute, which is 992-gen GT3 RS territory. In stark contrast to the PDK-only Rennsport model, the Sotto is equipped with a good ol' manual box.
A superb automobile in every respect, Singer's 300th restomod is – obviously enough – RWD. The German automaker introduced all-wheel drive to the 911 with the 964, with the first units produced in 1989. The Carrera 2 followed suit in 1990. The 964 is also remembered for introducing the Tiptronic automatic transmission, a four-speed unit that adds 30 kilos (66 pounds) over the manual.
Regarding the Sotto's price, bear in mind that Singers can retail at more than $2 million. The company didn't offer any pricing information whatsoever in regard to the Sotto, but given the attention to detail and the high-quality parts that went into this build, half a million freedom eagles may be the most conservative of guesstimates.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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