Singer Vehicle Design is at it again. And in scope and scale, the southern California Porsche 911 custom shop may have outdone its previous reimagined Porsche projects.
Singer client Scott Blattner wanted to make his 1990 964-generation 911 lighter. He also wanted to make it faster. All that’s easier said than done, of course, so to help him achieve his goals, Singer teamed up with Williams Advanced Engineering, a part of Formula 1 mainstay Williams Grand Prix Engineering Group, based in Oxfordshire, England.
The result was a two-year Dynamics and Lightweighting Study (DLS), which examined all the componentry of the 964 Porsche, to determine where weight could and should be saved, how to make the car more slippery, and how to increase output in a manageable, dynamic way.
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: CFD optimized front splitter, central front oil-cooler intake and side oil-cooler venting. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: full carbon fiber bodywork in Absinthe, revised front and rear fenders to accommodate extra track width, CFD optimized roof, rear ducktail and rear window. Singer Vehicle Design
“The guys at Singer have always been receptive to the question ‘What if?’’ Blattner says. “So the question became…What if Singer worked on restoring and modifying my beloved 27-year old Porsche 964, with the assistance of an engineering concern born from the world of F1? How would such a car look and how would it perform?”
The answer, it should not surprise you, is “Bad ass.”
In addition to Singer and Williams, firms such as Brembo, Michelin, and BBS Motorsport got involved. Porsche engineering legends Norbert Singer and Hans Mezger each lent their own expertise to the project as well, while racer Marino Franchitti and automotive journalist Chris Harris served as development drivers alongside Williams’s own team.
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: full CFD optimized front splitter, central front oil-cooler intake, side oil-cooler venting and ram-air induction system via rear side window. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: rear lighting treatment and engine bay venting below ducktail. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: lightweight 18” forged magnesium, monobloc, centre-lock wheels, bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and lightweight, monobloc calipers with carbon composite (CCMR) rotors by Brembo. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: interior optimized for light weight in Absinthe with Blood Orange leather. Instrument panel in carbon fiber with floating gauges inspired by Swiss high watchmaking practices. Singer Vehicle Design
Blattner’s 964 is finished in a shade of green dubbed Absinthe, which is fitting because the whole car blurs your senses. The steel body panels were replaced with carbon fiber and revised to accommodate extra track width, while magnesium and titanium materials populate many of the Porsche’s redone mechanicals. Williams employed computational fluid dynamics to optimize underbody and surface aerodynamics, and the entire suspension was revised using lightweight components, enhanced geometry, and improved adjustability.
Oh, the engine? Beneath the elegant ducktail, the Porsche 3.6-liter flat-six has been thoroughly massaged by Singer et al and is now bored to 4.0 liters, with four-valve heads, a carbon-fiber airbox, fan shroud and intake trumpets, ram-air induction via the rear side windows, and an exhaust system made of Inconel and titanium. The result is a nice round 500 horsepower.
All that power is sent to fat, bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires on 18-inch magnesium BBS center-lock wheels, while lightweight Brembo monobloc calipers and carbon composite rotors lurk behind them.
Porsche 4.0L air-cooled flat-six with 4-valve cylinder heads, showing carbon fiber airbox, fan shroud and intake trumpets with CFD-optimized and enlarged fan. Restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design and Williams Advanced Engineering. Singer Vehicle Design
Porsche 4.0L air-cooled flat-six with 4-valve cylinder heads, showing CFD optimized ram-air induction system via rear side window opening and Inconel / titanium exhaust system. Restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design and Williams Advanced Engineering. Singer Vehicle Design
Captaining his 2,180-pound machine from a Blood Orange carbon-fiber driver’s seat, Scott Blattner will be chucking a magnesium Hewland six-speed transmission, stomping carbon and titanium pedals, and—it should be said—smiling his face off.
Singer Vehicle Design founder Rob Dickinson is rightly chuffed as well. “On a technical level,” he says, “the study has been fascinating and has resulted in an incredible restoration with the benefit of top drawer resources and modern science. Artistically it has been a second chance to connect with the machine on a new level.”
Singer plans to release the results of the Dynamics and Lightweighting Study to no more than 75 enthusiasts, and future 964 commissions will take place in the UK on the Williams campus at a new Singer facility.
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: full carbon fiber bodywork in Absinthe, CFD optimized roof, rear ducktail and rear diffuser. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: CFD optimized ram-air induction system via rear side window. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: full carbon fiber bodywork in Absinthe, CFD optimized roof, rear window and rear ducktail. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: lightweight carbon fiber seats in Blood Orange and lightweight door treatment. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: lightweight carbon fiber seats in Blood Orange, instrument panel in carbon fiber with floating gauges inspired by Swiss high watchmaking practices and lightweight carbon / titanium pedals. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: optimized manual shifter with magnesium and titanium linkage for lightweight, magnesium, 6-speed transmission by Hewland. Also shown traction control dial and carbon fiber shift knob with balsa wood inlaid centre. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: rear compartment with carbon / titanium x-brace, race harnesses and carbon fiber ram-air induction system. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: rear compartment with carbon / titanium x-brace, race harnesses and carbon fiber ram-air induction system. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: CFD optimized front splitter, central front oil-cooler intake and side oil-cooler venting. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: full carbon fiber bodywork in Absinthe, revised front and rear fenders to accommodate extra track width, CFD optimized roof, rear ducktail and rear window. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: full CFD optimized front splitter, central front oil-cooler intake, side oil-cooler venting and ram-air induction system via rear side window. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: rear lighting treatment and engine bay venting below ducktail. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: lightweight 18” forged magnesium, monobloc, centre-lock wheels, bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and lightweight, monobloc calipers with carbon composite (CCMR) rotors by Brembo. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: interior optimized for light weight in Absinthe with Blood Orange leather. Instrument panel in carbon fiber with floating gauges inspired by Swiss high watchmaking practices. Singer Vehicle Design
Porsche 4.0L air-cooled flat-six with 4-valve cylinder heads, showing carbon fiber airbox, fan shroud and intake trumpets with CFD-optimized and enlarged fan. Restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design and Williams Advanced Engineering. Singer Vehicle Design
Porsche 4.0L air-cooled flat-six with 4-valve cylinder heads, showing CFD optimized ram-air induction system via rear side window opening and Inconel / titanium exhaust system. Restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design and Williams Advanced Engineering. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: full carbon fiber bodywork in Absinthe, CFD optimized roof, rear ducktail and rear diffuser. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: CFD optimized ram-air induction system via rear side window. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: full carbon fiber bodywork in Absinthe, CFD optimized roof, rear window and rear ducktail. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: lightweight carbon fiber seats in Blood Orange and lightweight door treatment. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: lightweight carbon fiber seats in Blood Orange, instrument panel in carbon fiber with floating gauges inspired by Swiss high watchmaking practices and lightweight carbon / titanium pedals. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: optimized manual shifter with magnesium and titanium linkage for lightweight, magnesium, 6-speed transmission by Hewland. Also shown traction control dial and carbon fiber shift knob with balsa wood inlaid centre. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: rear compartment with carbon / titanium x-brace, race harnesses and carbon fiber ram-air induction system. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: CFD optimized front splitter, central front oil-cooler intake and side oil-cooler venting. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: full carbon fiber bodywork in Absinthe, revised front and rear fenders to accommodate extra track width, CFD optimized roof, rear ducktail and rear window. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: full CFD optimized front splitter, central front oil-cooler intake, side oil-cooler venting and ram-air induction system via rear side window. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: rear lighting treatment and engine bay venting below ducktail. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: lightweight 18” forged magnesium, monobloc, centre-lock wheels, bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and lightweight, monobloc calipers with carbon composite (CCMR) rotors by Brembo. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: interior optimized for light weight in Absinthe with Blood Orange leather. Instrument panel in carbon fiber with floating gauges inspired by Swiss high watchmaking practices. Singer Vehicle Design
Porsche 4.0L air-cooled flat-six with 4-valve cylinder heads, showing carbon fiber airbox, fan shroud and intake trumpets with CFD-optimized and enlarged fan. Restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design and Williams Advanced Engineering. Singer Vehicle Design
Porsche 4.0L air-cooled flat-six with 4-valve cylinder heads, showing CFD optimized ram-air induction system via rear side window opening and Inconel / titanium exhaust system. Restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design and Williams Advanced Engineering. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: full carbon fiber bodywork in Absinthe, CFD optimized roof, rear ducktail and rear diffuser. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: CFD optimized ram-air induction system via rear side window. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: full carbon fiber bodywork in Absinthe, CFD optimized roof, rear window and rear ducktail. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: lightweight carbon fiber seats in Blood Orange and lightweight door treatment. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: lightweight carbon fiber seats in Blood Orange, instrument panel in carbon fiber with floating gauges inspired by Swiss high watchmaking practices and lightweight carbon / titanium pedals. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: optimized manual shifter with magnesium and titanium linkage for lightweight, magnesium, 6-speed transmission by Hewland. Also shown traction control dial and carbon fiber shift knob with balsa wood inlaid centre. Singer Vehicle Design
1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: rear compartment with carbon / titanium x-brace, race harnesses and carbon fiber ram-air induction system. Singer Vehicle Design
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20171113205334 "1990 Porsche 911 front left 3/4 shot")
20171113210812 "1990 Porsche 911 rear 3/4 high")
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20171113210943 "1990 Porsche 911 rear right corner detail")
20171113211505 "1990 Porsche 911 left rear wheel")
20171113212126 "1990 Porsche 911 interior right door angle")
20171113212820 "1990 Porsche 911 rear engine view")
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20171113205621 "1990 Porsche 911 rear left 3/4 shot")
20171113211631 "1990 Porsche 911 ram air detail")
20171113211743 "1990 Porsche 911 rear high")
20171113212246 "1990 Porsche 911 interior right door straight")
20171113212426 "1990 Porsche 911 interior looking forwards")
20171113212600 "1990 Porsche 911 center tunnel design")
![1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: rear compartment with carbon / titanium x-brace, race harnesses and carbon fiber ram-air induction system.](https://media.hagerty.com/media/wp-content/uploads/uscamediasite/images/story-images/2017/11/singerdls(23)20171114140757 "1990 Porsche 911 restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design using results of Dynamics and Lightweighting Study [DLS] undertaken with Williams Advanced Engineering and other technical partners. Shown here: rear compartment with carbon / titanium x-brace, race harnesses and carbon fiber ram-air induction system.")
