Wednesday 22nd July 2015

RPM 996 'Retro' package

RPM adds a retro twist to its rather tempting CSR upgrade package for 996 Carreras

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Backdating, 'reimagining', call it what you will (or the lawyers tell you to) but the trend for making newer Porsches look like older ones seems one set to endure. But for one small issue - supply of suitable donor cars. A 964 customised by Singer is a lovely thing. But so is a standard 964 and as prices of original coupes suitable for this kind of makeover start roaring off into the sunset the cost - moral and financial - of chopping up nice Carreras becomes untenable for many.

Well obviously it has a ducktail

If only there were a good supply of cheap, unloved 911 variants available at rock bottom prices ideal for a bit of customisation at a vaguely sensible price...

And so attention inevitably turns to the 996. Given the much more modern styling it's unlikely Singer or anyone else is about to offer half-million quid conversions into retro-look 911s. But after the warm reception for its CSR conversion packages for 997 and 996 Carreras (we've driven both and loved 'em) RPM Technik has been working on an additional styling package under the self explanatory description 'Porsche 996 Retro'.

Backdating a 996? Not really, the package more being a couple of reasonably subtle nods to 911 tradition wrapped up with a more road-biased interpretation of the CSR mechanical mods. To refresh your memory these take a 3.4-litre 996 Carrera as the basis, see the engine given a thorough going over and the option of lightweight clutch and flywheel plus induction and exhaust modifications to help give it a bit of old-school character. This now extends to an ECU modification with user-selectable fuelling maps, one of which adds a bit of banging and popping should you want even more 'character'.

Is this cool again yet?

Chassis-wise RPM offers a KW suspension package with Eibach hollow anti-roll bars and a full corner-weighted geometry set-up. Experience of the existing CSR package would show this all adds up to a 996 of real character and balance, the emphasis being on feel and feedback rather than all-out performance. In the case of the Retro this is tipped further towards a fast road bias, though of course each package is custom tuned to suit the needs of the owner. A Wavetrac limited-slip diff is also an option.

The more modern lines of the 996 will only take a certain amount of retro styling and RPM has been wise to keep the look fairly conservative, fitting Fuchs-style wheels, a carbon ducktail rear wing and trimming the interior in Alcantara and Pasha-style chequered fabric as seen in many an 80s Porsche. For a starting price of £35,000 think of it as a more affordable alternative to a 997 Sport Classic than a full backdate and you'll be on the right lines.

Does it work on the 996 though? The floor is yours but whether you dig the retro look or not the CSR package is more than enough to bring the last remaining affordable 911 out of its shell.

 

[theturbs]

Loving the Pasha!