Friday 16th February 2024

Singer Vehicle Design celebrates 300th restoration

Singer has been reimagining the 964 since 2009 - a big milestone is being marked in fine fashion 

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While people have been hot-rodding 911s for decades, Singer Vehicle Design has always been a little different. Its reimagined cars have, of course, been far faster and way more capable than stock, though it's the exquisite attention to detail that’s always marked its builds out. ‘Everything is important’ remains the company’s well-known mantra, and that applies to every aspect of every 911 restoration. So it means they take a while, yes, but also that everyone still wants one. A lot of people, in fact, given the cost of commissioning and the restomod alternatives that have emerged since: this is the 300th Singer build. 

Christened ‘Sotto’ (using place names probably doesn’t work now there are so many), this is a ‘Classic Study’ - the sort of 964 that first made the world gush about Singer’s work. Its ideas have become more adventurous since first setting up shop in 2009 (think DLS, and Turbo Study), yet there remains something so right about its relatively modest, carbon-clad 964 restos. In a 2022 interview, Rob Dickinson said that Classic would be limited to 450 in total, so there are still a few more after this to follow. And gawp at. 

Sotto is a Resistance Blue 964 Targa with ‘ghosted’ side stripes; a very good start that’s only further improved with the glorious Orange leather inside. We’re yet to see a bad Singer spec, but this is a great colourway for a Targa. It has the carbon track seats, ceramic seats and titanium exhaust, with power provided by the 4.0-litre flat-six. Power goes to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual. All of which sounds just about perfect. 

Singer now employs more than 600 people in the UK and California, with commissions found across the globe. ‘A relentless pursuit of excellence’ is how SVD describes its work, so no doubt there’s plenty more Porsche shaped to follow in the coming years. Plus a big old order book to work through, presumably - the demand for reimagined sports cars of all descriptions shows no signs of slowing down. With orders currently on pause for Classics (and unlikely to come back, for the sake of exclusivity), secondhand is the only way into that original Singer style; and wouldn’t you know, there’s one on PH: an earlier 3.8 with the six-speed manual, Ohlins suspension and just 1,200 miles since rebuild, it’s Grigio Medio with black leather. And fabulous. Expect the next 300 to be just the same.

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• 700hp Singer DLS Turbo pays homage to 934/5
• Glorious Singer DLS Porsche 911 for sale

[m62tu]

This is the sort of toy I'd have if I had 5-700k of play money. The 911 targa and Volvo look ace, I can see they are made to be enjoyed in the real world, something that cant be said of a 720s or Revuelto. Plus not looking like an attention wh*re or clown during egress.

[mersontheperson]

Interesting to see it in relation to the Volvo.
The size of the wheels make it much more cohesive and attractive to my eyes, I don’t really get the large wheel obsession

[Kipsrs]

The strive for perfection by the team at Singer is glaringly obvious. I took one look and shook my head at just how gorgeous it looks.

[Miserablegit]

Ceramic seats you say?

[edoverheels]

Not sure about that one. Other Singers look better.

[Numeric]

It is possible with restomods to push just a little too far - the Volvo just tips though as it's only the wheels for me there is an easy fix, and the odd Singer has also for me just pushed a little too far.

But when these companies go for simplicity the results always leave me amazed at how good they are, jaw droppingly lovely and as others ask, the choice between these and some new Ferrari? No contest for me. Not sadly a choice I shall ever have to make.

[Slowlygettingit]

Interior inspired by this weeks shed.
Maybe they had to sell the SOTW to enable them to select the upgraded machined dust caps.

Exterior colour not to my taste but overall a lovely thing.

[CountyAFC]

The link in the article to the Turbo Study is wrong.

[Robertb]

Anyone on PH got a Singer and care to share their experience?

Just Fabulous. DLS or turbo study please

[Youforreal.]

edoverheels said:

Not sure about that one. Other Singers look better.

Funny enough I was thinking the exact same thing, looks somewhat awkward around the rear end.

[smilo996]

Stunning. Turning VW quality into a proper sports car. the attention to detail is spot on and the aesthetics are so good. Pricey but eveything you pay for is on display but not ostentatious.

[epom]

Even on PH someone would struggle to find fault with these.

[Wab1974uk]

Euro millions win, and I'd have a Singer in my Garage. Simply stunning cars.

[AmazingGrace]

m62tu said:

This is the sort of toy I'd have if I had 5-700k of play money. The 911 targa and Volvo look ace, I can see they are made to be enjoyed in the real world, something that cant be said of a 720s or Revuelto. Plus not looking like an attention wh*re or clown during egress.

Turn up to someone selling a singer with 700k in any currency and they’ll laugh, punch you in the head, and wonder why you bothered coming

[thegreenhell]

I wonder if there will come a time in the future when people will look at these as donor cars for a restoration back to original, or they'll just be viewed as curiosities of their time like the Gemballa and Koenig creations of the 1980s.

[T1berious]

If my Euro millions numbers came up....

[CharlesA]

mersontheperson said:

Interesting to see it in relation to the Volvo.
The size of the wheels make it much more cohesive and attractive to my eyes, I don’t really get the large wheel obsession

I think part of the problem with the Volvo was the top of the front wheels were partially obscured by the wheel arch, whereas the rear wheels had a gap of a couple of inches to the wheel arch, so it looked somewhat amateurly jacked-up.

[JJJ.]

Congratulations Singer and I like Targa's generally for some reason.
Can't help thinking a RUF might make more sense if the lotto comes in.

[Randy Winkman]

mersontheperson said:

Interesting to see it in relation to the Volvo.
The size of the wheels make it much more cohesive and attractive to my eyes, I don’t really get the large wheel obsession

Me neither. Sometimes I wonder if it's because of tyre availability since any high performance car needs really good tyres. But there are modern, high performance tyres in 17inch size and lots of cars would look better for me if they went for those instead of bigger ones.

[CountyAFC]

T1berious said:

If my Euro millions numbers came up....

I had an original Guards Red one with Can Can leather many years ago. A Singer version would be a dream car.