New GTclassic gatecrashes 964 restomod scene
Techart says it brings four decades of 'German engineering' to its first-ever classic 911
You wouldn’t think it was possible to leave a mark on the Porsche 964 restomod scene, so cluttered is it with world-class contenders. But that’s precisely where Techart - a German tuner more readily associated with extreme versions of the current model - has opted to enter the classic market for the first time. “Our aim was not to reinvent [the 964]. Our aim was to take it further,” explained CEO Benedict von Canal. Where have we heard that before?
Nevertheless, though its approach (‘a curated process of restoration and refinement’) might not be wholly original, Techart does at least bring four decades of experience to bear on the new GTclassic. After all, you don’t spend all that time modifying Porsches - nor witness Singer and the like making considerable hay in the meantime - without mulling over what you would do with a 964, given the chance. Especially when, unlike so many of its rivals, you’re actually based in Germany.
Perhaps that means precious little in this day and age, yet probably it’s safe to assume that everyone working at Techart is a 964 fan in the same way that everyone who works for Twisted is partial to Land Rover Defenders. At any rate, a similarly sympathetic interpretation of the underlying model has resulted. Sure, the one-piece indicator units with integrated air ducts may not be strictly necessary, not the additional Champagne-coloured trim elements - but we like the ducktail and would probably never tire of seeing the tangle of bespoke exhaust beneath it.
Those tailpipes are connected to an air-cooled 3.8-litre flat-six - presumably a significantly reworked variant of the M64, though Techart doesn’t divulge what precisely it has done to extract up to 380hp from the unit. Regardless, as you might expect, the suspension, braking system and engine mounts are ‘precisely matched to this setup’, with the new chassis earning external reservoirs to keep those forged 18-inch wheels - an interpretation of the classic Fuchs design, clearly - in consistent contact with the ground.
Inside, the GTclassic retains its five-dial instrument cluster (unsurprisingly), and adds a Chrono Package with dual Hanhart stopwatches. Not everything is quite so analogue, though: you get smartphone integration, sat nav and Bluetooth connectivity courtesy of a Porsche Classic Radio. Plainly, a lot of work has gone into the trim material choices, too, although Techart reiterates that each example will be tailored to the individual preferences of the customer. Meaning, of course, that you can have pretty much anything you want.
Quite how much you will pay for the pleasure of making a GTclassic your own isn’t made clear - nor is the question of availability beyond Germany answered. But on the basis that there will be only 11 examples, it’s safe to assume the cost will be eye-watering and global commissioning welcome. Not least because that’s the unspoken justification for Techart going to the trouble of opening ‘a new chapter in its company history’; restomods are simply too lucrative for a tuner of its scale and experience to ignore forever. The GTclassic is the first roll of its revisionist dice - it is unlikely to be the last.
So basically it would look ok if it weren’t for the interior and the exterior.
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