Found: 5 Hot Rod Porsches Easily More Affordable Than a 911 by Singer

Editor’s Note: We love scouring the internet for reasons to spend money we don’t have on cars we daydream about owning, and these are our picks this week. All prices listed are bid amounts at the time of publishing.

It’s widely accepted at this point that Singer Vehicle Design is the best in the business when it comes to refurbishing, rebuilding and redesigning Porsche 911s. The attention to every single detail is second to none, and it’s near impossible to find a Porsche with such impeccable build quality outside of Stuttgart (and possibly in Stuttgart, as well). The Sun Valley, California based firm also, arguably, lays claim to the perfect Porsche.

That said, a 911 by Singer Vehicle Design is not cheap. On average, commissions carry price tags of around $500,000 with the newest Singer and Williams F1 collaboration going for north of $2,000,000. But a Porsche with more performance than the factory intended shouldn’t only be available to the top tax brackets. Upgrading and hot rodding a car is an American pastime and something everyone should enjoy — especially when it comes to an already adept sports car like a Porsche. Admittedly, buying used modified cars online can be a dangerous game, but if you comb through carefully, a few gems turn up — though some may still be a little rough around the edges.

1986 Porsche 944 Turbo

What we like: As mentioned, buying modified cars online can be a little dicey. But, what this particular 944 has going for it is the previous owner is the head driving instructor at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta, Georgia and the current owner and seller is a long-time Porsche Club of America member. So if you plan on placing a bid, rest easy knowing the modifications including a cat-delete exhaust, a Lindsey Racing ECU chip and a strut tower bar were installed with know-how and the car was looked after, at one point, by the Porsche Experience Center museum.
From the seller: This 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo was previously owned by the head driving instructor at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The car was previously stored and displayed in the Porsche Experience Center museum. The seller is a long-term PCA member.

Mileage: 65,000
Location: Highland Park, Illinois

1978 Porsche 911

What we like: There’s nothing wrong with upgrading a 1978 911 to the performance level of a ’74 2.7 RS — so long as you’re not telling everybody it’s a real RS. This backdated, rebuilt 911 appears to be well-done inside and out, but the one red flag with the sale is that the ad states it was built to replicate a “1973 2.7 RS … Powered by correct, rebuilt 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine.” and then lists the engine type as “V6,” which Porschephiles would call “sacrilegious.” Do a little digging before making any commitments here.
From the seller: This backdate Porsche is a ’78 non-sunroof coupe that has been transformed to re-create the world-famous 1973 2.7 RS.

Mileage: 0 (rebuilt)
Location: Arvada, Colorado

1974 Porsche 911 Slantnose Rinspeed

What we like: When Porsche introduced the Slantnose option in ’81 to let customers spec their 930s to look like the 935 racecars, it was a little polarizing. In some cases, the option commanded as much as a 60 percent increase in the price tag, so the actual number of “Flacbrau” spec 930s was limited. Which may explain the number of aftermarket slantnose kits bolted on to regular 930s, leading to some questionable jobs. Rinspeed however, is known for modifying and fabricating body kits and building concept cars. So this 930 may only have upgraded fuel injection, but at least you know professionals installed the fiberglass kit.
From the seller: This particular slantnose conversion is by Rinspeed with a full aero kit, and it looks every bit the supercar that it is. The conversion is seamless and every bit as good as the factory work, giving the familiar 911 an entirely different personality.

Mileage: 30,181
Location: Lithia Springs, Georgia

Custom 1996 Porsche 911

What we like: The “GT1 inspired” custom fabricated body kit may land on the was-that-necessary side of the spectrum but what’s underneath certainly isn’t. The list of upgrades, too long to list in full, includes parts and modifications taken from donor RSs and race cars. This was a frame-off refurbishment with, apparently, a $160,000 build budget. So, at $74,900 it’s technically a bargain.
From the seller: This project was given an open checkbook and is the end result of years of building and testing and over $160,000 of motor work, transmission, mechanical, interior, electronics and metal work.

Mileage: 62,702
Location: Farmingdale, NY

1992 Porsche 911RS RWB

What we like: RWB Porsches are not for the faint of heart, but the high-end Japanese garage is renowned worldwide. If you don’t mind — or can at least get past — the bodywork, RWB makes incredible performers. Everything from suspension to engine internals is scrutinized, reworked and upgraded. When it comes to overhauling a 911, RWB is the Yin to Singer Vehicle Design’s Yang.
From the seller: The exterior bodywork has been custom made and designed by the famous worldwide Nakai-San who specializes in tuning Porsche vehicles and is the founder of Rauh Welt Begriff. As with a lot of high-end Porsches in Japan, this particular example was sent to the Porsche specialists PROMODET for further tuning of its mechanics.

Mileage: 62,567
Location: Sheffield, United Kingdom

Read More

• 

  The Perfect Porsche Does Exist and It Wasn’t Even Built in Germany

Related Topics