Driven: Supercharged Theon Design 911 Is A New Take On And Old Favorite

Need to actually perceive Theon Design and what makes its restomod  Porsche 911s stand out in a sea of restomod 911s? Open the frunk.

I do know, the cargo bay appears a bizarre place to begin when discussing a $600k (£500k) Porsche whose uncommon supercharged flat-six is clearly its most evident speaking level. However to see contained in the fantastically completed frunk with its embossed leather-based panels and leather-wrapped RS strut-brace is to see and admire simply how a lot effort and care goes into making one in all these radically re-made 964-generation 911s.

As a result of if UK-based Theon takes this a lot hassle over making the baggage bay look good, and doing a bunch of different stuff that you simply’ll by no means even get to see except you’re the man who put it collectively in Theon’s workshop, like welding up holes that Porsche was joyful to fill with rubber grommets, simply assume how a lot effort has gone in to creating the vital bits work.

Just like the match and end of the reshaped fenders that are available both metal (as on this automotive) or carbon, relying on style and funds, and the carbon bumpers and spoiler fitted to each instance that assist lower the load to 1,265 kg (2,789 lbs) in its lightest configuration, down from the 1,350 kg (2,976 lbs) of the inventory 964 Carrera 2 donor. Or the setup of the suspension, whose five-mode dampers give the driving force the sort of flexibility to tweak the trip / dealing with stability that 911s didn’t get till 25 years after the 964 was first launched in 1989.

Associated: Theon Design’s Newest Porsche 964 Restomod Has A 3.6-Liter Supercharged Flat-Six

Images Chris Chilton / Carscoops

Or the supercharged engine that most likely hooked you into this text. Turbocharging has been a part of the 911 story for nearly 50 years, however the Belgian purchaser who commissioned this automotive, codenamed BEL001, particularly needed a supercharger. An uncommon request, perhaps, however one which fitted along with his general imaginative and prescient of a 911 that may be one thing with extra of a GT vibe than the high-revving, naturally aspirated Porsches Theon had constructed for earlier purchasers.

Extra muscle than a 964 Turbo S

So along with impartial throttle our bodies, flowed and ported heads, robust Carillo rods, customized cams and motorsport-grade pistons, the totally rebuilt motor now incorporates a compact Rotrex supercharger the place the air-con unit used to dwell. Twin cost coolers and water methanol injection to spice up gasoline octane have been chosen over intercoolers to keep away from reducing air intakes into the physique, and the completed motor sends its 400 hp (406 PS) and 367 lb-ft (498 Nm) to the rear wheels by the inventory five-speed handbook transmission.

Adam Hawley, the visionary behind Theon and former designer for large names like BMW, Jaguar and Lexus, tells me a six-speed transmission is feasible and the shorter, nearer ratios amplify the kick within the again. However with such a torquey engine, it’s sort of cool to have solely 5 ratios and to let the automotive stretch out and wind its means by the rev vary within the taller cogs. And since this supercharged motor has as a lot energy as Theon’s top-spec 4.0 naturally aspirated engine (milder 3.6 and three.8s will also be ordered) however an additional 52 lb-ft (71 Nm) of torque, a lot of it accessible from means down the rev vary, it actually acquired the muscle to allow you to try this.

There’s no apparent whine or step-change in efficiency to signpost the synthetic aspiration if you’re storming up by second and third gear, or cracking the fitting pedal extensive open in fourth to let all that torque hurl the automotive ahead. It simply seems like a extremely lusty unblown motor, effortlessly fast with luggage of energy in all places and an ideal snarl to the exhaust that by no means will get too intrusive, even with the energetic exhaust in its shoutiest mode. It is a GT, not a trackday weapon bear in mind. However again out of the throttle although, and the supercharger makes it presence felt with some vocal chirrups that the proprietor loves, however I’d fortunately lose. I reckon they’d get annoying as soon as the novelty had worn off, however you may disagree.

Constructed for actual roads

Chassis-wise although, I wouldn’t change a factor. Tremendous-stiff vehicles configured for monitor use hardly ever work effectively on the highway, at the very least not the UK’s nasty roads which can be stuffed with lumps and holes and have a pronounced crown within the heart. However as a result of BEL001 was conceived for the highway, it really works brilliantly, and that’s all the way down to the proprietor’s honesty about how, the place and when he would use it, and Theon’s interpretation of that remit.

This factor rides higher than many fashionable vehicles and crossovers, delivers the sort of satisfying steering really feel you don’t get on most of at present’s supercars, and even with the elective TracTive dampers in a gentle configuration, physique actions are nonetheless stored in test. It’s a type of vehicles you simply click on with earlier than you’ve even acquired out of first gear and found how candy the shift is.

Associated: Theon Design’s Newest Porsche 911 Has Carbon Physique And Screaming 4.0-Liter Flat-Six

Holding the chassis supple means the tires spend extra time involved with lumpy tarmac, and meaning you may bury the throttle even in soaking moist circumstances realizing you’re not going to abruptly find yourself staring out of the facet window to see the place you’re heading. That’s the sort of reassurance you need if you’re pinning the fitting pedal on a automotive somebody has paid half one million quid for whereas the person who constructed it and owns the corporate is sitting within the subsequent seat.

The seats in BEL001 aren’t as overtly sporty as those on the sooner CHI001, which was created with much less of a GT character in thoughts, however they’re each snug and ship loads of assist for highway use and the odd trackday. In reality the inside of this automotive general maybe lacks the wow of one in all Singer’s Traditional cabins (you didn’t assume I’d get by this overview with out mentioning the S phrase, did you?) at a really superficial stage, however that’s partly to do with the proprietor’s delicate alternative of GT-style trim with plain leather-based facings, and Theon being virtually too intelligent for its personal good with the end.

Inside seems manufacturing unit, however is much better

You see, just like the trunk, the inside is crafted so fantastically, you’d simply assume all of the intelligent bits, the door panels, the decrease console, the switchgear and the rear tunnel trim, have been OEM except you’re a bit a 964 geek and perceive that they’re on a distinct stage for high quality. All of which inserts with Hawley’s declare that he’s not making an attempt to reinvent the 911, simply improve what’s already there. One significantly tidy contact is the magnetic cellphone holder on the dashboard, that permits you to place your smartphone the place a radio could be and use it in the identical means.

Images Chris Chilton / Carscoops

A lot of the few negatives factors we discovered, just like the offset driving place, are inherent design faults with the donor automotive, whereas others, like a steering column that might do with some additional attain, and an electrical seat adjustment process that’s like making an attempt to get your entrance door key within the lock at 3AM after a dozen beers, might be simply fastened.

In reality, that actually is the great thing about these sort of conversions. They’re made in such small portions that the corporate has the pliability to adapt and enhance with every new automotive, and actively appears to relish assembly the challenges (like this automotive’s supercharger) laid down by the commissioning prospects.

It’ll Finish Up Costing You Over Half A Million

Which is simply as you’d hope on condition that Theon’s commissions begin at £380,000 ($457,000) plus native taxes and the price of a donor automotive, and the instance we’re driving most likely price 30 % extra. We may argue all day about whether or not it is sensible to spend £500k / $600k modifying a fundamental 964 Carrera 2 when you possibly can purchase a real 964 RS for half the cash, however what’s not unsure is that Theon places that quantity of blood, sweat and inventive tears into the 18-month-long builds.

And for what it’s price, at half a mill the Theon nonetheless is available in means lower than the $800,000 Singer was charging for its Traditional builds earlier than it stopped taking orders, whereas individuals with this type of cash to spend typically aren’t selecting between vehicles, as a result of many instances they’ve sufficient money to purchase a machine just like the Theon, and a 964 RS and half a dozen different vehicles we’d give our proper arm to personal.

Theon plans to construct round 30 of its 964 conversions earlier than shifting onto its subsequent program, one other Porsche-based one you is likely to be have the ability to guess with a little bit creativeness. And sticking with the creativeness theme, I doubt I’ll ever be ready to fee my very own Theon construct, nevertheless it’s onerous to not come away from this encounter questioning how I’d spec my very own. What would yours seem like?

Images Chris Chilton / Carscoops, Theon