Personally, I just love the Porsche 930 Turbo, especially the 3.3-Liter version made between 1978 and 1989, with nearly 19,000 units made at Zuffenhausen, Stuttgart in West Germany, it shouldn’t be a rare car, but with the last one leaving the factory doors over 30 years ago, you will understand not all of these still exist, so finding a pristine example could be difficult and costly, as the average value at the time of writing is about $130,000.
But you’ll also have to admit we are talking about an old sportscar now, the first ones were built four decades ago, and with the engine sitting so far at the rear of the car, it takes practice to drive a Porsche 930 Turbo near her limits, this specific car actually got nicknamed ‘The Widowmaker’, back in 1975, when the first version was introduced, this was the very first turbocharged production car from Porsche, she got this nickname because we’re looking at a rear-wheel-drive car, a relatively short wheelbase, and at that time there was a serious turbo lag, so the power could kick in when the driver wasn’t expecting it.
So what do you do in 2022, when you finally managed to amass the required finances to get your childhood dream car, but you still want modern amenities … you turn to Singer, founded in California in 2009, who just released their stunning Porsche 911 Turbo Study, a modern interpretation of the classic Porsche 930 Turbo, but despite looking like a 40-year-old car, this is a contemporary supercar ready for the 21st century.
Notes Rob Dickinson, Founder, and Executive Chairman, Singer Group Inc. : “My first ever ride in a Porsche 911 as an 11-year-old in 1976 left me dry-mouthed and speechless – it was a black 930 Turbo with red tartan seats. Forty-five years on from that life-changing moment I’m excited to present the results of our study that aims to capture the awesome thrill of Porsche’s first ‘supercar’ while reimagining its performance and refinement and collaborating with owners to take both to new heights. I believe it’s a fitting tribute to a car that changed my life and many others.”
The car seen in these photos is actually a customer car, which put the focus on performance while retaining a luxury grand touring experience, finished in a beautiful Wolf Blue shade over a lightweight carbon fiber bodywork, instead of the 3.3-Liter turbocharged engine from the Eighties, the Singer Turbo Study gets her power from a 3.8-Liter twin-turbocharged, intercooler flat-six engine that delivers over 450 hp through a six-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels only.
All these Singer restored Porsche 911 take the Type 964 engine as a starting point, this Turbo Study received an evolution of the ‘Mezger’ air-cooled flat-six, enlarged to 3.8-Liter and fitted with two turbochargers with an electric wastegate, bespoke air to water intercoolers while the black ‘sharkfin’ on the sides, in front of the rear wheels, has been redesigned into a functional air intake, on this car the engine is tuned for 450 hp, but that’s just a starting point, owners can request a higher figure.
Singer created their first ADW Classic Study back in 2014 already, and this also means this new Turbo Study is available in either all-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive only, whichever the customer prefers, and while the entire body has been reimagined and made from carbon fiber, it is inspired by the iconic DNA from the mid-Seventies, but with optimized aesthetic and functional performance.
If the client wants more performance, Singer can derive more power from the engine thanks to the use of forced induction, and overall driving experience can be made specific to each customer with a different suspension configuration, a custom sports exhaust system, turbo-specific brakes with ABS naturally, while optional Carbon-ceramic discs are possible too, and just to keep it all in check, Singer offers traction control on their cars too.
And the amazing looks on the outside are taken into the stunning interior too, this specific car is fitted with a Malibu Sand upholstery boasting Black Forest wood accents for a luxury look, naturally, these leather seats come with heating and are electrically adjustable, while cruise control is available for longer drives behind the wheel of this beauty.
Notes Mazen Fawaz, Chief Executive Officer, Singer Group Inc. “We’ve more than doubled sales of our services between 2020 and 2021. Our new, much larger, consolidated facility in Torrance, California enables us to expand the team, respond to demand, and welcome owners in comfort. Meanwhile, in the UK, our team is carefully executing each of the restorations enabled by the Dynamics and Lightweighting Study. The response to the Turbo Study from owners has been incredible and we look forward to working with each of them as their restorations progress.”
We will be able to admire the new Singer Turbo Study at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK from 23-26 June 2022, where she will not only be on static display but she’ll be taken onto the famous track too, so we can not only see her but also hear the roar of the twin-turbocharged flat-six. If you live in the United States you’ll have to wait until the 2022 edition of Car Week in August when Singer brings the Turbo Study to the Monterey Peninsula in Northern California.
For now, we’ll have to be content with some more beautiful photos of this first unit of the Singer Turbo Study.
Press Release
LOS ANGELES – February 09, 2022 – Singer, the California-based, luxury specialist, presents the
Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer – Turbo Study. The Turbo Study is a response to requests from owners for restoration services that incorporate turbocharging and celebrates the iconic 930 Turbo launched in 1975.
The next generation of services from Singer encompass:
- Collaboration with owners on the first road-going restorations to feature forced-induction
- Highly capable grand-touring, sports and everyday performance
- The iconic turbo body, whale tail spoiler and shark fin – reimagined
- A balance of luxury and sporting character tailored by each owner for their car
Notes Rob Dickinson, Founder and Executive Chairman, Singer Group Inc.
“My first ever ride in a Porsche 911 as an 11-year-old in 1976 left me dry-mouthed and speechless – it was a black 930 Turbo with red tartan seats. Forty-five years on from that life-changing moment I’m excited to present the results of our study that aims to capture the awesome thrill of Porsche’s first ‘supercar’ while reimagining its performance and refinement and collaborating with owners to take both to new heights. I believe it’s a fitting tribute to a car that changed my life and many others.”
Summary Technical Specifications
The car in Wolf Blue presented here shows a Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer, specified by its owner using the results of the Turbo Study to reflect a personal vision. This owner has pursued a focus on high-performance, luxury grand touring capabilities, including:
- Lightweight carbon fibre bodywork in Wolf Blue
- 3.8L twin turbocharged, intercooled flat-six
- 450 or 510 HP
- 6-speed manual transmission
- Rear-wheel-drive and touring-focused suspension
- Carbon-ceramic braking system
- Interior presented in Malibu Sand with Black Forest wood accents
- Electrically adjustable, heated seats
- Air-conditioning
Engine
As with all Singer’s restoration services in collaboration with owners of the Porsche 911, the Turbo Study takes the Type 964 generation of air-cooled cars as its starting point. The study features a new evolution of the “Mezger” air-cooled flat-six. Now in 3.8L form, the engine features twin turbochargers with electric wastegate. Bespoke air to water intercoolers are mounted inside the intake plenums. The ‘shark fin’ on the rear fender is reimagined as an intake and supplies cold air to the engine bay to optimize combustion and cooling performance. In response to owners’ preferences, the study enables power outputs starting at 450 HP.
Advanced materials
A bespoke carbon fibre body maintains the careful balancing of iconic DNA with cutting-edge engineering and material science. While inspired by the turbo cars of the mid-70s, the bodywork is reimagined to optimize aesthetic and functional performance. As always, the use of carbon fibre allows reduced mass and enhanced stiffness, further sharpening dynamic responses in the manner that Singer’s clients have come to expect and enjoy.
Drive
The results of the Turbo Study also reflect Singer’s habitual focus on constant optimization and technical development. The study draws on all-wheel-drive experience that has been developed in-house since the first AWD Classic Study restoration, undertaken in 2014. In recent years this experience has been brought together with research into turbocharging and high-performance ride and damping expertise.
Accordingly, in response to owners’ requests, both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive restorations may be enabled by the Turbo Study. An owner may decide to specify the AWD configuration to enhance sure-footed deployment of power and torque in all seasons and surface conditions. The RWD configuration allows owners to pursue an alternative sporting focus, if preferred. In both cases, an optimized six-speed manual transmission underlines the driver engagement that Singer is renowned for.
Performance
The use of forced induction enables power outputs starting at 450 HP. Refinement is enhanced, with reduced noise levels and the ability to opt for more compliant damping and suspension performance. This allows owners to focus on long-range, high-speed touring capability if desired. The availability of turbocharged torque allows for effortless speed-matching from alpine pass to autobahn, together with deep reserves of overtaking ability.
A higher power output may also be specified by the owner. If a more overtly sporting focus is preferred, a sports exhaust system and suitable damping characteristics can be tailored as required.
The collaboration between Singer and owner enables all points in between, from refined grand touring to sports focus, to be accommodated. Immensely powerful, turbo-specific, brakes, ABS, and traction control sit in reserve for the moment they are needed. Carbon-ceramic discs are available if desired by the owner.
Inside, the results of the Turbo Study enable owners to respond to the demands of all-season touring if they wish. Heated, electrically adjustable seats and cruise control are available for comfort during cold-climate driving and for convenience on high-speed road networks.
Price
Prices for restorations enabled by the Turbo Study are dependent on the specification requested by the car’s owner. As always, clients are able to engage the special wishes department to discuss their personal requirements for further bespoke engineering, in collaboration with Singer.
Notes Mazen Fawaz, Chief Executive Officer, Singer Group Inc.
“We’ve more than doubled sales of our services between 2020 and 2021. Our new, much larger, consolidated facility in Torrance, California enables us to expand the team, respond to demand and welcome owners in comfort. Meanwhile, in the UK, our team is carefully executing each of the restorations enabled by the Dynamics and Lightweighting Study. The response to the Turbo Study from owners has been incredible and we look forward to working with each of them as their restorations progress.”
In public
For those keen to see and hear the results of the Turbo Study in person, the car will be running at Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK from 23-26 June, 2022. It will then travel to the Monterey Peninsula in Northern California for Car Week in August 2022.
Singer’s automotive services now encompass both normally aspirated and turbocharged sports cars for the road. The results of the Classic Study allow owners to pursue their personal vision for optimized, air-cooled 911 coupes and Targas.
The results of the Dynamics and Lightweighting Study, allow owners to explore the ultra-high-performance capabilities of their air-cooled 911, incorporating technology born from the world of Formula 1.
The results of the Turbo Study extend Singer’s services on behalf of owners into the world of turbocharging. Over the coming years, the definitive collection of iconic design will continue to grow.
Singer Summary
Founded in California in 2009, Singer represents a philosophy simply expressed as
A Relentless Pursuit of Excellence.
The company has become renowned for its collaboration with owners of the air-cooled Porsche 911 to reimagine bespoke restorations. Singer’s philosophy embodies:
- A highly personalized approach and exquisite execution, guided by the Singer mantra Everything is Important.
- A passionate focus on iconic design and a homage to the world’s most iconic sportscars.
- Modern engineering and material science combined with jewel-like details.
- A deep connection with California and its automotive zeitgeist.
Over the past decade Singer has become a luxury brand with a global clientèle and is now synonymous with the concept of Reimagining – bringing together heritage with twenty-first century engineering and material science. The brand has been growing beyond car culture, with an award-winning Swiss watchmaking division, Singer Reimagined, launched in 2017.
Singer Quick Timeline:
2009 – Company founded; first restoration presented at Monterey Car Week
2014 – First all-wheel-drive and Targa restorations completed
2017 – Singer Reimagined watch company launched
2018 – Results of the Dynamics and Lightweighting Study presented at Goodwood and Monterey
2021 – Results of the All-terrain Competition Study presented
2022 – Results of the Turbo Study presented
For now, we’ll have to be content with some more beautiful photos of this first unit of the Singer Turbo Study:
But you’ll also have to admit we are talking about an old sportscar now, the first ones were built four decades ago, and with the engine sitting so far at the rear of the car, it takes practice to drive a Porsche 930 Turbo near her limits, this specific car actually got nicknamed ‘The Widowmaker’, back in 1975, when the first version was introduced, this was the very first turbocharged production car from Porsche, she got this nickname because we’re looking at a rear-wheel-drive car, a relatively short wheelbase, and at that time there was a serious turbo lag, so the power could kick in when the driver wasn’t expecting it.
