We’ve all been deep in thought about spending lottery earnings, a topic that causes the shadow of time to fleet past. If my numbers appeared, I’d scramble to my local Lamborghini dealer to dress bulls in vibrant colors before placing a ludicrously expensive order. They would then join other cars in my dream garage, but the Porsche 911 never secured a spot until now.
Who Are Theon Design And Why The Porsche 911?
U.K.-based Theon Design is owned by Adam Hawley, a successful automotive designer who’s worked for Lotus, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover.
Theon started with aspiration to build the perfect Porsche 911 while retaining its original driving charm and aesthetics. “I’ve always loved Porsche 911’s. They’re beautiful and practical” says Hawley.
Want a 500bhp racetrack monster with a six-speed gearbox and a Wavetrac limited-slip-differential capable of accelerating from 0-to-1o0mph in 6.5 seconds? No problem. Each car is bespoke to the customer and almost nothing is off limits.
They’ve built 18 cars in eight years: 15 custom and three restorations. Theon pours circa 6,000 hours into designing and building each Porsche 911.
What Is The Theon Design Porsche 911?
Many interesting Porsche 911 restomods have rolled out the doors of the unassuming barn nestled in Deddington, Oxford U.K., home to Theon Design. But I was there to drive restomod GBR005, a Signal Yellow Porsche 911 Targa stunner with 407bhp and 285 lb-ft.
This car has two carbon tubs bonded to the original chassis to improve stiffness. “This makes a huge difference in the chassis and delivers the same torsional rigidity as the Coupe” Hawley adds.
It sits on a steel monocoque chassis and features various bonded carbon fiber bits like an engine lid, hood, and bumpers. Its flared carbon wings cover thick rubber wrapped around classic 17-inch Fuchs alloys.
Quad exhausts sit flush against the bumper, and a neat active aero ducktail spoiler sits at the rear. Finally, there’s the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept-inspired door mirrors—the icing on this Bakewell tart.
The naturally aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six has Theon-engineered motorsport-quality aluminum cylinder heads and a switchable ceramic-coated exhaust system. Likewise, there’s a new intake and a single-mass flywheel, while a 993 RS six-speed manual ‘box delivers power to the rear wheels. Handling upgrades include switchable five-stage Tractive electronic dampers, Eibach suspension springs and 993 RS brakes.
Inside, the yellow steering wheel center line, center console stitching, and tartan touring-style front seats complete the car’s vibrant persona.
It’s not an uncomfortable racer with roll cages and rocker switches but a usable Porsche with luxurious leather, a Focal audio system and air conditioning. The mohair targa top can be removed for warmer days. It can also be stored in the car’s trunk—that couldn’t be done with the original car.
Driving The Theon Design Porsche 911
Driving a slightly broken Porsche 964 first was a must before GBR005: a before versus after.
Five minutes into the drive, Hawley and I were shoving it backward while it emitted clouds of blueish smoke from its offset exhaust. But like GBR005, this car would soon be dissected by Theon’s boffins as it’s transformed from clunker to stunner.
GBR005’s engine rumbles to life before settling to a lumpy idle—a by-product of the individual throttle bodies (ITB)—while a dashboard switch opens the exhaust valves, releasing a throaty bellow.
Stomp the gas and the flat-six crescendos while letting off releases a raspy symphony accompanied by percussive bangs and pops. It’s gloriously obnoxious.
Peak power arrives at 7,700rpm while 285lb-ft is available at 6,650. And despite what the RPM figures suggest, it’s incredibly responsive at low revs because of the ITBs and lightened flywheel.
Keeping your foot planted causes trees and road signs to arrive rapidly. Yet, it’s easy to power down a backroad without fear that you’ll destroy a farmer’s field, fence, the car and your ego. Fun over, pushing the exhaust valve button mutes the engine and it returns to a semi-docile state.
Despite being low-slung, it doesn’t crash over potholes. Nor did it conjure back pain—something I often find with modern sports cars—and as you can probably tell, it handles incredibly well.
I felt special sitting behind the wheel, not because I was transmitting a flat-six harmony through the English countryside via a classic yellow Porsche, but because of how unique this machine is.
They say cars are an extension of your personality and after the drive, I felt like I had met the owner. I knew what they liked and didn’t with a car, and why they specced GBR005 in this way. It’s designed for touring the Swiss Alps rather than racing Silverstone.
Theon Design Porsche 911 Price And Verdict
If you are a lottery winner or are looking to spend hard-earned cash on a Porsche 911 restomod, the Theon Design guise is hard to beat.
It’s priced from £410,000 for a coupe, while the Targa is £430,000. “It’s a process that our clients enjoy. It’s a journey to design and engineer a car for them, and each car is different.”
It’s a lot of money, and I could easily buy two used supercars with my pretend lottery earnings, but would these be as special? Not only is the Theon Porsche 911 unique to the buyer, but it’s a story maker, and it could run through your family tree for years.
This article was originally published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
Look back on the week that was with hand-picked articles from Australia and around the world. Sign up to the Forbes Australia newsletter here or become a member here.
