THE EUROPEAN COLLECTION

The porsche 911 european rs

Porsches are cool. Porsches are enduring. The 911 is arguably the ultimate, and certainly the most successful, sports car ever. The sheer number of original unmodified Porsches from 1965 to the present day being driven is testament to the eternal attraction of the Neunelfer. So it is no surprise that the 911 is also probably the most modified car on the planet – from highly personalised individual ‘Outlaw’ interpretations to re-engineered and detailed commercial reinterpretations produced in significant numbers.

So why another one? At Thornley Kelham we are long term classic -and modern – 911 owners and enthusiasts, and we have worked on many examples over the past 15 years. When we were approached by a (slightly fanatical) client, for whom we had previously painstakingly restored an Aston Martin DB4 from the ground up, with an idea for a new project – we had to listen.

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Recognising that the Porsche 911 has always been one of the most engaging sports cars ever made, the aim was to enhance its character to bring it in line with the expectations of a modern performance car owner. To achieve this, every part of the chassis was comprehensively assessed and updated to deliver the experience envisioned at the start, and to ensure that drivers can fully exploit the car’s performance.

Using suspension components including bespoke front wishbones based on the modern-day GT3, the standard passive set up includes JRZ Motorsport four-way adjustable coilovers with Eibach springs, and hollow, adjustable anti-roll bar to deliver markedly improved turn-in and precision. Agility and responsiveness are taken to the next level thanks to the Quaife steering rack, which – at just 2.5 turns lock-to-lock – is quicker than the 3.1-turns original.

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"The most engaging car I've ever driven."

Elliot Hughes – Magneto Magazine

Perfect in Every Detail

The updated interior is at once instantly familiar, yet thoughtfully updated to bespoke modernity. Hand-crafted, updated with new technology and outfitted with the finest materials, such as Connolly leather and Alcantara, as well as enhanced sound deadening for greater refinement – this is a car designed to be comfortable enough for everyday use.

One-piece carbon fibre Recaro seats, Momo Prototipo Black Edition steering wheel and repositioned gear lever for the G50 6-speed manual transmission, are subtle updates to the original, while the instruments retain their classic look but are re-engineered to suit the all-new electrical system and are set in a dashboard offered in a range of expertly-crafted finishes.

“More than half a century after its launch the 1973 Carrera RS 2.7 is still regarded by many as the ultimate driver’s car. It was used to homologate the ’73 Carrera RSR 2.8, which dominated in endurance racing in its debut year. As the most highly evolved 911 in the original style, and with a naturally aspirated race motor, I find the 2.8 the most charismatic 911. It is also the most exciting I have driven. It is the primary inspiration for this design.

“However being a race car, the motor is too highly strung for the road and refined detailing was not a priority. The beauty of a restomod is being able to combine classic rawness with refinement by keeping the light weight and involvement and adding drivability, elegance and improved aerodynamics. I chose my 997 GT3 RS 4.0 as the benchmark and together with Thornley Kelham worked to match its captivating performance, precision and progressive handling while ensuring the Porsche 911 European RS still fizzes with old school character.”

Hal Walter, Designer of the Porsche 911 European RS