For the Porsche perfectionist, it’s as much about the detail as the big picture stuff. Because when you know, you know, Porsche probably attracts more expert commentary than any other marque. This 996 Turbo project is a great case in point…

It’s difficult to set parameters on a labour of love. It takes as long as it takes and costs what it costs to realise the dream. In specialist Porsche independents Autofarm we have the vision to imagine the possibility, and with Design 911 on board there’s the expertise and supply to deliver the parts that make this a reality. So, what have you got, fellas?

Less is more. Discuss.

This video is as much about what you don’t see, and the details that the non-purist might miss as the touches that are visible to the naked eye. After all, with the Porsche 996 Turbo as the base model, it’s not as though a complete makeover is needed. It’s a beautiful car, and restraint is key. This is more about tweaks and touches than an up-on-the-ramp, socket-sets-to-the ready project.

A 996 for 2024

Launched in 1998 and fitted with a water-cooled six-cylinder horizontally opposed engine, a more powerful version of the earlier air-cooled mill, it prompted debate by heralding the end of the air-cooled concept. It also turned heads with a bulked-up body and chassis. It outsold every previous incarnation of the iconic 911. So, whether you’re an air-cooled purist or water-cooled innovator, this is a landmark car. Respect is due.

Great minds….

And it is indisputably shown by all parties as this video handsomely proves. As narrator Anthony Malone, Sales Strategy Head at Design 911 and Autofarm MD, Mikey Wastie, discuss, the client’s wish list became an actionable brief enabling both parties to contribute their expertise in creating amazing from the merely special. The overall vibe was to have something ‘OE plus’, and to ‘look as if Porsche made it’, which makes plenty of sense. The colour, a smooth variant of the classic British Racing Green, as a given, and from thereon in the changes were both cosmetic and integral.

 

Bumper to bumper.

For example, the GT 2 bumper was swapped out, one of many chassis reconstruction options, while RSS upgrades replaced the standard issue engine mounts. The already “nicely specced interior” was enhanced with an Alcantara roof lining, and colour-matched seatbelts add a flourish of creativity. Headlights, bonnet badges, all the trims – everything was considered and referred back to the original client list, and mapped to Design 911s enormous parts list. As we mentioned from the outset, sometimes a refresh project is as much about what isn’t visible as what’s obvious. The headlight trays and adjusters are all brand new.

Where to start?

So, where does the 996 owner who wants to get that bit more from their car begin? Mikey is clear: “Start with the mechanicals”, he advises. “Focus on the driving experience first. You can have a car that looks pretty but it doesn’t satisfy you behind the wheel. When the car’s set up properly you just want to do more miles.” And while the 996 is great “out of the box” he suggests starting at the end by switching out the exhaust: “sometimes you just want something more in keeping with how Porsches used to sound in the 70s.”

The suspension is thrilling me!

While Mikey is quick to comment on Design 911’s “very good range” of suspension upgrade options, with each brand doing a slightly different thing depending on how – and where – the owner drives their car, sharpening up the ride on this project car didn’t require root and branch replacement, though, with the in situ KWs supporting the faster road ride the client prefers. Replacing bushes and components with OE parts such as coffin arms, diagonal arms pays high dividends for considerably less outlay than a full rip and replace strategy.

We all lose a little lustre as we age, and the calipers on the 996 are no different. The seals deteriorate, the lacquer flakes, creating a minor issue in both form and function. A rebuild was needed here, although straight replacements aren’t hard to find at Design 911, and neither is any worldwide destination thanks to the installation of a super-modern satnav.

More here!

Want to finish the story? It’s right here. Ready to realise your Porsche dream but not sure where to go for inspiration? The cars on Autofarm’s site is a thing of beauty, while Design 911 has the nous – and nuts – to make your dream car a road-holding reality.

 

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