{"id":14729,"date":"2026-02-28T10:00:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T10:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.design911.co.uk\/blog\/?p=14729"},"modified":"2026-02-28T10:15:58","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T10:15:58","slug":"porsche-964-chris-williams-air-ride-cruiser-with-a-vw-soul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.design911.co.uk\/blog\/porsche-964-chris-williams-air-ride-cruiser-with-a-vw-soul\/","title":{"rendered":"Porsche 964 \u2013 Chris Williams\u2019 Air-Ride Cruiser with a VW Soul"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s something about a 964 that just feels right.<\/p>\n

Maybe it\u2019s the upright glasshouse. Maybe it\u2019s the way the bonnet falls away in front of you. Or maybe it\u2019s that perfect in-between era \u2013 old-school air-cooled character with just enough modern engineering to make it usable. For Chris Williams, co-founder of Drv247<\/span><\/span><\/a>, the 964 wasn\u2019t just another car purchase. It was the natural next chapter.<\/p>\n

And it all started with a Volkswagen.<\/p>\n

From Corrado to Carrera<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cI\u2019m an old VW boy,\u201d Chris says with a smile. \u201cI had a Corrado for about 17 years. Modified the hell out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seventeen years is more than ownership. That\u2019s a relationship. The Corrado shaped his taste \u2013 subtle aggression, show stance, thoughtful details. But as time went on, Chris found himself wanting something more refined. Something with heritage. Something iconic.<\/p>\n

The answer? A 964.<\/p>\n

It took a year and a half to find the right one. Like most good Porsche stories, this one ends with an unlikely source \u2013 Facebook Marketplace. The Corrado stayed in the garage. The 964 took pride of place on the drive.<\/p>\n

And then something shifted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started to fall in love with it when I started to make my mark on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A Porsche with a VW Edge<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Chris hasn\u2019t built a factory-correct concours car. He\u2019s built his<\/em> 964.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a subtle VW influence running through it \u2013 that BBS-inspired look, gold hardware against carefully chosen wheel centres, a stance that feels deliberate without being cartoonish. It\u2019s show-car low when aired out, sitting almost on the floor. But thanks to air ride, it\u2019s practical when it needs to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like my show stance. But I also like being able to get over speed bumps.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s that balance that defines this car. Air ride gives flexibility. A short-shift kit tightens up the gear changes. A carefully installed sound system adds a modern edge without stripping away the analogue feel.<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s the drive.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Heavy Steering, 4,000 RPM Awakening<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Anyone who\u2019s driven a 964 knows the steering. It\u2019s not featherlight. It\u2019s deliberate. Mechanical. You feel the front end working.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe steering is heavy, like old cars,\u201d Chris says. \u201cBut that\u2019s part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Below 4,000 rpm, it\u2019s relaxed. Almost lazy. A cruiser. But push past that point and the flat-six wakes up, hardening in tone and urgency. Rear-wheel drive, modest power by modern standards, and a lightweight shell mean you can enjoy it properly on a B-road without needing supercar speeds.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt comes alive. You can have a little bit of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s the sweet spot of 964 ownership. It\u2019s not about outright pace. It\u2019s about feel.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Reality of Classic Ownership<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Before buying the car, Chris had the same worries many enthusiasts do.<\/p>\n

Can you get parts?
\nWill it become a nightmare?
\nIs classic Porsche ownership complicated?<\/p>\n

The reality surprised him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Porsche world is amazingly supported.\u201d<\/p>\n

From door seals and window rubbers to switches and service items, the supply chain around the 964 remains strong \u2013 especially when you\u2019re working with specialists who understand these cars inside out.<\/p>\n

Chris regularly turns to Design911<\/span><\/span><\/a> for parts and maintenance essentials.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never had an issue getting parts. Great quality. Always super quick.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a 35-year-old car, that kind of support makes ownership far less intimidating \u2013 and far more enjoyable.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To Ducktail or Not to Ducktail?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve owned a 964, you\u2019ve probably had the wing debate.<\/p>\n

RS spoiler. Turbo wing. Ducktail. Or keep it clean?<\/p>\n

Chris has been there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve debated it loads with friends. Should I put a wing on it?\u201d<\/p>\n

His rule? Sit on it for six months. If you still want it after that, go for it.<\/p>\n

So far, every time the six-month mark arrives\u2026 he decides against it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fine as she is.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s often the hardest decision of all \u2013 knowing when to stop.<\/p>\n

TLC Over Transformation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Rather than radical changes, the focus now is preservation. Sorting minor rust spots. Keeping the paint sharp. Maintaining the mechanicals properly. Respecting the fact that this is a mid-80s\/early-90s icon that deserves care.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a keeper for me. She\u2019s staying forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

That says everything.<\/p>\n

In a world of flipping cars and chasing the next thing, committing to a 964 long-term feels refreshingly old-school.<\/p>\n

Drv247 \u2013 Built for Enthusiasts<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Chris\u2019 automotive passion doesn\u2019t stop at ownership. After 25 years in car culture, he noticed something missing: a genuinely useful, enthusiast-focused mobile platform.<\/p>\n

So he built one.<\/p>\n

Drv247<\/span><\/span>\u00a0is designed as a tailored destination for car lovers. Servicing specialists. Parts suppliers. Detailers. Events. Brands. All curated and delivered in a way that\u2019s relevant to the individual user.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo more endless searching. It\u2019s just put to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The idea resonated immediately \u2013 especially within the Porsche world.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A Meeting at Hexagon Classics<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Like many good collaborations, the connection happened organically. Chris attended a meet at Hexagon Classics<\/span><\/span> \u2013 a venue known for serious metal and great atmosphere.<\/p>\n

He arrived in the 964.<\/p>\n

Anthony from Design911 spotted it. Questions followed. Conversations started. The shared enthusiasm for proper cars and properly supported ownership led to a natural partnership between Drv247 and Design911.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s exactly how the Porsche community works. Thumbs up on the road. Conversations at meets. Support behind the scenes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get that positive experience in Porsche ownership.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Why the 964 Still Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The 964 sits in a unique position in 911 history. It retains the air-cooled character that purists love, yet introduces ABS, power steering and improved suspension over earlier G-Series cars. It\u2019s analogue without being intimidating.<\/p>\n

Chris\u2019 car embodies that duality.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s respectful but personal.
\nClassic but not fragile.
\nLow and show-ready, yet driven properly on B-roads when the sun\u2019s out.<\/p>\n

And perhaps that\u2019s why the 964 continues to resonate with a new generation of enthusiasts \u2013 those who grew up around modified VWs, Japanese imports, and early 2000s tuning culture, and now want something with deeper roots.<\/p>\n

Chris didn\u2019t abandon his modifying mindset when he moved to Porsche. He evolved it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Forever Car<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cShe deserves respect,\u201d he says. \u201cBut I love cruising around in her.\u201d<\/p>\n

That sums it up.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t a garage queen. It isn\u2019t a trailer build. It\u2019s a car that gets used, appreciated, and improved thoughtfully over time. Supported by specialists. Backed by a strong parts network. And rooted in a community that still values the drive.<\/p>\n

Chris\u2019 964 isn\u2019t about chasing numbers or spec sheets. It\u2019s about balance \u2013 stance and usability, originality and individuality, nostalgia and modern convenience.<\/p>\n

And in today\u2019s Porsche landscape, that balance might just be the most valuable thing of all.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n