{"id":7079,"date":"2023-10-30T09:56:09","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T09:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.design911.co.uk\/blog\/?p=7079"},"modified":"2025-11-03T09:51:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T09:51:10","slug":"some-drivers-do-own-em-russells-911-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.design911.co.uk\/blog\/some-drivers-do-own-em-russells-911-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Some drivers do own \u2018em: Russell\u2019s Porsche 911 story"},"content":{"rendered":"

Porsche owners are clear about why they own their cars, and it\u2019s the same reason we\u2019re in this business. We do it because we share Karl\u2019s passion for all things Porsche. Here, self-confessed \u201cPorsche addict\u201d and serial 911 owner Russell Quirk explains how an otherwise forgettable Michael Crawford film created a moment\u2019s memory that fueled a lifetime\u2019s love.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Russell modestly describes his collection as \u201csmall but growing\u201d and it is dominated by 911s. So, Russell \u2013 why this model? Is it the impeccable engineering, timeless design, or the cache of owning a standout, air-cooled classic? \u201cFor me, like for many other owners I guess, it goes back to being a kid. I loved seeing them parked up, or passing on the street, and occasionally in the movies. And one in particular.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Condorman Moment?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You\u2019ll probably not have seen Condorman (1981). Few have, and with good reason. Billed as an \u2018action-adventure romantic comedy spy story\u2019 it rates a poor 5.7\/10 on the industry\u2019s go-to reference point, IMDb<\/a>. It features the erstwhile Frank Spencer as a cartoonist who becomes inveigled in a Russian spy swap plot involving Oliver Reed. (Well, quite).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s notable for two things only. The obvious feature is Crawford\u2019s lamentable American accent, but for Russell, it\u2019s the high-octane car chase scene. Screen car pursuits are always<\/em> high-octane, but this one lit a fire in the young Russell because of one standout feature. The cars doing the chasing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this scene, which goes on for a while, Michael Crawford is pursued by baddies driving black 930 Porsche 911s.\u00a0 (You can view a snippet here<\/a>.) I was captivated by the perceived performance and the noise of the 911 in the movie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Back to the Future.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Fast forward 40 plus years and that obsession is realised in a solid collection of \u201cre-loved\u201d German engineering icons. Today, Russell is showcasing his restomod \u2013 a portmanteau of \u2018restoration\u2019 and \u2018modification\u2019, which comes courtesy of Rennsport, recently profiled<\/a> on our blog. He describes it as living in the space between Californian Porsche specialists Singer<\/a>, and the UK\u2019s equivalents Theon Design<\/a> and fellow Porsche re-imagineers Paul Stephens.<\/a><\/p>\n

His conversation with Paul Cockell, co-founder of Rennsport<\/a> was clearly a meeting of like minds. Russell describes Paul as a \u201cPorsche obsessive\u201d, who took Russell\u2019s car and faithfully backdated it while simultaneously improving performance to create what Russell describes as \u201cthe best of all worlds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Passion-fueled and air-cooled.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Russell believes that Porsche is, to some extent, missing a trick by abandoning the air-cooled classic for the 911 we see in the showrooms today. He describes it as being the car \u201cPorsche would like to make today, even though they\u2019ve taken the 911 in a different direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simplifying the modern incarnation as \u201cbigger, water-cooled, lots of driver aids\u201d Russell is keen to point out that \u201csome of us don\u2019t want ABS, power steering, stability control \u2013 an 800 bhp car that we essentially point and squirt from one corner to another.\u201d Instead, he believes the work of Rennsport, Theon, Singer and the rest are more in keeping with the original purpose \u2013 \u201cthe fundamental DNA of the Porsche 911\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Driven, not hidden.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

He also references the community of 911 owners, enthusiasts and the burgeoning cottage industry that supports them as being fundamentally different to those owning Ferraris or Lambos. \u201cPeople buy these cars to drive them, not leave them covered up in a garage somewhere\u201d. \u00a0And there are plenty of opportunities for the community to gather.<\/p>\n

Russell mentions the 60th<\/sup> anniversary of the 911<\/a> and the 75th<\/sup> birthday of the marque itself<\/a> as times and places for fellow Porsche owners to gather, admire the cars and just drive them. He describes a sense of fellowship. \u201cI love it. I really do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

While other cars may outperform the 911, they can\u2019t touch it for the qualities that separate these machines for the loyalty they inspire, the brotherhood they create \u2013 and the endless potential to create something new and beautiful from the original. Which is more than can be said for Condorman.<\/p>\n

You can watch the full feature here –<\/p>\n