Singer Vehicle Design Goes Extreme During Monterey Car Week -- All-new Luxurious Gentleman's "Touring" Package Shares First Viewing With Over-the-Top Singer Sports Edition

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- During a weekend globally recognized for representing the "best of the best" within the glamorous world of fine motoring, Singer Vehicle Design (SVD), the dedicated coach-building company that restores and modifies existing vintage Porsche automobiles, is set to make a very bold statement – by showcasing nearly $2m-worth of restored vehicles throughout the Monterey Peninsula August 12 – 17, 2014 – and specifically, boasting the most extreme versions to be displayed by SVD yet.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7294051-singer-vehicle-design-extreme-montery-car-week-new-luxurious-sports-edition/

According to Rob Dickinson, creator and founder of SVD, the excitement for Singer this week is to present two sides of the restoration and modification work carried out by the company – beginning with an overtly luxurious gentleman's touring car and continuing with a completely over-the-top sports version.

For 2014, Singer Vehicle Design will exhibit one of its most unique hand-crafted customer cars throughout the prominent Monterey weekend of events, showcasing for the first time its "Touring / Deco Package". This package's stylistic elements invoke a gentleman's touring specification Porsche of the 60s and 70s.  Additionally a new 4.0-litre evolution of the revered air-cooled flat-six engine from the Porsche 964 will be shown. Developed by the renowned Porsche engine builder Ed Pink Racing Engines, this will be an option for upcoming vehicles to be restored by Singer.

Various Porsche 911s, re-imagined by Singer, will be both on display and driven by their owners at numerous locales including Gordon McCall's prestigious Motorworks Revival Event at the Monterey Jet Center; The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering; and WERKS Reunion Porsche Gathering in Carmel – with anticipated spot appearances throughout the weekend and at the Mazda Raceway.

According to Dickinson, the brand has become a global entity, with a broad base of fanatical followers that have been cultivated not by chance, but design.  "Our work reflects the human effort and passion that breathes new life into design icons, yet our modification efforts will always retain that DNA of a true 911.  Part of our mantra is NOT to make our vehicles look like custom cars, but rather to properly restore and transform each one with an exquisite level of taste that reflects the distinctive attributes of our selective buyers," said Dickinson. He works with each car's owner to create a unique, bespoke modernization.

"Silicon Valley comes to Quail"

Beginning with a customer's 1990 - 1994 vehicle, Singer Vehicle Design undertakes an extensive restoration of their customer's vintage Porsche, utilizing the 964 chassis and legendary flat-six engine to reimagine a true icon. The "Casablanca Beige" exterior colour of the 'Silicon Valley' car to be displayed at Quail, named for its final home destination, complements the Tobacco Brown leatherweave interior, and highlights the all-new "Touring / Deco" package. Among other special touches this package includes nickel-plated and effective rubber bumper running strips and rocker embellishments. The car epitomizes Singer's vision of a gentleman's touring express in its understatement and elegance.

Dickinson says the newest restored and reborn machine shown at Quail is the 17^th vehicle Singer has re-imagined to date.  There are six additional vehicles in process at any one time, with currently two heading to Hong Kong and another to the UK – and each of those three are right-hand-drive models.  Further commissions stretch deep into 2015.

"We are streamlining our services to reflect the increased demand for our work," said Dickinson.  With recent updates to the Singer facility, the unique level of personalization and customization still remain. He notes that the 'Silicon Valley' car in particular is a very highly specialized machine that includes a Cosworth developed 3.8L air-cooled flat-six engine producing 360 HP, coupled with a 6 speed gearbox and LSD. The car boasts suspension by Ohlins and upgraded braking by Brembo and of course Singer's signature carbon fiber bodywork, exquisite attention to detail and final execution described by many as 'a work of art'. Such world class artisanship comes at a price that nears the $490,000 mark. Each vehicle is restored by hand as a uniquely personalized and exquisite vehicle.

Ed Pink 4.0-litre engine

Also at Quail this year, Singer is proud to unveil their first 4.0-litre engine based on the 3.6-litre unit from the Porsche 964. Building on the strong foundation of their Cosworth-developed 3.8-litre engine, renowned engineers Ed Pink Racing Engines of North Hollywood have taken the evolution to the next stage with a 390HP unit that also produces a prodigious 315 LB/FT of torque at 6000 rpm from an array of bespoke parts supplied by Pankl, [crankshaft], Extreme [bespoke cylinder heads], Mahle [pistons and cylinders], Carillo [connecting rods], Rothsport [fuel injection] and AEM [engine management].

Singer believes this '4.0' represents the ultimate incarnation of a race-bred, road-mannered, normally-aspirated air-cooled flat six. Combining thrilling race grade, high revving horsepower with the tractability of muscular low- and mid-range torque, this '4.0' is the heart of a race car with manners for the road.

Shown at McCall's Motorworks Revival at Monterey's Jet Center:

As a counterpoint to the "Touring Specification" vehicle, Singer will also be presenting a car restored with a more overtly race-inspired character in mind. Dramatic "Namib Yellow" exterior colour is combined with Bone White Leatherweave interior and Singer's new White Nickel RSR wheel finish. Underlining its sporting intent, the car features Singer's centre race fuel cell with external fuel filler and external oil filler. Powered by the Cosworth developed 3.8L air-cooled flat-six engine producing 360 HP, via a 6-speed transmission with LSD the car epitomizes the marriage of sporting intent with everyday road civility - a real gentleman's racer for the road.

Singer Vehicle Design's "Nebraska" at WERKS Reunion:

The WERKS Reunion is the newest, premier Porsche event to take place during the world-famous "Car Week" on California's Monterey Peninsula and, included in the 2014 Porsche Club of America's stunning display of more than 500 Porsches, will be exactly one 1988 Porsche 911, restored and modified by Singer Vehicle Design.  Named "Nebraska," the Singer Racing White one-of-a-kind 911, will be displayed by its owner Martin Lauber and will showcase its beautiful Nurburgring Green Olive leather and suede woven interior, with complete body work in Carbon Fiber and all bright work in Nickel.  With a 3.82 L 410 BHP Ninemeister engine, this iconic gem boasts a 6-speed transmission with LSD and a Bilstein adjustable suspension. 

Singer Background:

Dickinson's company redefines the magic of air-cooled technology by reimagining a vintage icon as a coveted piece of exclusivity. Singer Vehicle Design (SVD), through its own hand-crafted artistry, is currently restoring cars for a global audience and is prepared to remain on the cutting edge for restorative work for Porsche owning enthusiasts.

Rising to fame as singer and guitarist for the rock band The Catherine Wheel, Dickinson has had a passion for cars since his childhood, but it was his desire to combine his restoration design ideas with the sweet melody of an optimized 911 engine that triggered an entirely new vocation.  A formal training in automotive design and a period working at Lotus prior to his musical career certainly helped shape his progressive ideas, and the decision to start development of his 'ultimate 911' was taken in 2008. 

"Our idea – indeed our obsession - has been to work with our customer to develop a meticulously restored and modified classic Porsche 911 that attempts to optimize the strengths while retaining the magical essence of this incredible machine," said Dickinson.  "We see this as a celebration of an icon a salute to the men who created it and the sheer genius of Porsche."

The result is a "halo" car that could claim to epitomize Porsche's old methods and the 37 year history of the air-cooled 911 for a new audience that never got to experience this magic originally.

Working with key Southern California-based partners – such as internationally-renowned motorsport engineers, Ed Pink Racing Engines and Mirage International, together with globally-recognized composite experts, Aria Group – Singer has gained invaluable credentials and experience that guarantees world-class production standards.  Ed Pink, Mirage and Aria share in Singer's passion for restoring and refining the iconic air-cooled Porsche 911® for its customers.

Dickinson further maintains that "the scope and ambition of this work we feel is unique, with extravagant levels of design and engineering integrity, studied development programs, attention to detail, and final execution rarely seen in the specialist automotive world – work that the term "bespoke" struggles to convey."

SVD's vision involves taking a customer's existing 964 model Porsche 911 (from 1990-1994) vehicle and performing both restorative work and cutting–edge modifications to update the cars' performance, aesthetics and modern day use-ability in an attempt to optimize its strengths, while preserving the essence and magic of the original. 

The engine program with Cosworth, and now Ed Pink, involves advanced theory and development in all areas including assembly techniques, cylinder head design with intake and exhaust optimization, all geared toward delivering a completely drivable power unit with maximum reliable power.

"This is a celebration of Porsche's genius," said Dickinson. "The fact that our work visually recalls the past is more a product of thoughtful consideration of the term "optimized" than a pre-occupation with nostalgia.  Sometimes the finest 911 characteristic comes from 1964 and sometimes it's lifted from 1997

SVD begins with a customer's car and repatriates the best 911 chassis of the early '90's with the most beautiful Ferdinand 'Butzi' Porsche coachwork from 1964. The company's view is about preserving a moment in time for the owner and capturing a snapshot of the air-cooled period of the Porsche 911. Dickinson concludes, "The essence of the Porsche 911 is vivid and unique –we're simply trying to bottle and preserve it for our customer to savor.''

Pricing and How to Acquire Singer's Services:

Singer works collaboratively with owners to personalize their machines to their specific tastes, be they grand touring opulence or hardcore road and track performance.  Customers configure a specification and costing of their machines via a comprehensive a-la-carte menu of options and services and present their Porsche 964s to SVD for a seven-month transformation. 

SVD has recently completed an exhaustive evaluation of the menu of restoration and modification services available which has resulted in an updated, post-development cost structure.  Prices reflect a no-expense-spared content, performance and design philosophy and meticulous build standards, with prices starting at $360,000 to acquire Singer's serves to comprehensively restore and optimize the owner's Porsche 911®, and typical pricing surpassing the $450K mark.

According to Dickinson, SVD's restoration process is a renewal that recreates a modern retro approach – taking an old basic car and gutting it first, to reinvent sheer perfection.  "We not only seam-weld, strut-brace, gusset and strengthen the monocoque, but we replace the front and rear bumper assemblies, bonnet, engine deck lid and roof – every bracket, hinge, mount and clasp is renewed.  Our partners from the Aria Group describe the carbon fiber we install as 'military grade' and our level of detail and precision, such as the regulation 4mm between each panel gap, comes from our enormous respect for this icon."

About Singer Vehicle Design

Singer Vehicle Design (SVD) is an automotive design, engineering and coach-building company that restores, modifies, tunes and customizes existing Porsche® automobiles.  SVD is dedicated to the passionate study, preservation and optimization of the world's most respected high performance vehicles through modern techniques and unique and fresh perspectives. Founded in 2009, SVD was created to explore the creative possibilities in existing and future vehicle design.   Singer does not manufacture or sell automobiles.

SVD is not sponsored, associated, approved, endorsed nor, in any way, affiliated with Porsche Cars North America, Inc., or Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche, AG (www.porsche.com). The Porsche® name and crest are trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG, and any other products mentioned are the trademarks of their respective holders. Any mention of trademarked names or other marks is for purpose of reference only.      

If Singer Vehicle Design performs restoration, modification, tuning, or customization services to any vehicle still under warranty from Porsche, such services may result in the warranty becoming void. If the Customer resells the vehicle, the Customer must truthfully identify that the vehicle has been restored, tuned, modified or customized by Singer Vehicle Design, that such services were not approved or endorsed by Porsche, and that Porsche is not in any way affiliated or associated with Singer Vehicle Design.

The product of Singer's painstaking effort is a Porsche 911® restored and reimagined by Singer.  Out of respect for Porsche, and to avoid trademark concerns, this incredible machine should never under any circumstances be referred to or described as a "Singer,"  "Singer 911,"  "Singer Porsche 911" or a ''Porsche Singer 911,'' or in any other manner that suggests that it is anything but a Porsche® 911®.   

Contact:  Deb Pollack for Singer Vehicle Design
(t) 805-320-9248   (e) [email protected]  
www.singervehicledesign.com

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7294051-singer-vehicle-design-extreme-montery-car-week-new-luxurious-sports-edition/

SOURCE Singer Vehicle Design