Singer Vehicle Design

Singer Vehicle Design is an American automotive restoration and modification company based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2009 by Rob Dickinson, the former vocalist and guitarist of the English rock band Catherine Wheel, the company developed a distinctive business around transforming air-cooled Porsche 911s into bespoke, high-performance vehicles that combine period-inspired styling with modern engineering, materials, drivability, and luxury equipment. The company’s name refers both to Porsche engineer Norbert Singer and to Dickinson’s earlier career as a singer. Singer generally begins with a Porsche 964-generation 911 supplied for a client project and then undertakes an extensive re-engineering process. The work can involve replacing exterior panels with carbon fiber, revising the bodywork to evoke earlier 911 designs, rebuilding or replacing the engine, upgrading the chassis and suspension, improving braking systems, and redesigning the interior with custom materials and motorsport-derived components. The resulting vehicles are not conventional restorations: they are individually specified, technically modified interpretations of the original car. For its first several years, Singer’s principal offering was known as the Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer. After the introduction of additional programs, the original road-oriented model became associated with the Classic Study designation. Its design language typically combines the long-hood appearance of earlier Porsche 911s with the structural base and packaging of the 964. Details such as relocated fuel and oil filler caps, bespoke instrumentation, carbon-fiber panels, period-inspired trim, and highly finished mechanical components reinforce the company’s emphasis on historical continuity and craftsmanship. Engine development has involved specialist partners including Cosworth, Ed Pink Racing Engines, and Williams Advanced Engineering, depending on the program. Singer expanded beyond its original road-car formula with the Dynamics & Lightweighting Study, introduced in 2018 with Williams Advanced Engineering. The program placed greater emphasis on weight reduction, aerodynamic development, chassis engineering, and high-output performance. The company later introduced the All-terrain Competition Study in 2021, a rally-oriented project developed with Tuthill Porsche, followed by the Turbo Study in 2022 and the Dynamics & Lightweighting Study–Turbo in 2023. These programs broadened Singer’s scope from luxury restomodification into track, rally, and turbocharged performance interpretations while retaining the company’s bespoke production model. Singer’s business is characterized by low-volume, client-specific construction rather than mass production. Each vehicle is configured around a customer’s choices of body style, color, trim, materials, engine specification, transmission, suspension setup, and intended use. Publicly reported pricing places the entry point for a reimagined 911 above the high-end luxury-car segment, while unusual specifications and limited studies can reach substantially higher values in private sales or auctions. The company has also extended its design identity into associated lifestyle products, including wrist watches. Its reputation rests on the intersection of Porsche heritage, coachbuilt personalization, engineering performance, and collectible-car exclusivity.

Singer Vehicle Design was established in 2009 by Rob Dickinson, an English musician who had previously been the frontman and guitarist of Catherine Wheel. Dickinson’s interest in Porsche 911s led to a company focused on restoring and substantially re-engineering classic examples rather than merely preserving them in factory condition. The company’s name alludes to Norbert Singer, the influential Porsche engineer, while also reflecting Dickinson’s musical background. Singer’s original proposition was a bespoke interpretation of the Porsche 911 built around the 964 platform. Although the underlying donor car is from the 964 generation, the design frequently draws from earlier long-hood 911s. The company replaces or extensively modifies much of the car, including body panels, engine components, suspension, brakes, interior, electrical systems, and trim. Carbon fiber is used extensively in the bodywork, while mechanical development has involved specialist engineering firms such as Cosworth, Ed Pink Racing Engines, and Williams Advanced Engineering. The result is a client-specific vehicle intended to deliver the appearance and character of a classic 911 with more contemporary performance, reliability, comfort, and usability. For roughly its first nine years, the company’s best-known and effectively sole model was marketed as the Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer. With the later expansion of the portfolio, this original road-car concept became known as the Classic Study. Its visual and technical details include a long-hood-style front end, motorsport-inspired filler-cap placement, bespoke gauges, custom interiors, and a highly developed flat-six. Singer’s cars are individually commissioned, and the company’s low-volume process allows extensive specification of colors, materials, performance levels, and intended use. In 2018, Singer broadened its engineering ambitions through the Dynamics & Lightweighting Study, developed in partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering. This program placed more emphasis on weight reduction, aerodynamic work, chassis tuning, and competition-inspired performance. It demonstrated that the company’s approach could extend beyond elegant road-going restomods into a more systematic high-performance engineering program. Singer entered the rally and off-road field in January 2021 with the All-terrain Competition Study. Developed with Richard Tuthill and Tuthill Porsche, the project drew inspiration from Porsche rally cars including the 911 SC/RS, 953, and 959, but used an original heavily modified design. It featured reinforced construction, carbon-fiber bodywork, permanent all-wheel drive, a sequential racing transmission, long-travel suspension, adjustable dampers, and a twin-turbocharged flat-six. Although initially created for a client, Singer stated that it was prepared to build similar vehicles for other customers. A dispute over Porsche branding followed in March 2021; after Porsche objected that it had not been directly involved in producing the modified car, Singer removed the ACS from its website and social channels. In June 2022, Singer introduced the Turbo Study, its first turbocharged model. Based on the 964 chassis and inspired by the 930 Turbo, it combined a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six with a six-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. The program offered different performance configurations and included touring-oriented suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes, and modern comfort features such as heated electrically adjustable seats. A slant-nose variant was also offered with a stated production cap of 25 vehicles. The model was publicly shown at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed, with first deliveries identified for 2024. In June 2023, Singer presented the Dynamics & Lightweighting Study–Turbo. Limited to 99 vehicles, the model combined the DLS concept’s aggressive lightweight construction with turbocharged engine technology. Its 3.8-liter, four-valves-per-cylinder flat-six used twin turbochargers, electric wastegates, air-to-water intercooling, and an electrically driven fan. Singer described output as exceeding 700 horsepower at more than 9,000 rpm. Through these successive programs, Singer established a distinctive niche in the collector-car industry: highly individualized Porsche-based vehicles that use modern engineering while deliberately maintaining a strong visual and emotional connection to historic 911s. The company has also sold associated lifestyle products, including wrist watches.

• 2023

  Dynamics & Lightweighting Study–Turbo presented

  [1]Singer Vehicle Designen.wikipedia.org

  Singer announced a limited 99-vehicle turbocharged DLS derivative with a stated output exceeding 700 horsepower.

• 2022

  Turbo Study unveiled

  [1]Singer Vehicle Designen.wikipedia.org

  Singer introduced its first turbocharged production study, inspired by the Porsche 930 Turbo and based on the 964 platform.

• 2021

  All-terrain Competition Study revealed

  [1]Singer Vehicle Designen.wikipedia.org

  Singer and Tuthill Porsche developed a rally and off-road 911 study with reinforced chassis engineering, all-wheel drive, long-travel suspension, and twin-turbo power.

• 2018

  Dynamics & Lightweighting Study introduced

  [1]Singer Vehicle Designen.wikipedia.org

  Singer launched the DLS program in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering, focusing on lightweight construction, chassis development, and high-performance engineering.

• 2009

  Company founded

  [1]Singer Vehicle Designen.wikipedia.org

  Rob Dickinson founded Singer Vehicle Design in California to create bespoke restorations and re-engineered interpretations of Porsche 911s.

Ultra-premium, low-volume Porsche 911 restoration and re-engineering, positioned between concours-quality classic-car craftsmanship, motorsport engineering, and bespoke luxury manufacturing.

• Bespoke Porsche 911 restoration and re-engineering · 2009

  Classic Study

  Singer’s foundational road-car program, originally known as the Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer. It is generally based on a Porsche 964 and combines earlier long-hood 911 styling with carbon-fiber bodywork, a comprehensively reworked engine, upgraded chassis and brakes, bespoke interiors, and extensive client specification. The model is designed as a luxurious, usable classic-car interpretation rather than a factory-original restoration.

• High-performance lightweight Porsche 911 · 2018

  Dynamics & Lightweighting Study

  Introduced in 2018 with Williams Advanced Engineering, the DLS is a more technically focused interpretation of Singer’s 911 formula. Its program emphasizes extensive carbon-fiber construction, aerodynamic and chassis development, lightweighting, and a specially engineered flat-six. The vehicle retains Singer’s bespoke craftsmanship while targeting more serious performance use than the company’s touring-oriented commissions.

• Rally and off-road Porsche 911 · 2021

  All-terrain Competition Study

  Developed with Tuthill Porsche and revealed in 2021, the ACS is Singer’s rally and all-terrain interpretation of the 911. It uses reinforced construction, carbon-fiber bodywork, permanent all-wheel drive, a five-speed sequential racing transmission, long-travel suspension, adjustable dampers, competition seats, and a roll cage. The project was inspired by historic Porsche rally cars but used a substantially original Singer and Tuthill design.

• Turbocharged touring Porsche 911 · 2022

  Turbo Study

  The Turbo Study is based on the Porsche 964 and takes design inspiration from the Porsche 930 Turbo. It uses a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six, a six-speed manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive, touring-oriented suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes, and modern comfort equipment. Singer offered standard and sport-focused engine specifications, as well as a limited slant-nose configuration.

• Limited-production turbocharged performance Porsche 911 · 2023

  Dynamics & Lightweighting Study–Turbo

  The DLS Turbo is a turbocharged extension of Singer’s lightweight performance program, limited to 99 vehicles. Its 3.8-liter four-valves-per-cylinder flat-six uses twin turbochargers, electric wastegates, air-to-water intercooling, and an electrically powered fan. Singer described the engine as producing more than 700 horsepower at above 9,000 rpm, with styling influenced by historic Porsche competition cars.

• Lifestyle products

  Singer-branded wrist watches

  Singer has extended its design identity beyond automobiles into wrist watches. The watches are associated with the company’s broader collector-car and luxury-lifestyle positioning, although detailed product specifications and production information are not established in the supplied reference material.

• 2023

  Add a turbocharged DLS derivativeGeneration change

  Background

  Following the Turbo Study, Singer applied turbocharging to its more aggressive Dynamics & Lightweighting Study architecture.

  Action taken

  Singer presented the DLS Turbo, limited to 99 vehicles and using a high-revving twin-turbocharged flat-six.

  Aftermath

  The program reinforced Singer’s position at the intersection of collector-car customization and extreme performance engineering.

  Source

• 2022

  Introduce the Turbo StudyProduct launch

  Background

  Singer had established naturally aspirated road and lightweight performance programs and then developed a turbocharged interpretation inspired by the Porsche 930 Turbo.

  Action taken

  Singer unveiled the Turbo Study with a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six, manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, and touring-focused equipment.

  Aftermath

  The model extended Singer’s range into turbocharged grand touring and offered a limited slant-nose derivative.

  Source

• 2021

  Withdraw the All-terrain Competition Study from public channelsStrategy

  Background

  Porsche objected to Singer’s use of Porsche branding for the ACS, noting that Porsche had not directly participated in developing the extensively modified vehicle.

  Action taken

  Singer removed the ACS from its website and social-media channels after the branding objection.

  Aftermath

  The incident highlighted the brand and intellectual-property sensitivities involved when independent specialists extensively modify vehicles associated with a major manufacturer.

  Source

• 2018

  Expand into lightweighting and advanced performance engineeringProduct launch

  Background

  Singer’s original business centered on bespoke road-going 911 reimaginations. The company pursued a more technically intensive program with Williams Advanced Engineering.

  Action taken

  Singer introduced the Dynamics & Lightweighting Study, using carbon-fiber construction and advanced chassis and engine development.

  Aftermath

  The DLS established a separate high-performance direction within Singer’s portfolio while preserving its low-volume bespoke model.

  Source

1. 1Singer Vehicle Designen.wikipedia.org