Magical Realism

Singer conjures up a fantastical take on the 911 Turbo.

- BY LAWRENCE ULRICH

ROB DICKINSON, a former Lotus designer turned rock guitarist turned auto entrepreneur, has proved to be a master of fast-paced historical fiction. His reborn 911s are thrilling fantasies, a what-if melding of old-school analog technology with modern materials and performance, heightening and improving on reality. “You get a car that’s built by hand twice, once by Porsche and once by Singer,” says Dan Lackey, Singer Vehicle Design’s senior manager of global product experience.

At the base of Angeles National Forest near Los Angeles, I watch a transporter unload the “Fuji Commission,” a 503-hp air-cooled Classic Turbo that’s to be my playmate on some of the most congenial canyon roads in the United States.

Singer has delivered nearly 500 cars since its 2009 founding. While each of these creations is unique, there is an evolution similar to the 911 itself, with the inevitable march toward higher performance. The original Singer treatment with a naturally aspirated engine is no longer available. Forced induction is the new way forward in the awkwardly named Classic Turbo Services commissions, which are Dickinson's take on the original Turbo Carrera. Each buyer will pay $1.1 million-$1.4 million on top of the donor-car price for a one-off edition and take a three-year journey from inchoate longing to inner-child fulfillment.

A. (Previous pages) The bodywork looks stock at a glance, but every panel has been tweaked and tucked by Singer.

B. The engine bay is tidier than Marie Kondo's closet.