AUTOART 993R

British Porsche 911 specialist aims to deliver the optimum 993 experience

- MATT PRIOR

TESTED 21.7.22, ESSEX ON SALE NOW

While Californian Porsche tuners get bags of attention, British specialist Paul Stephens has long been W quietly going about buying, selling, maintaining and, under the Autoart banner, tweaking old 911s at his site near the Essex-Suffolk border.

Recently a customer asked him to take a 993-generation 911 and turn it all up a bit - about 25% all round, please, Paul - and this is the result. They've called it the 993R, and while we have here a development car, it will become generally available.

It's based on the basic Carrera 2, so unlike the hotter 993s, which had wider bodies, this car is as narrow as it can be. I quite like that idea.

Then a lot of weight has come out of it, much from the interior but also plenty outside with the adoption of an aluminium bonnet, lighter side and rear glass, composite (meaning really good glass-reinforced plastic) front and rear bumpers and sunroof deletion. The seams are then welded (and a roof gutter removed) and a discreet roll cage is installed.

Inside, all the panels and the dashboard are removed and the wiring loom replaced. The central locking, glovebox, stereo and electric windows are removed and the air-con is replaced with an electric system mounted at the front. There are no airbags. The seats are carbonfibre Recaro items. All told, weight has been reduced from 1370kg to 1220kg.