BACK in 1975,
There were practical reasons for going the supercharged route, too. "The customer requested a car that combined classic
In simple terms, a turbocharger harnesses the flow of exhaust gases to force-feed air back into the engine. The downsides can be tardier throttle response ('turbo lag') and a stifled soundtrack. A supercharger is driven directly off the engine's crankshaft, making it less efficient but quicker to react. Oh, and they also make a great noise.
Studious readers will recall that we drove Theon Design's 'CHI001' 911 last year, which developed 400hp from a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six. This new 'BEL001' commission (so-named because its soon-to-be owner lives in
To Joe Public, this bespoke restomod simply looks like a nice classic 911, but those in the know will clock the swollen wheelarches, deep-dished Fikse alloys and millimetre-perfect stance. Its steel body (carbon fibre is an option, saving 110kg) is painted a custom colour inspired by
Unlatch the rear lid and a
BEL001's interior is also reassuringly old-school, with haphazard 911 ergonomics, analogue dials and no glaring touchscreens. Look closer, though, and you realise the plastic switches have been remade in milled aluminium, while the
There's a neatly concealed Bluetooth audio system, too, but I was quite satisfied with the sound of the air-cooled six: a mechanical snarl augmented by the subtle whine of the supercharger and angry hisses of expelled air. With just 1,265kg to shift (a new 992 Carrera weighs 1,505kg), acceleration feels effortless, a smooth, soaring rush to the redline that's the antithesis of the wham-bam old 911 Turbo.
Like CHI001, this car rides on five-stage Tractive adaptive dampers, but here the settings are softer. On tightly coiled lanes in the Cotswolds, it breathes with the road, feeling supple yet sure-footed - and joyously compact compared to any 21st century supercar. Its hydraulic power steering babbles with constant feedback, while the rebuilt five-speed manual 'box is Teflon-slick. All that supercharged torque means you never want for a sixth ratio, either.
For all its enhanced ability, this is still a 911 you could drive every day, just as
(c) 2023 City A.M., source