Thornley Kelham’s latest Porsche 911 restomod is the first customer-commissioned project in its European Collection.
First Drive: This 1968 Mercedes-Benz ‘Pagoda’ SL Is an EV Restomod That’s Better Than the Originalwith a roof-chopped hot rod. The Lancia Aurelia B20GT in question had won its class at Le Mans in 1951 and finished second in the Mille Miglia that same year. Then, midway through its competition career, an angle grinder was taken to the windshield pillars— presumably with aerodynamics in mind—inadvertently creating one of the coolest race cars of the period.
Like the Aurelia Outlaw, the European RS evolved from a specific customer request. Retired architect Hal Walter had always dreamed of designing his own Porsche 911, and so, when the Covid lockdown put his life on hold, he did just that. The 36-page specification he emailed to Thornley Kelham delved into every detail, from the window winders to the exhaust tips.
Three engine options are offered by Thornley Kelham when it comes to the European RS. Walter’s car has the stock setup: a 3.8-liter flat-six based on an enlarged 993 block, then modified with billet aluminum cylinder heads, custom camshafts, forged Mahle pistons, and individual throttle bodies.
From the moment its wheels begin to turn, though, the 911 feels joyously alert and alive. Strapped in tight with a four-point harness, I feel hard-wired into the car, sensing its lightness and delicacy in every action and reaction. The lovely Momo Prototipo steering wheel tingles with feedback, the floor-hinged AP Racing pedals are perfectly placed, and the elongated shift lever, with its Lotus-like exposed linkage, has a notchy, well-oiled action.
The car wears track-focused Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, so we don’t come close to unsticking it on the narrow, hedge-lined lanes.A great thing about restomods, of course, is that they can be tailored to your taste. So if you want a softer setup, perhaps with adaptive suspension, steel brakes air-con, and smartphone-compatible infotainment, Thornley Kelham can oblige.
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