Porsche reimagineer Singer Vehicle Design regularly shares its creations on social media and has lately been highlighting a car known as the Düsseldorf Commission built to their Classic Services specification that is effectively the original Singer formula that is a love letter to the early F-body 911 era.
On the outside, the car has been finished in paint-to-sample Düsseldorf Black, with light ghosted Porsche script stripes, a center-mounted fuel filler with side-mounted oil filler.
At the heart of Düsseldorf is the expected 4.0-liter air-cooled flat six complete with 24-karat gold badging. It drives power to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. For improved stopping power, carbon ceramic brakes were also installed.
Inside, the car gets lightweight carbon fiber track seats covered in Osprey leather with woven leather seat centers featuring a black stripe and nickel grommets. The woven leather continues on the door cards and dash strip where you’ll also note brass badging. The lower interior section is also trimmed in leather and the rear compartment has been fitted with a racing harness bar.
Gauges are finished in black with grey markings. The gear shifter has a unique matte, anodized finish. Apple CarPlay navigation and air-conditioning were also part of the build sheet.
We’re particularly fond of Paint to Sample Porsches built in an era before Paint to Sample was a common occurrence. In this case, the color specification is Summer Yellow over black leather, made even better with 18-inch two-piece Speedline variants of the classic 964-era Cup 1 wheel design.
According to the dealer’s listing, this car is one of about five to have been built in this color. Whether that means five 1991 Turbos or five 964 Turbos isn’t clear. Beyond that, the early 1990s weren’t robust sales years for Porsche, with only 674 U.S. market 911 Turbos even being sold that year.
We do notice a few modifications, including an Alpine stereo with single CD player, and that also has bluetooth phone and audio streaming. We’re also seeing what looks like an original equipment 993 style rear window spoiler with built-in LED strip taillight, which may not have been in production in 1991 but is a superior design to the large rectangular third brake light application found in early 964 era 911s.
What: 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Reimagined by Singer Color: Green Blood Dark (unknown) Chassis #: WP0AB0960KS450700 Mileage: undisclosed miles Estimated Price: No Estimate CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Barrett Jackson Scottsdale 2025, Scottsdale, AZ Dealer listing:Link
Why we love it:
A dark green Classic Services restoration from Singer Vehicle Design is always a winner in our book, so the 911 you see here that’s part of Barrett Jackson’s upcoming Scottsdale 2025 auction is definitely worth a closer look and a healthy amount of lust.
We have a couple of questions about this Singer that we’d want to know and don’t seem to see in the listing. For starters, the listing isn’t specific whether it’s a Carrera 2 or all-wheel drive Carrera 4, but we’re deducing it’s the latter? Why, though both versions were sold in the European market, America only got the Carrera 4 in 1989. And while importing Euro market C2s are an “affordable” way into the rear-wheel drive 964 club, we think this is a U.S. car given the Barrett Jackson listing description does mention some damage activity in the CarFax report from 2014, nine years before the 2023 Singer reimagining took place. Even if it was a Carrera 4 from the factory, we suppose it could also have been converted to rear-wheel drive. Ultimately, that’s worth checking.
Another question we have is the name of the Commission. It seems like each Singer tends to take an identity of its own thanks to a mix of Commission nomenclature or simple nicknames. We’re seeing none in this listing, and for the new owner or the curiosity of Singer aficionados, this would be good to know.
The color is listed as Green Blood Dark, which isn’t a color we’re familiar with. In photos, it looks darker than a Porsche Irish Green yet lighter than Porsche Brewster Green. Frankly, it doesn’t appear far from Audi Goodwood Green, but ultimately that’s hard to tell from simply seeing photos.
Want more details on the car? We’ll print Barrett Jackson’s lot description below. Check out their website linked above should you want more details, photos or information on how to bid on the car.
Details
[source: Barrett Jackson]
This 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Reimagined by Singer is powered by a 4.0-liter engine built by Ed Pink and features high-flow catalytic converters. The engine is tuned by an Emtron ECU and features a ceramic inlet plenum to optimize airflow. The exhaust system includes a titanium muffler for weight reduction. This car’s drivetrain includes a 6-speed manual transmission. The body is equipped with a carbon-fiber roof for reduced weight. It has an external center-fill fuel system with a safety cell, and an external oil fill system. The suspension is an Öhlins Sport adjustable system, configured for canyon road use with 2-way adjustability. The braking system includes Brembo calipers with carbon-ceramic rotors. Michelin PS4S tires are mounted. Externally, this Porsche is finished in a custom Green Blood Dark paint with full clear paint protection film, and it also features nickel-plated bumperettes, raised decklid lettering and Singer script badging, all finished in 24-karat gold. The wheels are RS style, with nickel centers and black backgrounds, mounted with open lug nuts. The interior is trimmed with premium leather, including baseball glove-style Connolly Monza leather. The front seats are carbon bucket seats designed for reduced weight and improved support.
The cabin features black leather for the dash, roll tops, knee pads and pillars, with deviating color stitching. The steering wheel is a Prototipo with a bespoke finish, wrapped in black leather. A Piano Black shift knob is installed, and the carpeted floor mats are trimmed with square-weave in the body color. The gauge cluster is styled after early 911 models, with black faces, green markers and nickel trim. This car is also equipped with a PCRN stereo system with Apple CarPlay, as well as air conditioning. Additionally, the car includes a CTEK external battery charging solution under the front bumper and keyless entry with two custom Singer key fobs finished in Piano Black anodize. CARFAX shows damage report on 03/31/2014: Damage reported, minor damage to left rear and rear; Damage report on 05/10/2014: Damage repairs performed, repairs to left rear and rear.
We’re big fans of the road less traveled here, that’s not exactly a secret. This Tailored Driver is exactly that- finished in Porsche’s Midnight Blue Metallic (rare), with 1992’s 911 C2 Cab Rest-of-World only Turbo Look body optioned (more rare) Leather to Sample in an unknown light blue (incredibly rare). Per the listing this Tailored Driver is one of just 1,532 C2s optioned with the factory widebody, and has spent the entirety of it’s life in Germany. Being a 1992 model year example, importation to the US should be a breeze using a reputable vendor like Orchid Euro.
There are so many reasons we love this Certified Pre-Owned 911 GT3 RS in the used car inventory over at Porsche North Houston. For starters, it had us at Weissach Package 911 GT3 RS. We also seriously appreciate that the first owner didn’t just buy it to flip it, loging over 4,000 miles on the odometer before trading it in on whatever is next.
Still, we didn’t even get to the Paint to Sample decisions made on this specification. First, it’s Meissen Blue, a pastel or powder blue hue that dates back to Porsche 356s of the 1950s. In this case, the original owner also chose dark blue graphics on the bodywork and color-matched alloy wheels – both of these decisions being choices we can seriously get behind.
Want to see more? Check it out over at Porsche North Houston via the link above.
What: 1992 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.3 Color:Mint Green(mintgrün; non-metallic UNI; 22R; Porsche) VIN: WP0ZZZ96ZNS470XXX Mileage: 309 km / 192 miles Price: Upon Request CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Dipl. Wirt.-Ing. Manfred Hering, EARLY 911S e. K., Wuppertal, Germany Listing:Link
Why We Love It:
We’re hitting a theme this week of cars that have experienced color changes, and this one may be the most interesting yet. Get past the fact that it seems like you rarely if ever see a 964-generation 911 Turbo in Mint Green (much less one with less than 200 miles on the odometer), because that’s just the beginning of the story. You see, this car left the factory painted Paint to Sample Gulf Orange (gulforange; 019; non-metallic UNI; Porsche) with black interior.
According to the ad, the car received a full restoration presumably with color change by the massive classic Porsche dealer in Germany where it is currently for sale. They also have a comprehensive list of options. And while we suspect most all of it came on the car from the factory, the mention of a Mint Green shift knob and the sight of the mint green Porsche Tequipment steering wheel do make us wonder if those were fitted in the (Gulf Orange) car from new, or added when the car switched to Mint Green.
The list of equipment is as follows:
139 Heated seats, left seat 220 limited slip differential 40% 231 Michelin tires 288 headlight cleaning system 327 Radio “Symphony RDS” 340 heated seats, right seat 403 cup cast wheel, 17 inch 423 cassettes and coin containers 425 rear window wiper 437 Comfort seat on the left, electrically adjustable 438 comfort seat right, electrically adjustable 441 Radio preparation 481 manual transmission 488 Inscription German 490 sound package 494 additional amplifiers 499 version for the Federal Republic of Germany 562 Airbag driver and passenger side 573 air conditioning 605 headlight range adjustment 650 Electric sunroof 659 on-board computer 685 Split rear seats 930 rear seat covers, leather 975 trunk lining with velor carpet 981 leather interior without seat covers 983 front seat covers, leather X33 engine performance increase 911 Turbo XK7 shiftgearknob mintgreen XU1 Remote control central locking
Whatever the case, this is an incredibly unique car in an incredibly unique and period correct color. Mint Green had just been introduced at the time as one of the Carrera Cup colors. While uncommon in general, it was most common in the 964-era 911 Carrera RS, and occasionally seen on other period cars like 911 Cabriolets and the occasional 968.
In modern times, where we’re all a bunch of judgy Karens scrolling past click-bait graphics of celebrities whose houses mysteriously didn’t burn down in the L.A. fires, it’s hard to not be a little solemn at the idea of a MY2024 Porsche returning to the pre-owned lot with barely 1,000 miles on it. Find some grace though, because this one’s special and we’d argue the person who specced and owned it for barely 1K miles is still deserving… even if modern Porsche “used” status means a notable markup.
We’re going to make some assumptions here, but consider them educated guesses. We’re guessing your common quick flipper wouldn’t build a car like this. Okay, maybe a PTS allotment for the teacher’s pet client at Porsche Anywhere isn’t that rare, but subtle Dark Olive Metallic straight up and sans stickers or nostalgic livery nods isn’t your typical spec and flip behavior. Nor is fitting a set of custom fuchs-inspired Rotiform rally wheels finished in a muted and tasteful gold and then leaving them on for the trade in order to go to the new customer. We’re going to hat tip the builder of this car, for living his or her best life, building a tasteful thing and actually logging **some** miles before passing it on and likely taking delivery of some other brilliant specification we’ll be featuring here in six months.
What: 1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Color: “Paint to Sample Blue” (unknown) VIN: WP0AB2966MS411379 Mileage: 68 miles on Build Price at Time of this Writing: $550,000 with 11 days left of auction CarFax:Link Window Sticker: N/A Location: Charlottesville, VA Auction Listing:Link
Why we love it:
Frankly, we’re going to love any Singer, though the “Step on It” Commission is pretty unique. The color is simply stated as “paint to sample blue” so unspecified, but appears to be close to Porsche’s Albert Blue. The car is tastefully appointed, with red accents though the red wheels may be polarizing to certain buyers.
Another interesting point worth noting is that the CarFax lists the car as a Carrera 4, though the auction description states a Carrera 2 and with a limited slip differential. Perhaps it was converted.
Another interesting quality on this car is the mileage. The CarFax shows 84,000 logged since new, but a surprisingly low 68 miles since the build was completed. If you don’t want to wait in line but want a well appointed and practically new Singer Classic build, this car demands a closer look.
What: 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Color: Signal Green (signalgrün; non-metallic UNI; 22S; Porsche) Chassis Number: N/A Mileage: 9,347 km, 5,807 miles Price at Time of this Writing: €128,000 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Stowasser & Schmalzried, Weinstadt, Germany Dealer listing:Link
Why we love it:
This isn’t a pristine collector 964-era 911. Like a lot of European market 911s, this very early 964 (July 1989 first registration) has been loosely cloned to look like a 964 Carrera RS / N/GT or Cup including Cup 1 wheels, Recaro Pole Position seats and a few other things. Like a lot of these early 964s that became RS clones, some liberties were taken like black paint on the Cup 1 wheels, fitting later brakes that appear to be OEM, (a.k.a. “big reds”) and a few other things a real RS wouldn’t have. It may have also been track weaponized given the suggestion of a 3.8 engine rebuild and that color-matched cage. It’s intriguing for someone looking for a driver or track car, though likely red flags for a purist collector.
There are a few other things we note here. For starters, it’s not clearly stated that it’s a Carrera 2, though we’re guessing it is because C2s were available for Europe for 1989 even if they didn’t arrive in the USA until 1990. It’s also got some significant upgrades we found in the general marketplace site listing but not on the dealer site.
There’s another oddity. The listing translates that it was restored around 2010/2011. That’s likely when it received all of the modifications. However, its mileage logged is quite low, so it’s unclear whether the chassis has very low mileage or more likely that it has logged so very few miles since being restored and built.
Our next question is whether the Signal Green paint is factory Paint to Sample or a respray during the aforementioned restoration. Signal Green was a Carrera Cup color and the so cars in that color did happen on occasion. The dealer doesn’t list details here, and since it’s a European listing the inclusion of a VIN number for reference isn’t common. That’d be something worth checking for anyone thinking seriously on this car.
All that said, we’d still argue this car is worth the premium. For starters, a 964 Carrera 2 Coupé in decent shape will already run you into six figures. You’d never be able to build this car for that number, and the 3.8 and other mechanical upgrades suggests it’s more than just the usual basic RS clone bolt-ons. For someone seeking to make a more convincing RS clone, it wouldn’t take much more than removing that cage, respraying the wheels in either silver or signal green and getting some replica leather seat covers for those Pole Positions. No, it wouldn’t be real, but you’d be having an outlawed RS experience for about half the price of a similar condition Carrera RS. And, given it’s a clone and the price, you could drive it without too much concern over mile-ing up something as rare and collectible as a real RS.
And what of that green paint? Well, if it’s real and those miles are accurate then it’s still probably worth putting it back to factory specifications. That’d be a hell of a specimen for those purist collectors. And if it’s not, you still have a very unique thing. Unlike Maritime Blue or Rubystar that are more common in this era, Signal Green is decidedly rare. The actor James Spader was known to have one that he used in and around Los Angeles, which is great trivia to know if you own it. Also, real deal Signal Green 964s are anything but common.
This is one of our Euro market finds, so the usual caveats apply for our primarily North American readership. For Europe and other markets, we focus on cars older than 25 years, meaning a relatively easy import into the USA. This is often done by working with firms such as our friends at Orchid Euro, you can have the car purchased, transported to port, shipped to America and cleared through customs for clients seeking this sort of service.
What: 2005 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet Color: Paint to Sample Linen Grey Metallic (leinenmetallic; metallic UNI; 55; Porsche) VIN: WP0CB299X5S765815 Mileage: 83,277 miles Price at Time of this Writing: $44,911 CarFax:Link Window Sticker: N/A Location: Porsche South Bay, Hawthorne, CA Dealer listing:Link
Why we love it:
We’ll never tire of 997 and older generation Paint (and Leather) to Sample Porsche models as this was a time before social media notoriety, when you either found out about the Paint to Sample program through a forum, or through your well-informed Dealer. In other words, if you had about $4,000, some level of patience and a vision, there was a good shot your newly ordered Porsche would be a one-off. This particular Tailored Driver, painted in Paint to Sample Linen Grey Metallic which was introduced in the late 80s, is almost a light Champaign when the sun hits it at just the right angle. Combined with Cocoa extended leather and a 6-speed manual, this early 997 is a downright intriguing proposition for the aspiring Tailored Driver who has $45,000 burning a hole in their pocket.
