Singer makes some of the world’s finest reimagined Porsche 911s. Louis Vuitton makes some of the world’s finest luxury goods. Now, they’ve combined forces to create two very special 911s.
The collaboration has resulted in two one-off Porsche 911s reimagined by Singer, both based on the 964-generation of the iconic German sports car. There’s a Classic coupe and a Classic Turbo Cabriolet, and this is more than a simple branding exercise. It is the first fully co-branded product from Singer and Louis Vuitton, with the French luxury house having a hand in everything from the cabins to the accessories that accompany the cars.
The Classic is the more traditional of the two. It gets a striking saffron-over-cobalt-blue paint scheme and carbonfibre body, along with a period-style roof rack designed to carry a Louis Vuitton luggage trunk, surfboard or even a pair of skis. It’s powered by a naturally aspirated 4-litre flat-six engine producing 420 bhp, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. It also gets carbon ceramic brakes.
The Classic Turbo Cabriolet on the other hand is finished in limestone and gold — its colour palette draws inspiration from the limestone architecture of Paris. And this is a turbocharged model, with a 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six with air-to-water intercooling, a six-speed manual gearbox, carbon ceramic brakes and selectable driving modes. Output hasn’t been officially disclosed, but it is expected to be around 510 bhp.
This collaboration apparently began with a simple request for a removable dashboard clock inspired by Louis Vuitton’s Tambour watch, in a different 911 commission. That small idea snowballed into this partnership, so both these cars also get bespoke timepieces — a 40 mm removable yellow gold watch that’s neatly integrated into the dashboard. Other features include bespoke leatherwork and detailing from the French luxury house, while each car comes with its own collection of luggage and accessories. The Turbo Cabriolet is accompanied by a made-to-measure silk driving suit, gloves, shoes, sunglasses and a helmet, all created to match the car. Then, there are bespoke skis, a surfboard and luggage designed specifically around the cars.
Each car takes around 4000 hours to be built, which gives you some idea of the level of detail involved. Singer hasn’t announced pricing for these two commissions, but considering its cars can comfortably run into the millions of dollars, these aren’t going to be cheap ways into the Porsche world.
There is also some neat historical symmetry to the collaboration. Louis Vuitton has had links to the automotive world for more than a century, with the founder’s grandsons, Pierre and Jean Vuitton, designing a sports car in 1909. More than 100 years later, the brand has returned to cars, this time by joining forces with one of the most obsessive Porsche specialists around. And perhaps the pairing makes more sense than it first appears. Singer takes classic 911s and obsesses over every detail until they become modern automotive works of art. Louis Vuitton has built its reputation doing much the same with luggage, leather goods and watches. Both are, ultimately, in the business of craftsmanship. Put the two together and you get a pair of gorgeous 911s, which will take your breath away, every time you glance at them.
