THE USUAL SUSPECTS

911&PWWRITERS New boy, Dan Trent, is conflicted about backdating and enjoys a ‘ringside seat watching the next-gen 911 testing at the Nordschleife

Dan Trent has his say

Last month you’ll have seen me at the wheel of the rather lovely ‘Dorset commission’, a 964 sent by its Uk-based owner to Singer Vehicle Design for one of its rather extravagant restorations. The resulting car is, by any stretch, a spectacular piece of work and the chance to spend a few days with it an utter privilege. What struck me most of all was the warmth of the reception wherever I went, both from Porsche nuts who recognised the Singer name and also civilians who just saw a ‘nice old car’. Which makes a refreshing change.

You’ll know what I mean, the ‘flash git’ stigma you encounter at the wheel of a modern sports car one of the less pleasant aspects of driving a newer Porsche. It’s not as bad as you get in a Ferrari or something properly attention seeking but there’s still a sizeable chunk of fellow road users ready to shut the door on you in traffic, ready to race you to prove some unfathomable point or just make the predictable mid-life crisis jokes should your choice of car crop up in conversation.

You get none of that in a Singer-restored 911, despite the fact it costs considerably more than anything you could buy in a Porsche dealership. Up to and including that ‘delivery miles’ 911 R you didn’t get on the list for and someone else is making a killing on.

Thanks to shifting exchange rates and the increasing values of suitable project 964s the total loss value for the Dorset commission is nearly three quarters of a million – way more than your entry to the world of Ferrari, Lamborghini or Mclaren ownership and all that comes with it. Whether people realise it’s worth THAT much or not they know they’re looking at something special and yet there’s none of the green-tinged envy. The owner also has a Carrera GT in his collection and while I’m sure that gets more cameraphones and stares I’d wager it’s probably a more stressful experience for that reason. No wonder his baby-blue retro-look 911 is the car he keeps close and uses the most.

‘Old’ cars have that effect on people, though. I remember driving through central London in a Ferrari 458 and being shocked at how aggressive and unpleasant some of the attention was. Contrast that with the choruses of ‘nice car!’ that followed my top down progress through the West End in a Mercedes Pagoda SL one time, the sense of being carried on a wave of positivity making an already pleasant experience even more enjoyable.

There lies the motivation to backdate. Should we be chopping up old 911s to look like older ones to achieve it though? Onto my next train of thought…