Workshop 5001 Builds the Perfect 911 ‘Hot Rod’
Nardo Gray 1973 911 may be ex-Singer mechanic’s finest work ever.
The allure of the air-cooled Porsche is real, and it’s stronger than ever. With values of vintage 911s going through the roof, one could argue that these cars have never been more popular. That popularity has led to a host of aftermarket builders who strive to “perfect” the air-cooled 911. The most famous, of course, is Singer Vehicle Design.
Marlon Goldberg spent some time at Singer as a mechanic, but that isn’t where his love of Porsches began. Goldberg grew up in Bridgehampton, New York, where he spent more time at the racetrack than at the beach. It was there that he talked to club racers for hours on end. And it’s also where he developed a love for dual-purpose cars.
Goldberg parlayed that love into his own L.A.-based business, Workshop 5001. And it’s there that he carries out that love he developed as a young man, building vintage Porsches into modern, dual-purpose slices of perfection. This unassuming Nardo Gray 1973 911 might be his finest work to date.
The car began as a complete frame-off restoration, hence the stock appearance. Goldberg calls it a hot rod, but this isn’t the typical outlandish attention-grabber you’re used to. Subtle details abound, things that a casual non-Porschephile may not even recognize, like the custom plaid pattern on the seats, which was designed by Goldberg and stitched up by a company in Scotland.
The “hot rod” portion of this build is what resides behind and underneath it, of course. Power comes from a 3.4 liter, twin plug flat six. Go fast goodies include a Motec M84 engine management system, Jenvey individual throttle bodies, custom cams, and titanium valve springs. Output is just shy of 305 horsepower.
Suspension upgrades include KW three-way motorsport coilovers and RSR sway bars. The entire chassis was stitch welded for strength, and the total package weighs in at only 2,300 pounds. And boy, does it sound sweet ripping down LA streets. Workshop 5001 has built a truly remarkable 911, one that is simply more than the sum of its parts.
