Singer Bringing Two Bespoke 911s to Austrian Ice Race GP
Singer DLS development mule set for demo runs Feb. 1.
A decade ago, English singer-songwriter Rob Dickinson turned his other passion — Porsche 911s — into a new venture: Singer Vehicle Design. Said venture, based in California, would turn 964-era 911s into individual, bespoke works of art.
A decade later, Singer is ready to bring the magic to Germany and Austria. Coming to the ice track of the 2020 GP Ice Race in Zell am See, Austria February 1 and 2, the company will unveil its latest mule, and its first TÜV-certified 964.
“It’s essential that our work is available to drivers and enthusiasts in Germany and Austria – countries with such significance for Porsche and in turn for Singer,” said Dickinson. “This is where the story of the 911 began, so ensuring that owners here are able to secure the demanding TÜV approval is an integral part of that definitive vision we pursue.”
The “Wiesbaden Commission” is one of the TÜV-approved 964 911s Singer has made in the past 18 months since certification. It’ll be on display during the festival of icy speed, while another Singer will be making the rounds on the track itself.
“Our second act, The Dynamics & Lightweighting Study has resulted in the unique four-valve per cylinder, air-cooled flat-six,” said Dickinson, “a bookend to the evolution of that iconic engine. We thought there was no better way to present this engine than by asking [Richard Tuthill] to use it to drive the Mule around sideways.”
Tuthill is not only an ice racer, but as much of a Porsche fan as Dickinson is. His own Tuthill Porsche in Oxfordshire, England offers everything from servicing, to factory restorations and bespoke offerings. And of course, Tuthill has tested more than his fair share of Singer cars over the past few years.
Tuthill’s demo of the Singer DLS mule is a harbinger of things to come, as the first DLS commission will arrive this summer. The DLS was developed in partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering — also in Oxfordshire — and only 75 will ever be commissioned. It’ll certainly be cool to see such a special 964 as this one throw rooster tails of ice and snow all over the track.
Photos: Singer Vehicle Design