First Drive: This Porsche 911 Restomod Turned The Classic Ride Into A Supercharged Grand Tourer
Theon Design’s BEL001 features a centrifugal supercharger, a five-speed manual transmission and an ideal balance between comfort and control.
Related articles
The original Porsche 911 Turbo was conceived as a bare-bones road racer—effectively a successor to the now-iconic Carrera 2.7 RS of 1973. The development prototype used a boosted 2.7-litre engine inside the wider body of a 911 3.0 RS, with just 200 examples planned for Group 4 racing homologation.
Having witnessed the sell-out success of the RS, however, Porsche’s marketing department had grander plans. And when the production 911 Turbo debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 1974, it had become a very different beast: a plush super-GT with air conditioning, electric windows and a four-speaker stereo.
DEAN SMITH, COURTESY OF THEON DESIGN.
The Turbo—commonly known by its “930” type number—was the undisputed king of Germany’s autobahns, its 3.0-litre flat-six mustering 260 hp for a top speed of 250 km/h. It also represented the 911’s first foray into true supercar territory, taking on thoroughbreds such as the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer. Bedroom walls had never looked so exciting.
Yet the 930’s engine was also its Achilles’ heel. Its violent, zero-to-hero power delivery could catch drivers unawares, knocking the car off-balance, then frequently backwards into a hedge. Not until the 993 generation of 1995, which introduced twin turbocharging and four-wheel drive, did Porsche finally tame the Turbo.
Adam Hawley, cofounder of Theon Design, is well aware of the Turbo’s “widowmaker” reputation. Indeed, he still has the slightly battered, die-cast 930 he played with as a child on his office desk. So, when a customer requested a 964-based restomod that “combined classic Porsche driving dynamics with real grand-touring ability,” he suggested an alternative approach. “We didn’t want the slam-you-in-the-back Turbo effect,” Hawley says. “Drivability was key. Still, we didn’t realise how challenging building a supercharged 911 would be.”
DEAN SMITH, COURTESY OF THEON DESIGN.
The result is “BEL001,” so-called because it’s the first 911 built by Theon Design for a customer in Belgium. Its 400 hp output is identical to the naturally aspirated “CHI001” commission I drove a few months ago, but the two cars take different routes to get there; one is a rev-hungry road racer, the other a comfortable super-GT. Sound familiar?
The engine bay of any 911 is knuckle-scrapingly tight, especially once you add the apparatus of forced induction. However, by relocating the air-con unit to the front trunk, Theon Design could use the same mounting points to bolt on a centrifugal supercharger. Driven directly off the crankshaft—rather than waiting for a build-up of exhaust gasses like a turbo—it promises a brawny 498 Nm of torque and instant right-foot response.
The Danish-made Rotrex supercharger is supplemented by twin charge coolers and a water-methanol injection system, which boosts the fuel octane level (using UK-spec Super Unleaded) from 98 to 110 RON at high revs. These measures also obviate the need for a 930-style top-mounted intercooler and “tea tray” spoiler, or any additional vents in the rear fenders. “Speak softly and carry a big stick” was clearly the mantra here.
DEAN SMITH, COURTESY OF THEON DESIGN.
Like all of Theon Design’s cars, BEL001 combines the pre-1974 “long hood” 911 look with a modern and very muscular stance. It rides low on dished Fuchs-style wheels—here with a Champagne gold finish—filling out its fulsome haunches. The all-steel body is painted in lush Aquamarine, a custom colour based on Porsche 356 Fjord Green, with bold yellow graphics and subtle “ghost stripes” above the sills.
The interior is equally classy, with caramel leather swathing the reshaped Porsche “tombstone” seats. And the retro green-on-black dials and plastic switches have been replaced by milled, cool-to-the-touch aluminium. Traditional sliders control the fast-acting electric heater (no more waiting for the air-cooled engine), while a magnetic smartphone mount on the dashboard allows you to operate the Bluetooth audio system. Turn around and the 911’s snug rear seats have been remodeled in the deeper, cocoon-like style of a Porsche 928.
DEAN SMITH, COURTESY OF THEON DESIGN.
Backing gingerly out of Theon Design’s spotlessly clean workshop—where the company hand-builds around six restomod 911s each year—I find that the 3.6-litre engine sounds smoother and far less rambunctious than the 4.0-litre mill in CHI001. Then Hawley presses a button to open the switchable exhaust valves and the background hum swells to an ominous metallic rumble. That’s more like it.
Compared to the sudden sucker-punch of a 930 Turbo, this car presents a power delivery that’s far more linear, a relentless rush that gains real urgency once the water-methanol injection kicks in beyond 4,500 rpm. Theon Design hasn’t published performance figures, but with a curb weight of just 1,265 kg, its 911 restomod feels blisteringly quick. It has a uniquely supercharged soundtrack, too: a distant whine punctuated by the hisses and flutters of expelled excess air whenever you change gear.
DEAN SMITH, COURTESY OF THEON DESIGN.
Where CHI001 used a six-speed transmission from a 993 Turbo, this car retains a rebuilt “G50” five-speed manual transmission, with wider-spaced ratios that suit the vehicle’s calmer, more long-legged demeanor. Likewise, the Tractive adaptive dampers again have five settings, adjusted via a rotary knob on the centre console, but here are tuned for a more pliant ride. On our test route, they offered an excellent balance between comfort and control.
Indeed, the writhing roads around Theon Design’s headquarters—located in England’s rural Oxfordshire, close to the Silverstone F1 circuit—feel perfectly suited to this 911. The restomod’s compact dimensions and endlessly animated electro-hydraulic power steering lead to swift and confidence-inspiring progress. I don’t doubt that BEL001 would be refined and amenable (not to mention reliable) enough for epic, trans-European road trips as well—exactly what its Belgian owner has planned.
Compared to the sudden sucker-punch of a 930 Turbo, this car presents power delivery that is far more linear.
Singer revealed its Turbo Study
Singer revealed its Turbo Study earlier this year, a “reimagined” Porsche 930 with OEM-style impact bumpers and a tea tray. It’s a cool project that will doubtless look fantastic on a bedroom wall, but Theon Design’s supercharged 911 seems a less obvious, and perhaps less compromised, answer to the same question. A road racer and a super-GT? Oh, yes.
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Recommended for you
This Le Mans-Winning Ferrari Just Sold for Over $57.4 Million
The 1964 250 LM by Scaglietti is the only Prancing Horse from the Enzo Ferrari era to compete in six 24-hour races.
By Bryan Hood
February 11, 2025
The Porsche 911 Dakar Is Coming Back as a Hybrid
The sports car that’s designed for almost every weather and every road is going electric.
February 13, 2025
You may also like.
You may also like.
How Off-the-Rack Suits Got Sophisticated Enough to Win Over Bespoke Guys
Ready-to-wear tailoring has never been better, and it offers even the most particular dressers a fast, easy platform for experimenting with their look.
The world moves fast—and for once, tailoring is moving a little bit faster.
Guys around the globe are rediscovering their love of suits, but many have determined that they can’t stomach the monthslong wait for bespoke. The good news? Ready-to-wear tailoring has never been better.
That’s in part because bespoke makers are beefing up their off-the-rack offerings. Anderson & Sheppard’s shop-in-store at N.Y.C.’s Bergdorf Goodman—the first outpost beyond its London flagship— opened in December with, among other things, a sharp wool-and-cashmere jacket in a delightful shade of teal. Huntsman’s recent fall-winter collection, billed as its most comprehensive assortment yet, offered everything from tuxedos to shooting breeches. Even Leonard Logsdail, Hollywood’s highly esteemed bespoke purveyor, is experimenting with hem-and-go models.
But non-custom tailors are upping the ante, too. Some of the best ready-to-wear suits on the market come from such brands, whose wholly distinctive points of view provide a welcome departure from the rigidity of many bespoke tailors’ house styles. The preponderance and diversity of such high-quality, easy-to-access threads has recast off-the-rack suits as the ultimate way to experiment with your look, not just a way for some to get dressed on the cheap. What’s more, it reflects the new reality that even people who suit up regularly might want to show up looking different on Thursday night than they did on Tuesday morning.
“Life nowadays is much more fluid,” says Chris Modoo, a London-based stylist who once worked as a tailor on Savile Row. “Things happen, invitations appear. You might get an invite for a black-tie party in the South of France for next Saturday.” Ready-to-wear is the obvious solution when you’re in a last-minute menswear quandary, but “it also means you can try new things.”
One maker worth a test-drive is Husbands Paris, founded by Nicolas Gabard, who sees his role as an “archivist of the past.” His look, inspired by stylish men such as Yves Saint Laurent, David Hemmings, and Gary Cooper, is unabashedly striking—think long, fully canvased jackets, broad lapels, structured shoulders, and wide-leg, high-waisted trousers. These wares are made in small workshops in Italy and Portugal, where craftspeople infuse them with high-end details such as hand-sewn buttonholes and silk bar tacks, a form of stitching that reinforces seams and pockets.
They’re the kind of touches any menswear enthusiast can appreciate—even if they’re the trees to Gabard’s style forest. Clothes like this are designed as a form of wearable self-assurance, enhancing what Gabard calls a “classically masculine” silhouette: broad shoulders, slim waist, narrow hips.
“Of course, tailoring has to fit well, but it also has to bring something else,” he says. “More and more [Husbands] customers want to be confident, powerful, and sexy in their outfit.”
When you want to look more suave than soigné, turn to the indie Milanese brand Massimo Alba, which is known for its chic casualwear but made its name with easygoing tailoring. “A great suit is not just about the way it fits but about the way it makes you feel,” says the eponymous label’s founder of his relaxed approach. “For me, the essence lies in balance, between structure and softness, elegance and ease. In my opinion, a suit should adapt to the wearer, not the other way around.”
Alba’s creations are cut from plush materials such as corduroy and flannel, featuring natural shoulders and only the lightest of canvasing in the chest, which results in a less-formal look. Which is not to say they aren’t workhorses: Daniel Craig wore one of Alba’s Sloop suits to dodge bullets in 2021’s James Bond film No Time to Die. “I always focus on fabrics that move with the body, details that whisper rather than shout, and cuts that allow for freedom,” Alba adds.
And freedom is precisely what this newfound inventory of great ready-to-wear tailoring provides. Modoo advises some clients to look to bespoke tailors for investment-level garments, such as morning suits, tuxedos, or the dark, serious stuff you might need for a funeral or odd courtroom appearance. “You know you’re going to wear these for 10 or 15 years,” he says. Let the new class of distinctive ready-to-wear step in when you want to try something that just wouldn’t make sense as a bespoke order. “Your pink-velvet blazer for the Christmas party? How well does that need to fit?”
Fortunately, with so many options available, the fit is easier to dial in. You can expect most high-end operations to make a long list of changes, from ensuring that the seat of the trousers drapes appropriately to cutting working buttonholes on the jacket. For a peerless experience, you can always reach for garments from one of the many talented bespoke tailors offering ready-to-wear. At Thom Sweeney, such clothes are “all influenced by our bespoke cut,” says Thom Whiddett, who cofounded the brand with Luke Sweeney in 2007. “You try on [our ready-to-wear] jacket, and you immediately get a sense of the proportions and shapes that we put into a bespoke garment.”
That alluring sense of near-instant gratification is the point. For some, nothing will ever replace the distinguished feeling of slipping into a bench-made suit—and plenty are willing to wait for it.
“You have to mentally buy into the process and enjoy it,” says Caroline Andrew, a London bespoke specialist. “The journey is just as important as the finished product.” But ready-to-wear sets the time-strapped tailoring enthusiast down a different path: discovering new facets of your personal style at a record pace.
You may also like.
17/02/2025
Tom Brady Wears a Jacob & Co. Watch Decked in Yellow Sapphires to the Super Bowl
The $740,000 Caviar Tourbillon was an opulent choice for the former NFL star.
Tom Brady was on the field tonight at the 59th annual Super Bowl game, and while the retired NFL hero—a seven-time Super Bowl winner (the most of any footballer in history)—wasn’t playing, he came dressed to impress with a $116,400 Jacob & Co. watch on his wrist.
Brady, who is a notable watch collector, recently sold off several of his timepieces at a Sotheby’s auction called “The GOAT Collection: Watches and Treasures from Tom Brady” this past December. Those timepieces ran the gamut from a Rolex Daytona Ref. 6241 to a unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak with his name spelled out in diamonds across the salmon-colored tapisserie dial. His Rolex Daytona sold for over $1.5 million, and, in total, his auction raked in around $7 million. So, he’s well-equipped for a new watch purchase.
Whether or not he owns the six-figure sapphire stunner or it was a paid spot, the watch certainly stood out against his conservative but immaculately fit gray suit. “Tom Brady is the epitome of excellence, both on and off the field,” said Benjamin Arabov, CEO of Jacob & Co, in a press release sent out by the company shortly after Brady’s appearance. “We’re thrilled to see him wearing two of our most prestigious timepieces on the biggest stage in sports. The Billionaire Mini Ashoka and Caviar Tourbillon embody the precision, luxury, and innovation that define Jacob & Co. We’re honored to have him represent the artistry and craftsmanship behind every piece we create.”
Like much of Brady’s wrist candy, his 44 by 15.8 mm Caviar Tourbillon is not easy to come by. It is limited to just 18 pieces. It features hours, minutes, and a one-minute flying tourbillon in the JCAA43 movement with 216 components and 72 hours of power reserve. The movement itself is set with 338 brilliant-cut diamonds, while a total of 337 yellow sapphires adorn the case and dial. The clasp is decorated with another 18 baguette-cut yellow sapphires, and the crown comes with 14 baguette-cut yellow sapphires and one rose-cut yellow sapphire. As far as gem setting goes, this is one extraordinary piece, but it certainly seemed like a surprising choice for Brady, who was otherwise dressed like he just stepped out of a boardroom or a Ralph Lauren catalog.
Benjamin Arabov, son of Jacob & Co. founder Jacob Arabov, is now the CEO of the company. The 32-year-old recently took to Instagram to post that he was looking for a rebranding agency with experience in visual identity and packaging. As far as marketing goes, however, with Tom Brady, he’s golden.
You may also like.
17/02/2025
This Vintage Rolex Day-Date Has an Ultra-Rare and Coveted ‘Bark’ Design
The ultra-cool piece from Wind Vintage also comes in pristine condition with a desirable patina.
Over the last four years there has been a resurgence in interest for 18-karat yellow gold watches. Much of that is due to fatigue over the long-running craze for steel tool watches, but it is also in part due to the rising value of gold (which shows no sign of slowing), rendering these once undesirable pieces increasingly worth collecting. Add to that the fact that, in some niche and stylish circles, unusual bracelet treatments, gem-setting, and interesting dials are becoming increasingly appealing and you have a new wave of watch collecting emerging. Steel sports watches are still the bread and butter for most dealers, but as pockets of interest in more unusual timekeepers, often from younger and fashion-forward collectors, continue to rise we’re seeing some really fun pieces pop up on the market. Case in point: This 1980s Rolex Day-Date in 18-karat yellow gold with a sapphire and diamond dial from Wind Vintage currently available exclusively on The Vault.
It wasn’t that long ago that dealers had a hard time unloading an all-gold gem-set piece. Eric Wind, the notable dealer and founder of Wind Vintage, says five years ago he would have sold this piece for around $23,000 to $28,000. The asking price today? $45,000. “It is very rare,” he tells Robb Report. “I think that was all clearly hand-done. Funnily enough, bark watches were not very desirable in the past. You know, even five to 10 years ago, they were very, very hard to sell. But, over the last three to five years, there’s been such an emergence and interest in jewellery and watches and work like that engraving and other kind of artistic forms that the watches took.” The style of engraving he is referring to on this watch can be seen on the bezel and middle links of the bracelet that is referred to as “bark” for its rough tree-like appearance.
Courtesy of Wind Vintage
And while the bracelet is certainly a notable feature that will stand out in a sea of Submariners and Daytonas, the dial is also worth bragging about. Its diamond minutes track and sapphire hour markers are executed in what is known as a “string dial” because it looks like a string of pearls. “They’ve become very popular,” says Wind. “They were very expensive back in the 80s, just because of the cost of the stones, and there are just not many that exist on the planet.” Likewise, Wind says the canary yellow matte dial is not something he comes across often, having only seen a couple of others.
Courtesy of Wind Vintage
Part of what makes this watch so hard to find on the market is that pieces like this often didn’t survive past their ’80s heyday. “A lot of times these watches were so undesirable that dealers would replace the bezel inserts and put on fluted inserts, or smooth bezels or fluted bezels and melt down the bracelets or polish the center link so they looked like a standard Day-Date. Those dealers should have learned that what goes around, always comes around. Now with these interesting Rolex watches on the rise, they’ll become even harder to find.
Courtesy of Wind Vintage
If you’re interested in the piece and want to speak to Wind about it IRL, he will be at Robb Report’s House of Robb event in San Francsico today during the NBA All-Star weekend.
You may also like.
17/02/2025
Soccer Star Kylian Mbappé Is Now an Investor in Watch Marketplace Wristcheck
Just like Jay-Z.
Published on February 7, 2025
Kylian Mbappé just went from brand ambassador to investor.
The celebrated French footballer, who currently plays for Real Madrid, has taken a stake in luxury watch trading platform Wristcheck, Hypebeast reported lat week.
Off the filed, the 26-year-old soccer star is a known timepiece collector and has served as an ambassador for Swiss marque Hublot since 2018. With this new partnership, the forward joins a growing group of influential backers, including Jay-Z. The rapper and business mogul took an equity stake in the Hong Kong-based company last summer as part of a recent funding round of $7.9 million.
“I’m thrilled to join Wristcheck as an investor through Coalition Capital,” Mbappé said in a press statement. “As a Hublot ambassador and someone passionate about watches and innovation, I see Wristcheck as a platform that truly understands the next generation of collectors. They’re reshaping the watch industry with a forward-thinking approach that blends technology, transparency, and creativity.” Mbappé did not immediately respond to Robb Report‘s request for comment on his new business endeavor.
Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Launched in 2020 by renowned horophile and Instagram personality Austen Chu, Wristcheck offers a platform for collectors to buy and sell pre-owned watches that have been authenticated by Swiss-trained watchmakers. Since it was founded, the company has raised more than $21.6 million in funding from investors including the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Gobi Partners GBA, and K3 Ventures.
Mbappé, meanwhile, has achieved remarkable success in his soccer career. He won the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, becoming the youngest player to score in a final since Pelé. At PSG, he has secured multiple Ligue 1 titles and domestic cups. Individually, Mbappé has earned the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award and regularly features in top European scoring charts. And in 2020, he was ranked the world’s highest-paid player, surpassing rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
You may also like.
Sotheby’s Will Put on the Largest Auction of Breguet Watches in Decades This Fall
To celebrate the revered watchmaking house’s 250th anniversary, the sale includes rare collectibles belonging to living Breguet family members.
Interest in Breguet has experienced a quiet resurgence among savvy collectors who appreciate the brand’s deep-rooted watchmaking heritage. This growing enthusiasm will soon take center stage with an upcoming auction that shines a significant spotlight on the storied Maison.
Founded in Paris 250 years ago, Abraham-Louis Breguet was one of the most influential watchmakers in history, best known for inventing the tourbillon and the automatic winding system—along with many other groundbreaking innovations. His legacy continues to inspire modern masters such as F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour. You can see Breguet’s influence pointedly in pieces like F.P. Journe’s famous Chronomètre à Résonance timepiece, voted one of Robb Report‘s 50 Greatest Watches of All Time.
Now, Sotheby’s has announced “the largest sale of Breguet timepieces in three decades.” Though the auction won’t take place until November, the auction house is already working to build anticipation. In the meantime, it might be wise to brush up on the most coveted Breguet references.
What may pique collectors’ interest is the sale is being curated in conjunction with Breguet and Emmanuel Breguet, the vice president and head of patrimony, who happens to be a descendant of the original Monsieur Breguet. So far, the only timekeeper publicly associated (at least visually) with the auction is the 1827 Perpétuelle à Tact watch made for King George IV. Still, it hints at the historic level of pocket watches, wristwatches, and clocks that will be on offer. Abraham-Louis Breguet was a frequent supplier of high-end and state-of-the-art timepieces for royalty, including Marie Antoinette, Napoleon Bonaparte, and King George III.
Other highlights include an open-faced montre à tact (a watch that replicates the internal hour hand on the cover of the pocket watch via an arrow so that time could be read via touch) with a calendar and moonphase indications that was the inspiration for the Ref. 3330. A pendulette with alarm, perpetual calendar and repeater, and a two-color gold open-faced tourbillon watch is said to be a part of the sale, although no images were provided as of press time. More info on what will be in the sale will come this spring.
