The Theon R Is a Featherweight Porsche 964 Making 500 Horsepower
There seems to be no end to the stream of fabulous recreations of
Porsche’s 964-generation 911. The latest hot-rodded take on the form comes from the Oxfordshire-based experts at
Theon Design, which has just announced its most hardcore interpretation of the air-cooled classic yet. Known as the Theon R, this 4.0-liter-packing recreation tips the scales at less than 2200 pounds, yet makes 500 horsepower — promising to deliver performance on par with Zuffenhausen’s latest models.
The team at Theon Design claim that this new model is the culmination of the engineering expertise they’ve developed working on the brand’s two previous 964 creations. It’s a road-focused machine, which they say draws inspiration from fan-favorites like the original
911 S/T and the
997 GT3 RS 4.0. (Certainly a high bar to set for oneself.)
The process starts by stripping a donor car back to its bare chassis, before seam welding the structure for increased rigidity. Carbon tubs are bonded to the chassis at either end to further bolster the vintage chassis, while only weighing about nine pounds apiece. With help from an F1 composite supplier, the Theon R also receives an entirely new body made from carbon fiber. The glass is replaced with thinner RS units, while a carbon fiber front splitter, rear diffuser, and “whale tail” spoiler add some downforce to the equation.
To make the most of that lightweight structure, Theon Design fit the R model with a raucous version of its air-cooled 4.0-liter flat-six build. The engine features the usual dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder, but it also breathes through the plenum from the aforementioned 997 RS. When paired with the Inconel center exhaust, the car should provide quite the soundtrack at its 9000-plus-rpm redline.
It might be hard to get there often, though, as the motor is good for 500 hp and more than 295 lb-ft of torque. That doesn’t sound like a monstrous amount, but this car is a few hundred pounds lighter than a new Mazda MX-5. The power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual and a Wavetrac limited-slip-diff. Theon says the car will do 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds flat, before reaching 100 mph in just 6.5 seconds.
The real secret to the Theon R is the bespoke suspension package, which was developed exclusively for the car in tandem with Motion Control Suspension. The setup draws from the brand’s experience with Porsche’s racing programs, and features bespoke MCS 3W dampers tailored for the car’s properties. The dampers are independently adjustable for high and low speed compression, as well as rebound. The system also packs a set of external reservoirs to ensure the system is up to the rigors of that sort of performance.
Like any of the 964 builds that we’ve come to love, there's a serious price to pay for all of that engineering work. The R carries a starting price just over $850,000 at current exchange rates, and that doesn’t include the donor 964, any shipping costs, or your local taxes. That said, only 24 examples are slated to be built, and I’m sure your chance to get one is rapidly expiring. It does take around 18 months for the builds to be completed, as well — so don’t expect to see one rolling around an L.A. Cars and Coffee anytime soon.
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