- Red Bull engineers helped Singer stiffen its open-top 964 chassis.
- Carbon fiber parts boost rigidity by a huge 175 percent overall.
- Goal was coupe-like feel without ruining weight or originality.
Old convertibles look cool, but they’ve usually got the torsional rigidity of a marshmallow. So Singer just called in Formula 1-level help to make sure its new Classic Turbo Targas and Cabriolets feel as tight and fun to drive as the brand’s Coupes.
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Singer’s Classic Turbo program takes Porsche’s Type 964 and turns it into a wide-bodied, big-power love letter to the original 911 Turbo. But when you start adding serious performance to a car that first saw daylight more than 30 years ago, structural stiffness suddenly becomes a very big deal.
Especially in Cabriolets and Targas, which left the factory without a fixed roof to help tie everything together. Today, with modern tires, suspension, and 50 percent more power than the original Turbo, it’s a recipe for flex, shake, and handling compromises.
Digital Scans
Enter Red Bull Advanced Technologies, which is basically the mad scientist division behind Red Bull’s motorsport and engineering projects. Singer asked RBT to figure out how to make open-top 964s as stiff as coupes while respecting the original structure and keeping weight in check.
Red Bull started by digitally scanning and modeling the original 964 chassis. Then it ran detailed simulations to see exactly where the structure was working hardest when the car twisted. Once the engineers knew the weak spots, they designed 13 carbon fiber reinforcing pieces to strengthen those areas.
Almost Twice as Stiff
These parts are bonded into the original steel monocoque during Singer’s restoration process. The result is a claimed 175 percent increase in torsional rigidity. That’s not a subtle tweak, it’s the kind of number that’s going to transform how a car feels over bumps, under braking, and when you really lean on it in corners.
Car enthusiasts are usually snooty about roofless versions of cars like the 911. And often with good reason. But knowing that the gorgeous Targa now drives as good as it looks would make me think twice about ordering the Classic Turbo Coupe, if a million bucks ever fell into my lap. Which would you choose?
