Posted November 27, 2019 in Aesthetic Upgrades
3 Minute Read
A 1989 Porsche 964 after being completely customized with Porsche 933 parts.
A lot of the time, customers come into our shop and ask us to completely restore a Porsche® to its factory state.
Trust me, we are happy to bring life back to any Porsche® that needs our help.
But there is something different about being able to create something that is completely one of a kind like we did with this project.
Our customer brought in a fully stock 1989 Porsche® 964 and asked us to turn it into something that nobody else would have.
We took that request seriously and did not disappoint.
A 1989 Porsche 964 sits in a tree-line near 911 Design in Southern California.
Optimized Performance
The stock 1989 Porsche® 964 had around 250 horsepower as it came off the line.
We wanted to put a little bit more power behind this project, so we swapped the stock engine with a brand new 3.8-liter engine that puts out about 350 horsepower.
An upgraded engine for a 1989 Porsche 964 that is putting out around 350 horsepower.
To take better advantage of the improved muscle in the engine, we installed a Porsche® 993 six-speed transmission.
We also decided to short the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth gears, which made a huge difference in the car’s ability to keep its acceleration climbing at higher speeds.
To round it all off, we installed JRZ double-adjustable shocks to smooth out the ride and a MoTeC M84 electronic control unit to make sure the engine performs optimally.
Weight Reduction
With all the power we put into this Porsche®, we didn’t want it to be weighed down by, well, extra weight.
So we spent a pretty significant amount of time looking for ways to drop any extra poundage and eventually decided to make a completely custom-fit composite roof and hood, where a ton of additional weight is normally held.
We also removed the rain gutters and replaced the stock floor padding with a lightweight interior that is used in the Porsche® 911 GT3 RS.
On the back of the car, a custom duck wing spoiler was installed to help with the aerodynamics of the vehicle.
The glass windows were also replaced with LEXAN™, a clear and durable polycarbonate resin thermoplastic. LEXAN™ is also used to make bulletproof glass.
The strength of LEXAN™ material means less material is needed to protect the driver.
An increase in power and a decrease in weight means the car is going to have a lot more acceleration potential.
To keep the car from running into aerodynamic issues, we also built a custom made ducktail spoiler and custom front splitter.
Safety
The most important part about building vehicles with these kinds of performance specifications is making sure the car also remains safe.
With that concern in mind, we installed brakes designed originally for a Porsche® 993 with a turbocharged engine.
Red brakes designed for a Porsche 933 were installed to better match with the car’s new speeds.
Because some accidents are inevitable, we also installed a completely custom roll bar and a Schroth® racing harness attached to Recaro™ racing seats.
New Schroth® safety harnesses and Recaro™ racing seats were installed to protect the driver in the event of a collision.
Aesthetics
You don’t just want your car to be fast—you want it to look the part too, which is why we added in the following aesthetic upgrades to make sure the design reflected the car’s performance.
- Porsche® 993 EVO upright lights
- Porsche® 993 Aero mirrors
- Custom Techart rims
- Sumitomo tires
- Brand new dash and speedometer
- Momo steering wheel
- Custom interior
Have a Similar Project?
If you are interested in undertaking a similar rebuild Porsche® project or would like more information about the length or cost of a project like this one, give 911 Design a call at (909) 982-9111.
911 Design is an independent business and is not affiliated with Porsche® Cars North America.
After being completely renovated, this 1989 Porsche 964 makes for an incredible ride through Southern California.