Porsche is no stranger to special-edition cars paying homage to its illustrious past.
But even by its own lofty standards, the Stuttgart sports car specialist has outdone itself with the 911 1965 Reimagined.
Developed by Porsche Centre Melbourne and Porsche Centre Sydney, the Reimagined has been built using the Exclusive Manufaktur program that allows Porsche owners to customise their cars in unique, ‘off-book’ ways.
For the 1965 Reimagined, inspiration has been taken from the first 911 sold in Australia. Porsche has also dusted off the old girl for a video, parading it the centre of Melbourne and Sydney side-by-side with the 2020 remake it inspired.
Porsche has been forced to make a few changes to the original specification. The 1965 Stone Grey paint is no longer a part of the Porsche palette, so it has been subbed out for Crayon, deemed its closest modern equivalent.
The slats on the engine cover are body-coloured, and the brake calipers are black to match those of the 1965 car. Porsche has also fitted the Sport Design package, as it brings more body-coloured elements to the front bumper.
Although it doesn’t ride on polished steel wheels, the 20/21-inch alloys on the 1965 Reimagined have been chosen for a clean, classic look.
Also on hand to burnish the retro connection are body-coloured mirrors, and the chrome finish around the windows.
The cabin is finished in Agave Green Club leather, complete with green seatbelts and Crayon stitching. The dash and transmission tunnel are finished Paldao Dark wooden trim as a nod to the Maple Yellow dash of the 1965 911.
As it’s based on a Carrera S, the 1965 Reimagined packs a 3.0-litre turbocharged flat-six engine making 331kW of power and 530Nm of torque, sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
That’s a stark contrast with the original, which offered a more meagre 97kW and 190Nm, channeled to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission.
“It’s incredible that 55 years on from the original 911 delivery to Australia, we can now replicate some of the features in the modern vehicle. It showcases that the 911 is timeless,” said Lee Hallett, general sales manager at Porsche Centre Sydney South.
Just two examples of the 911 1965 Reimagined have been built, one for each of Australia’s biggest cities. They’ll be displayed at the two dealerships involved in its creation.
