► ITA001 is an entirely bespoke build
► 400bhp, 4.0-litre flat-six
► Carbon body and custom interior
Welcome to the Theon Design ITA001. Based on a Porsche 911 (964) Carrera 4 Coupe, it’s been completely restored and reimagined by the Oxfordshire-based company, run by Adam Hawley and Lucinda Argy. Destined for Theon’s first Italian customer – hence the model name – the ITA 001 combines old and new to create a window into the past that’s largely free of the compromises that would feel out of place on a 21st century car.
So while the 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six remains, it’s been upgraded, while other parts – such as the gearbox and limited-slip differential are borrowed from newer 911s like the 993 RS. Even more up-to-date parts are no doubt available and are used in some areas of the car, but Theon’s design philosophy is more about enhancement than replacement.
For the pleasure of owning one, Theon Design commissions start at £380,000 – this excluding the donor car, shipping and local taxes. Each build is unique to the customer and takes around 18 months to complete. It’s an expensive and time-consuming process and, for a fraction of the price, you could have the keys to a brand-new Porsche weighing down your pocket, so what is it that makes the Theon so special?
Carbon bodyshell
The initial restoration process involved stripping the 964 donor car back to its bare metal, with almost all of the new body panels made from carbon. The process involves digitising each panel and modelling it in 3D design software before moulding the actual parts. As a result, the ITA001 weighs in at just 1,152kg with all fluids onboard.
Several exterior design details stand out, yet the Schwartz Black paint is the first thing that grabs your attention. It’s hard to find a light where it doesn’t look spectacular and the grey ‘Ghost’ stripes and Porsche script running along the side complement it without looking over the top. Fuchs-style 18-inch wheels with champagne coloured ‘petals’ and outer rims are another highlight, as are the brushed metal mirrors inspired by those on the 991 Speedster concept. Unsurprisingly, the Italian customer who specced this car isn’t short of taste.
Overhauled interior
That continues in the cabin where your eyes and nostrils are treated to swathes of soft tobacco Bridle leather. Recaro ‘touring’ seats keep you in place, while satin carbon adorns many of the surfaces. Rear seats also feature, although like in modern 911s they’re not suited to adults.
What’s especially nice about the cabin is the way it feels unmistakably like an 80s/90s Porsche, what with the five dials straight ahead, the slightly offset driving position and the incredible visibility out, but there are creature comforts that make the experience more enjoyable.
For example, there’s air-con, a six-speaker Focal sound system (should you ever get bored of the inherent flat-six soundtrack), a nose-lift function and TracTive adaptive dampers. And while some of the switches and dials do feel a little more plasticky than you might expect, you’re soon distracted by details such as the beautifully sculpted pedals and thin-rimmed leather-bound wheel. It’s an undeniably lovely place to spend time in.
400bhp air-cooled flat-six
Arguably the most impressive part of the car is the engine – a 4.0-litre air-cooled flat-six, it produces 400bhp at 7,500rpm and 315lb ft of torque at 6,250rpm. There’s no official 0-62mph or top speed times, but the former should be achievable in under 4.0 seconds given the ITA001 has a very similar power-to-weight ratio as the 992 911 GT3 at 347bhp per tonne.
Unsurprisingly, it’s an engine whose figures mean comparatively little compared with the experience of driving it. Chuntering and endearingly gruff on start-up, it’s bursting with character even at idle. Rev it out and the sound develops further, coming together in the higher RPMs to deliver a noise that feels more natural than even the best sounding contemporary 911s.
It’s an addictive sound and one that’s made even better by the fully ceramic coated exhaust and crisp responses on the throttle (no doubt helped by Jenvey individual throttle bodies). The gearbox, like the limited-slip rear diff, is borrowed from a 993 RS giving a noticeably more modern feel than the original without appearing anachronistic or out of place. The pedals are perfectly positioned for heel and toe and the rasp of the engine only encourages you to indulge in more gearchanges than are strictly necessary.
As for pure pace, the ITA001 has enough conviction in its chassis and powertrain to get down a winding country road at an impressive pace, yet dropping down to 7/10ths seems to suit it better. The view from the driver’s seat is phenomenal thanks to the large areas of glass and comparatively thin pillars, while the compact dimensions of the car mean it sits in-lane with room to spare.
Verdict
For some a £380k commission might seem far too much for a 30 year-old car. After all, you can get the mother of all current 911s for that kind of money. But what the ITA001 does that modern equivalents do not is give you an enhanced sensation of an exciting bygone era of automotive excess and beauty.
For those that drove or lusted after the original, this is a car whose reality lives up to the memories, one untainted by the context of time or the present day and whose sound, feel and design hits harder than even your fondest memories.
