Singer and Red Bull Advanced Technologies

In the upper tier of the restoration and remaster world, incremental improvements are rarely enough. When Singer set out to further develop its Classic Turbo services for open-roof Porsche 964s, the objective was clear: deliver the structural integrity of a coupe while preserving the defining character of the Cabriolet and Targa. To achieve that, Singer turned to Red Bull Advanced Technologies, the high-performance engineering arm of the Red Bull Technology Group.

The collaboration brings Formula 1–level simulation and structural analysis into the world of bespoke, air-cooled 911 restorations. It is a technical partnership aimed not at headline power figures, but at the foundational qualities that define how a car feels from behind the wheel.

Singer’s Classic Turbo services begin with an owner-supplied Porsche 911 (964). Whether Cabriolet or Targa, each car is completely disassembled. Interior, exterior panels and mechanical systems are removed until only the original steel monocoque remains. That shell is then inspected, cleaned and prepared as the basis for a comprehensive restoration inspired by the 1970s-era 911 Turbo, but executed with modern engineering and materials.

Open-roof variants present a well-known challenge. Without a fixed steel roof structure, torsional rigidity is inherently lower than in a coupe. For a company focused on delivering contemporary levels of precision and response, that gap represented an opportunity for meaningful engineering development.

On Singer’s behalf, Red Bull Advanced Technologies digitally modeled the 964 chassis using scanned data and manual measurements. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was then used to simulate torsional loads across different body configurations, with and without a roof structure. The virtual model was refined until its predicted stiffness matched real-world test data, ensuring the simulations accurately reflected physical behavior.

With a validated model in place, engineers analyzed where the open-body shell was working hardest under torsion, using strain energy distribution to pinpoint the most critical areas. From that study emerged a solution comprising 13 carbon fiber reinforcing structures. These components were designed to integrate with the original steel chassis, respect packaging constraints and avoid unnecessary weight gain.

The reinforcements were added to the digital model and iteratively tuned until the target stiffness was achieved. A prototype vehicle incorporating the new structures was then physically tested to confirm the simulation results.

The finished system sees the 13 carbon fiber elements bonded directly to the 964 monocoque during the restoration process. The result is a 175% increase in torsional rigidity for the open-roof cars. In practical terms, Singer says this allows the Cabriolet and Targa to approach the dynamic behavior of a coupe, with improvements in steering precision, braking stability and overall refinement.

Crucially, the solution aligns with both companies’ engineering philosophies: maximize structural performance while carefully managing mass. The use of advanced composites allows stiffness gains without fundamentally altering the character or visual identity of the original platform.

For Singer clients, this development fits squarely within the brand’s long-standing approach: honor the design and spirit of the air-cooled 911 while applying contemporary engineering where it can genuinely improve the driving experience. The partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies extends that philosophy into the structural domain, an area usually invisible but central to how a car communicates with its driver.

As Singer continues to expand the technical depth of its Classic Turbo services, the collaboration highlights how motorsport-derived tools and materials can be applied thoughtfully to historic platforms. In this case, the goal is not to reinvent the 964, but to allow open-top versions to deliver the same level of composure and precision that clients already expect from Singer’s coupe restorations.