TechArt GTclassic: 374-HP 964 Restomod Takes On Singer
TechArt has spent 39 years modifying whatever Porsche currently builds — 911s, Cayennes, Macans — without once touching a classic. That changes now. The German tuner just unveiled the GTclassic, a 964-based restomod making 374 horsepower from a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter air-cooled flat-six, paired exclusively with a five-speed manual and rear-wheel drive. Only 11 will be built, each assembled to order.
The timing is deliberate and the competition is stiff. Singer has owned this segment since 2009. Gunther Werks followed with the GXR Evo, a 993-based machine that reads more road-legal race car than daily driver. TechArt’s answer to both isn’t a spec-sheet arms race — it’s a 964 that keeps its factory ABS and power steering, adds Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth, and is genuinely meant to be driven. CEO Benedict von Canal put it plainly: “Our aim was not to reinvent the classic. Our aim was to take it further.”
A Body Built Around The Pre-Bumper 911 Silhouette
The GTclassic’s styling pulls from the F-series 911s that predate the 1974 US impact bumper regulations — the longer, cleaner nose that Porsche lost when federal rules forced a chunkier front end onto the car. TechArt extends the hood in that spirit, then adds two mesh-covered vents in the front apron for a GT3-flavored look. Turn signals and outer vents below each fender are combined into single units, keeping the face uncluttered. LED headlights and taillights modernize the lighting without disturbing the silhouette.
At the rear, a ducktail spoiler — itself carrying two additional vents — crowns the decklid. Wider fenders house forged 18-inch Retrosport wheels, ten inches wide at the rear axle, developed specifically for this car as a two-piece, dual-finish reinterpretation of the classic Fuchs five-spoke. The spoke pattern is deliberately open, putting the Turbo-specification brake calipers on display rather than hiding them behind solid metal. Champagne-colored trim runs across the window frames, side skirts, and accent pieces throughout; the “TECHART” badge on the tail is finished in 24-carat gold plate.
Daily Usability Is The Differentiator, Not Peak Power
The GTclassic’s interior is where TechArt makes its clearest argument against the stripped-down competition. The cabin wears plaid fabric seat centers with red leather accents and champagne trim around the gauge cluster — a nod to 1970s and ’80s 911 interiors without forcing occupants to live with the inconveniences of an untouched classic. An optional Chrono Package adds a pair of analog Hanhart stopwatches to the dash for vintage rally atmosphere. A modern head unit handles Apple CarPlay, navigation, and Bluetooth.
Critically, TechArt retained the 964’s factory ABS and power steering rather than deleting them for weight savings — a direct philosophical contrast to builders who prioritize track numbers over real-world usability. Upgraded suspension dampers with external reservoirs round out the chassis work, hardware more common on purpose-built track cars but here applied to something TechArt explicitly wants owners to drive to the office. Optional Clubsport seats are available for buyers who want a sportier perch without sacrificing the rest of the comfort package.
Entering A Market Singer Built And Gunther Werks Reinforced
TechArt arrives 17 years after Singer opened the backdated-964 category, and into a market that has since grown crowded enough that a new entrant needs a genuine reason to exist. Singer has pushed the format toward bespoke luxury — including a Louis Vuitton collaboration on two 911s. Gunther Werks’ GXR Evo, priced in similar territory, leans hard into track capability on a 993 platform. Neither is particularly interested in being the car you park at the school pickup line.
That gap is exactly where TechArt is planting the GTclassic’s flag. Pricing hasn’t been officially confirmed, but coverage of the launch consistently places a finished example near $1 million — in line with Gunther Werks GXR Evo territory. With only 11 units planned, TechArt is clearly testing whether its four decades of Porsche credibility translate into collector demand for a restomod that prioritizes livability over lap times. The bet is that somewhere in the seven-figure restomod market, there’s a buyer who wants a 964 that actually accumulates miles.
Whether the GTclassic earns its place in the segment will come down to exactly that question: can a daily-drivable restomod command Singer-level money in a market that has historically rewarded extreme specs and concours-only builds? TechArt has the pedigree and the restraint to make the case. Gearheads who’ve always wanted a classic 911 they could actually live with deserve to find out.
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