Walk softly, carry big stick: Theon finds UK mojo
Small wheels, soft springs, more than 400hp and less than 1,200kg - talk about a dream-grade classic 911...
We’ve all got a vision of the ideal 911 restomod. Given the amount that have now been created over the decades, the perfect one for you may already exist. And if it doesn’t, then 2026 has added another that may well qualify: this is a new Theon 4.0 Coupe, albeit one designed ‘as a pared-back, timeless interpretation of the ultimate road-optimised, air-cooled Porsche 911.’ And that sounds pretty great to us.
Looks it, too, in Medium Ivory with Grand Prix white stripes (look closely for those), with Champagne details and Copper Brown calipers. What isn’t carbon inside is nubuck leather in Tobacco and Licorice, the former working perfectly with the exterior. Often it can seem like there isn’t a spec that doesn’t suit a racy old 911, but this really hits the spot. The seats are Recaro CS buckets, what were plastic switchers are now billet aluminium, and the rear seats are swapped out for a carbon storage deck (leather trimmed, of course) for a lovely pair of weekend bags. Also buried back there are a pair of subwoofers, working in conjunction with an Audison amp and Focal speakers for a top-tier audio experience. There’s even wireless charging. Nothing we haven’t seen before, if still really rather nice.
This particular Theon commission has very much been built with proper trips in mind, too, including repositioned pedals to reduce the awkward offset of old 911s. One person’s classic quirk is another’s retro annoyance, after all. This 4.0-litre also gets 17-inch wheels (where most Theons use 18s) and a ‘more compliant’ tune for the TracTive dampers, the idea being that this is ‘at home on pock-marked British roads.’ It’s a brave soul that would take half a million quid worth of Porsche on anything less than the best British roads, but the customer gets what the customer wants in the world of Theon. You just know it’s going to be epic wherever it ends up, too.
Because while the suspension might be a little accommodating this time around, the rest of the Theon spec is just as hardcore as we’ve come to expect. The flat-six makes 425hp at 7,600rpm, honking through those incredible intake trumpets and promising a sound like an RSR. The six-speed is built to 993 RS spec, as are the brakes. As is becoming a Theon hallmark, the body is carbon fibre; alongside a seam-welded chassis, it promises great rigidity and a useful weight saving - this is said to weigh just 1,150kg. A 964 Carrera is more than 200kg lardier. So you can see how this is going to be a pretty special driving experience.
Theon Co-Founder Adam Hawley said of the latest build: “Our latest commission, built for a British customer, is a refined, timeless take on our air-cooled 911 recipe. The client wanted to create a 911 that spoke softly - classically elegant to look at and subtle to the untrained eye - but carried a big stick… Mechanically, we’ve optimised it specifically for British roads, with touring-focused suspension that delivers exceptional compliance over our uniquely challenging surfaces. It all adds up to create a sophisticated, truly rounded machine that is just as at home loping along a motorway as it is howling along Welsh B-road.”
The customer in question is surely going to be thrilled - how could they not be? Should you have a similar idea, Theon builds start at £420,000 without the donor car. Which is a big enough expense on its own: what with so many being snapped up for reimagination, the cheapest 964 C2 manual on PH is now nearly £100,000. And would you really want to tinker too much with something so valuable? Still, it’s great news if you have something similar to sell…
Only thing I'm not sold on is the quad pipes, a few too many but who am I to complain?
Can't just have any old pleb driving round in one of these. They have their brand image to consider you know.
Can't just have any old pleb driving round in one of these. They have their brand image to consider you know.
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