- Inspired by the 2.7 RS and GT3 RS 4.0 – New European RS by Thornley Kelham aims to deliver the best characteristics of two of the most engaging Porsche 911s ever
- Lightness, from the ground up – Starting with a pre-964 donor car, The European RS can be up to 300kg lighter than 964-based cars. It weighs just 1,070kgs with a full tank of fuel
- Over 6,000 hours of craftsmanship – Engineered and hand-finished by a world-renowned award-winning team of restorers and engine builders
- Air-cooled perfection – Three flat-six air-cooled engines are available; a 3.8-litre 12v with around 385hp is standard, a 3.6-litre 24v – revving to 10,000rpm – or a torquier 4.0-litre 24v with more than 400hp are also available
- The Design – Longer, lower and wider, featuring new front and rear bumpers, as well as a bespoke ducktail spoiler – all constructed from lightweight carbon fibre
- The Details – Trimmed with the finest materials, with various interior styling options, and benefiting from climate control and various infotainment system options, the interior is driver-focussed, instantly familiar, yet thoughtfully update
- The Drive – Bespoke suspension, uprated brakes (optional carbon ceramics), quicker steering rack, and mechanical limited-slip differential improve every aspect of vehicle dynamics
- Exclusivity guaranteed – A maximum of 25 European RS cars will be completed, with the first three either complete or underway
- To download hi-res images click here
Thornley Kelham, award-winning restoration specialists and world-class experts in the art of bespoke classic cars, has revealed the European RS – the first of a collection of reimagined automotive icons in its European programme. A Porsche 911 restored to concours standards and then thoughtfully upgraded for modern day performance, every example of the European RS will be tailored to each customer’s exact specification. A masterpiece of hand-made engineering and craftsmanship, it requires more than 6,000 hours to complete, and no more than 25 will ever be made.
The European Collection cars are a celebration of a golden era in European car design – a period that delivered some of the most beautiful and revered cars of all time. Taking everything that made them so special, and reimagining them for the expectations of today, they are faster, sharper, more reliable, and more practical, but just as beautiful and engaging as the legends that inspired their creation. The European RS is the first car to be completed, with customer examples of the European SL – a restored and upgraded Porsche 356 – and European GT – a redesigned and reengineered Jaguar XK – completed later this year.
The guiding philosophy for each car is: ‘The Design. The Details. The Drive’. Reinterpreted and reimagined by Thornley Kelham’s team of designers and engineers using cutting-edge technology, and meticulously built by hand using the very same craftsmen and techniques that have won major concours awards throughout the world. This philosophy ensures that even in the ultra-competitive world of modified, updated and re-thought 911s, The European RS stands alone.
Simon Thornley, Thornley Kelham Co-Founder, said: “Our European Collection is a celebration of some of the most beautiful and iconic cars of all time, maintaining their allure and thrill but bringing their usability and performance into the 21st Century. The European RS combines the pure engagement of the original 1973 Carrera 2.7RS but comes complete with a lightweight, handcrafted body and reimagined, driver-focused interior. This is a truly unique car imbued with the nuanced dynamics and feedback of the legendary 2.7RS, the thrill of the 2.8RSR, and performance, precision and progressive handling of the legendary 997GT3 RS 4.0.
“The European name was once used by Porsche in the USA to capitalise on a trend for lightweight, engaging sports cars that had become all the rage in the country after US servicemen brought them back home from Europe after WW2. This golden era, that lasted from the ‘50s through to the ‘70s, was perhaps the greatest ever time for sports car design and innovation. WithTthe European RS we have worked hard to capture that magical period and evolved it to the tastes and expectations of the modern supercar buyer.”
The meticulous build process begins with sourcing a pre-964 donor, selected because of its inherent lightness. The bare shell is extensively modified by an experienced team of metal workers, making it longer (+19mm), lower (-51mm), and wider (+220mm), and with wider front and rear track (+112mm and +214mm respectively) to enable the car’s more planted, poised stance and to accommodate the uprated chassis. It is also seam welded for greater strength and stiffness – torsional rigidity is increased further by the custom-engineered roll cage.
To keep weight down, the new front and rear bumpers are made from carbon fibre composite, and so too is the ‘ducktail’ rear spoiler. Further weight savings are achieved by replacing the original glass rear three-quarter windows with polycarbonate. Doors and bonnet are aluminium-skinned. Perfecting the finished body – entirely by hand – requires more than 2,500 hours to achieve a Concours-standard finish. The renowned Thornley Kelham preparation and painting process is one of the most comprehensive in the whole automotive industry.
The updated interior is at once instantly familiar, yet thoughtfully updated to bespoke modernity. Hand-crafted, updated with new technology and outfitted with the finest materials, such as Connolly leather and Alcantara, as well as enhanced sound deadening for greater refinement – this is a car designed to be comfortable enough for everyday use.
One-piece carbon fibre Recaro seats, Momo Prototipo Black Edition steering wheel and repositioned gear lever for the G50 6-speed manual transmission, are subtle updates to the original, while the instruments retain their classic look but are re-engineered to suit the all-new electrical system and are set in a dashboard offered in a range of expertly-crafted finishes. Further options are available for all of these features.
The climate control system – a lightweight system weighing only 14kg – is operated using anodised CNC-machined knobs, while neatly integrated alongside it is the optional Porsche PCCM infotainment system complete with Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity. Features such as the bespoke leather door pull straps and lightweight Mazac alloy window winders demonstrate the attention to detail and world-class craftsmanship that define Thornley Kelham’s approach.
From the moment the driver has settled into their seat, checked the instruments, and turned the period-correct 1970s Porsche ignition key, the air-cooled flat-six behind comes to life with an at once unmistakeable yet distinctly different sound. Hand-built around a 993 block enlarged to 3.8-litres together with billet aluminium cylinder heads and assembled with motorsport-proven components including forged Mahle pistons, bespoke camshafts and individual throttle bodies, the 11.8:1 high-compression unit develops 385bhp at 7,700pm, and 290 lb-ft torque at 6,000rpm.
Complete with fuel injection, a Le Mans Prototype – derived Life Racing ECU & PDU, and custom exhaust system, it is engineered to combine day-to-day tractability and usability with the pure thrill of a free-revving, naturally aspirated, thoroughbred engine, accompanied by a hard-edged, spine-tingling howl all the way up to the 8,000 rpm redline.
Customers seeking even more performance have two other engine options: a 4-litre 24-valve unit offering over 400 bhp and more low-down torque, or a free-revving 3.6-litre unit, also 24-valve, with a 10,000rpm rev limit. Both are matched to a 6-speed G50 manual transmission. An F1-quality lightweight Inconel and titanium exhaust system is an option.
Recognising that the Porsche 911 has always been one of the most engaging sports cars ever made, the aim was to enhance its character to bring it in line with the expectations of a modern performance car owner. To achieve this, every part of the chassis was comprehensively assessed and updated to deliver the experience envisioned at the start, and to ensure that drivers can fully exploit the car’s performance.
Using suspension components including bespoke front wishbones based on the modern-day GT3, the standard passive set up includes JRZ Motorsport four-way adjustable coilovers with Eibach springs, and hollow, adjustable anti-roll bar to deliver markedly improved turn-in and precision. Agility and responsiveness are taken to the next level thanks to the Quaife steering rack, which – at just 2.5 turns lock-to-lock – is quicker than the original.
Customers may specify EPAS as an option.
The rear trailing arms in lightweight aluminium are lighter and stiffer, and, together with JRZ coilovers, Eibach springs, adjustable hollow anti-roll bar, and Wavetrac limited-slip differential, enhance traction and control, and ensure predictable, progressive handling on all surfaces and in all conditions.
Adaptive damping is also available as an option.
Delivering exceptional stopping power and fade-resistance is a braking system featuring 6-piston and 4-piston radially mounted calipers front and rear respectively, together with 2-piece vented and cross-drilled discs. For even higher performance, a carbon ceramic braking system is an option, which also reduces unsprung mass by 17kg.
Completing the full suite of chassis upgrades are the 18-inch Fikse FFR wheels. Inspired by the timeless Fuchs wheels synonymous with the 911, the 3-piece, 5-spoke design is custom made in aircraft-grade aluminium and features a matt nickel finish with black inner rims and polished outer lip. As standard, they are fitted with 225/40/ZR18 front and 265/35/ZR18 rear Michelin Pilot 4S tyres, with Michelin Cup 2 tyres among the many other options available. With final development and testing complete, The European RS order book is now open, with production strictly limited to no more than 25 examples. Thornley Kelham’s expert team will work with each customer to tailor the perfect specification for their commission, and customers are encouraged to visit the firm’s Cotswolds Headquarters to tour the workshops and meet the team of experts who will be responsible for handcrafting their car.
