- This new 911 restomod from Theon Design offers a better power-to-weight than the 2025 911 GT3
- The 964-gen-based Theon R throws back to several special low-volume 911 models from the past
- Only 24 are set to be built, with a price tag of CDN$1.4 million each, not including donor car
Theon Design is a U.K.-based boutique car manufacturer that focuses on building classic Porsche 911 restomods. Driven by the singular goal of “creating the ultimate air-cooled Porsche 911,” the specialty car-maker may just have struck gold with its latest masterpiece. Dubbed the Theon R, the newest addition to the lineup is a modern reimagination of a 964-generation Porsche 911.
In designing the Theon R, the development team focused on two main themes: weight reduction and power. It is safe to say they delivered on both goals, because this is the lightest and most powerful Porsche 964 from Theon Design’s stables yet. According to the company, the Theon R draws inspiration from 911 legends like the original 911 R and the 3.2 Club Sport from the 1980s.
The Theon R project begins with a donor Porsche 964, which is then stripped to its bare chassis and reinforced with a carbon-fibre tub. At its heart is an ear-splitting air-cooled 4.0-litre flat-six that red-lines at 9,000 rpm. The mill grinds out 500 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, which may not seem like a lot in today’s world of thousand-horsepower supercars. However, the Theon R mitigates that power “deficit” (if you can call it that) with a claimed sub-2,200-lb (-998-kg) curb weight. That’s less than the current-gen Mazda Miata!
Theon Design claims this results in a power-to-weight combination that is better than any production 911 from Porsche, even the just-released 992.2-generation 911 GT3. Coincidentally, the Theon R’s performance is about on par with that car, as it’s able to launch from zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) in three seconds, and hit 100 mph (160 km/h) in just 6.5 seconds.
To pull off the R’s impressive weight, Theon Design extensively utilized Formula One-grade carbon-fibre. The lightweight material was used for the tub and all body panels, including the front splitter, rear diffuser, flat floor, and signature whale tail. Porsche 911 RS-style lightweight windows shave off a few pounds, and so do the magnesium-carbon-fibre Minilite wheels.
The Theon R’s performance is further enhanced by cutting-edge components like carbon-ceramic brakes and a Motion Control Suspension system from Porsche’s racing programs.
“It is not a car for the faint of heart,” says company founder Adam Hawley, who claims the Theon R is the most hardcore, bespoke model he’s turned out yet. “It’s the ultimate expression of all our 964-based learning, inspired by Porsche’s special low-volume models of the past and present. It’s our take on the ultimate lightweight air-cooled 911 road car.”
Only 24 examples of the Theon R are planned, each taking about 18 months to build. Bespoke models are pricey, and the Theon R is no exception. Interested clients can expect to part with a minimum of CDN$1.4 million (US$1 million), and that does not include the donor Porsche 964 car.
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