Theon Design has revealed their latest fully restored and enhanced example of the Porsche 911 (964), blending world-class design and engineering with absolute purity of purpose.
The third exclusive car from the company and the second to be destined for Hong Kong, HK002 – like all Theon commissions – combines OEM-level design, quality, and manufacturing techniques with obsessive attention to detail.
Paying homage to Porsche’s heritage, methodology and engineering ethos, Theon Design distills and enhances the essence of the air-cooled 911, making each car lighter, more powerful, and even more visceral to drive.
The brainchild of Adam Hawley, a Porsche obsessive and expert car designer with over two decades of automotive design experience, Theon prides itself on its design-led approach. Hawley has worked for a range of prestigious OEMs, including BMW, JLR, Lexus and Lotus, on both concept and production cars – as well as designing for Airbus on the A380.
Theon Design HK002 – Purity of Purpose expressed
As with all of the bespoke commissions undertaken by Theon Design, HK002 is based upon a stripped-back-to-bare-metal and fully restored Porsche 911 (964). Respectfully echoing Porsche’s methodology and engineering approach and paying homage to the company’s rich heritage, the Theon Design HK002 utilizes numerous design cues from Porsche models, past and present as well as concepts.
In restoring and enhancing the car, Theon Design has held steadfast to its own ‘Purity of Purpose’ ethos. Led by Hawley, the team has further distilled the character of the air-cooled 964, elevating every part of the experience.
Body build: precision meets beauty
For every Theon Design commission, state-of-the-art digital design techniques are blended with traditional hand-craftsmanship.
In order to build cars to the tightest tolerances, each component is digitized and modeled in 3D design software. This approach maximizes precision and panel fit – and also gives Theon the flexibility to ensure each car is unique, enabling it to tailor details to each customer’s individual specification.
Digital scanning is used to create molds and formers for the bespoke body – which incorporates the ‘long hood’ of early generation 911s with arches inspired by the ST and later widebody G Series/964 models – with the modified panels hand-beaten to perfection.
HK002’s body is predominantly steel, augmented by bumpers and a spoiler manufactured in carbon fiber by an F1 supplier. Theon will also undertake full-body commissions in carbon fiber, should customers desire.
Further complimenting the design are electrically adjustable, machined billet aluminum mirrors inspired by Porsche’s 2018 991 Speedster concept. This last detail perfectly encapsulates Theon’s unique approach of taking inspiration from every Porsche era.
“Our philosophy is that every detail matters,” continues Hawley. “And that goes for beneath the skin too. An owner may not see 90 percent of the car, but the same level of attention to detail goes right the way through, regardless. We treat every single component as an ‘A-surface’.”
The heart of the matter
Theon Design offers customers a wide choice of engine options, ranging from 3.6- to 4.0- liter naturally aspirated or turbocharged. The HK002 features a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter unit, producing 371bhp and 300lb-ft of torque. Its features independent throttle bodies flowed and ported heads, a lightened and balanced bottom end, Mahle barrels and pistons, Carrillo rods, and custom profile camshafts.
The drive is taken to the rear wheels through a fully rebuilt G50 six-speed manual gearbox from the 993, while the car crouches even closer to the ground than a 964 RS with KW Variant 3 dampers all round.
Reducing complexity – enhancing agility
The approach Theon Design took to the 964’s original air-conditioning, and power-steering units perfectly illustrate the team’s meticulous attention to detail. When the car left the factory, these items were mounted high up on the back of the engine. Theon Design replaced them with much more power-efficient units. They are now positioned low -down in the front of the car, which helps create a near-ideal 50:50 weight distribution. And with a full tank of fuel, the Theon Design HK002 weighs just 1248kg.
“To deliver the customer an exceptional driving experience, every single component of the car is scrutinized, accessed, and then elevated in terms of performance, quality, refinement and aesthetics,” says Hawley.
Custom-finish cabin
Theon Design has crafted every detail of the interior around the customer’s desires. Recaro front seats, finished in semi-aniline green leather with a Spinneybeck weave and contrasting yellow stripe, provide exemplary support. Contrasting carbon fiber features throughout the cabin. The center console, constructed from carbon fiber and then wrapped in leather, also features exposed carbon panels.
The Nardi steering wheel was custom stitched to match the car’s interior by Nardi itself. Even the car’s ‘frunk’ is finished to the same exquisite detail as the rest of the HK002, featuring exposed carbon side ‘pods’ and a leather-wrapped carbon fiber fuel tank cover. Theon Design has also fitted a 964 RS strut-brace, wrapped in woven leather.
Modern comforts
Delightful convenience features are subtly integrated so as not to disrupt the aesthetic of the cabin. These include a hidden reversing camera screen, which flips down once the driver engages the reverse gear. The stereo unit is hidden, ensuring a clean look to the dashboard. A magnetic wireless charger, mounted behind the dashboard, allows a smartphone to be seamlessly attached, providing control for the sound system and providing satellite navigation.
To recreate the feel of technology from another era, Theon Design has fitted cable-operated heater controls. And while these have the beautiful, manual, tactile feel of those found on a 1970’s Porsche 911, the heater is, of course, a modern, highly efficient heating and air-conditioning unit.
Prices for Theon Design commissions start at £300,000. Each car is a totally unique collaboration with the customer and takes 18 months to build.
