They look standard. That is to say that they look largely like the lightweight plastic stalks on any 993 or Porsche of the same generation. To the touch, however, they are cool, metallic and operate with slick precision, rather than a plastic click. This is because they’re machined from aluminium to be a tactile treat. I like the fact they could have been ‘blinged’ up to emphasise the point, and that a vast amount of time and trouble has gone into what is a mundane piece of interior functionality, but the feel is enough. Understated is the word and it suits this build perfectly.
There’s more. The usually plastic rotary controls for the lights and the equally flimsy switchgear for the ventilation and air-conditioning may look standard, but they’re machined from aluminium and anodised in black, the function of each control engraved, rather than printed. We know all about the ‘three Ps’, but this is the ‘three Ds’: detail, detail, detail! And it all bodes well, because if this is the effort invested into minor interior componentry, then what about the rest of this car?!
I’ve been following the build for the best part of five years. From a bare shell to its current finished form, this personalised 993 has been a long time coming, but for good reason. The mission statement? To build the best 993 Carrera and improve on it by twenty-five percent. Why a 993 and not a 964? Well, if you want to build the ultimate air-cooled 911, then starting with the most evolved version of the air-cooled 911 is the best starting point, surely? So thinks Paul Stephens, the marque specialist charged with
