The Porsche 911 is known for its rear-mounted engine, but Australian tuners ShowTime and Repco have taken a radically different approach. Their 1,200-horsepower track machine uses a twin-turbocharged V8 mounted at the front, transforming a 996-generation 911 into something far removed from the standard car.
A Porsche 911 With a Twin-Turbo V8
The builders call the car the ShowTime Repco-Mod 933. It starts with the 996-generation Porsche 911, the version available in the United States from 1999 through 2005, but extensive modifications have left little resemblance to the original machine.
Among the changes are round headlights from later 911 iterations. Large openings in the hood expose the twin-turbocharged LSX V8 and its upward-pointing custom exhaust.
The engine produces more than 1,200 horsepower. Because the V8 occupies the front of the car, the cooling system has been moved to the rear, where a Porsche flat-six would normally sit. The car also uses an eight-speed gearbox sourced from Bentley.
More Than 2,000 Hours of Fabrication
Converting the normally rear-engined 911 into a front-engine track car required extensive fabrication. The builders estimate that the project took more than 2,000 hours, including the construction of a new firewall, floor and transmission tunnel.
The widened fenders are made from aluminum, while the roof, hood and doors use carbon fiber. An integrated roll cage has also been installed inside the car.
The extent of the work was particularly visible when the build was shown before receiving paint or body trim.
A Different Look Inside and Out
The car’s exterior color also breaks from Porsche tradition. It uses Sandy Taupe, a shade that comes from the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Inside, the cabin has been stripped down and fitted with a pair of Recaro racing seats covered in Porsche’s Pepita black-and-white checkered fabric.
The driver uses a motorsport-spec multifunction steering wheel and a digital instrument cluster. Two tall carbon-fiber levers rise from the center console, with one serving as the sequential gearshift and the other as the handbrake.
The 911 Donor Was Already a “Tired Shell”
For Porsche purists concerned about the transformation, the builders say the donor car was “a tired shell and boxes of parts.” As a result, the project did not take a pristine 911 off the road.
Repco’s Australian Motorsport History
Repco also has a significant place in Australian motorsport history. In 1966, Jack Brabham won the Formula One Drivers’ World Championship driving the Repco-Brabham BT19 race car, while the team also won the Formula One Constructors’ World Championship.
It was the only time that the Formula One champion won the title in a vehicle of his own make and run by his own team.
