For some reason, Porsche purists tend to hate everything their beloved company does. These days, they're horrified by the use of two different fonts on the 992-generation 911's rear decklid, plus the use of turbochargers in non-Turbo cars. But the trend goes all the way back to the original 911, which was deemed too angular compared to the 356 when it debuted as the 901. Today, however, a Porsche counterculture appears to be growing, with safari builds on the rise and plenty of engine swaps galore. Perhaps the groundswell explains why Hoonigan AutoFocus host Larry Chen branched out from the usual crop of JDM tuners to check out a 993-swapped 911 restomod in Louisiana.
Viper Green With Envy
The car comes courtesy of NolaSport, a Porsche shop operating out of Metairie, and looks downright mean in Viper Green paint. Chen was invited to drive this 911 by Dylan Scheurich of NolaSport. But the paint job and front oil cooler scream out that something serious might lurk under the hood, and as soon as Chen and Scheurich fire the engine up to go for a spin, the growling exhaust gives away all the work beneath the skin.
No Sound System Required
Hanging off the rear axle lurks a 993-generation 911's 3.6-liter VarioRam flat-six, which benefits from a 2016 GT3 RS's center muffler in the exhaust system but remains largely stock and fits fairly well into the rear engine bay. Given that NolaSport didn't really upgrade the powerplant, it should be producing somewhere around 272 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque, but in a car that weighs far less than a 993.
Interior Upgrades
The quick footage of Chen driving the car reveals how small the steering wheel is, but the rest of the interior looks relatively roomy and he comes away especially happy with the seats, which were shipped in from Europe and feature classic houndstooth inserts. The shifter also stands out, offering more precise throws that Chen was able to pick up quite easily—or at least, more easily than on the standard factory shift mechanisms that Porsche shipped originally and collectors prize so much today. Impressively, all the gauges still function and there's no way to miss how much Chen loves driving the car, proving that sometimes, these heretical builds can turn out even better than older and newer cars alike.
Sources: youtube.com and nolasport.net.