The Singer ACS is the ultimate off‑road 911

The former’s bread and butter is, famously, exquisitely ‘reimagined’ 911s to create the ultimate air-cooled road car. These reimagined Porsche 911s, stunning as they are, are better-suited to the Stelvio Pass than the Dakar or Baja 1000. That’s why, when asked to prepare the ultimate off-road 911, Singer reached out to Tuthill for what has to give Marvel a run for its money as one of the coolest team-ups we’ve ever seen. The ACS is Singer and Tuthill’s no-expense-spared tribute to Porsche’s extensive rallying history. Let’s get into it.

The ACS starts life, believe it or not, as a road-going 1990 964 911, though you wouldn’t have guessed it. In part a nod to the Safari 911s, in part aping the more extreme 959 Dakar, it utilises stunning custom carbon clams front and back that are easily-released for speedy in-situ repairs. Yes, we notice those modern RSR-style front lights too and how could you miss those enormous rubber aero appendages up front. Very cool...

Not that the Singer ACS should need repairs much, given how beefed up it is for the job of clattering rock formations and slithering across beaches. The 964’s monocoque is strengthened, while everything that sprouts from it is custom. Bespoke subframes and long-travel suspension with five-way adjustable twin-dampers at all corners are pure art. Under the 959 Dakar-esque rear clam hides a 3.6-litre twin-turbo flat-six, rated modestly at 450PS (331kW). To look at, as is oh-so Singer, the engine is just pure Porsche porn. Protecting it all is specially-rated easy-release 5mm alloy underplating.

It’s all-wheel-drive obviously, with three limited-slip diffs and a sequential five-speed transmission that shifts via a lever or paddles. More power and an extra gear can be had to suit the needs of individual events. Monstrous BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres wrapping forged alloy wheels complete the look and yes, there are two full-sized spares front and back.

The cabin is exquisite for a competition-spec vehicle. Then again, this is Singer we’re talking about, so it wouldn’t be any other way. A large state-of-the-art navigation screen juxtaposes the resto-modded classic cabin style and architecture, as does the screen sitting in the binnacle where ordinarily you’d find five analogue dials. Paint splatter-design FIA-rated seats that match the roll cage are very artistic, as is the retro-futuristic steering wheel. There’s even a rehydration system for when you’re feeling a bit parched as you leap across Saharan dunes. The Singer fetishism is exuded in every detail, carrying over unabridged in the transition from road to rally and into this collaboration with rough and ready rally legends Tuthill.

So can you have one? Well, in spite of this project being the result of a single buyer’s commission, Singer has permission to make more for a variety of customer needs. The ACS is the test bed for what will be an off-road Singer at the ultimate extreme. Those customer cars will be prepared at Tuthill’s stunning facility in Oxfordshire and full racing maintenance packages will be available. As for price? Well, you put what you want out of your car to Singer and Tuthill and they’ll give you a price. These guys don’t pinch pennies, so the sky's the limit...

“So much of what we’ve done for the last decade has been inspired by Porsche’s competition success and the All-terrain Competition Study provides us the opportunity to showcase that idea literally and vividly,” said Rob Dickinson, Founder and Executive Chairman at Singer.

“Like Williams Advanced Engineering before them with the Dynamics & Lightweighting Study, Richard Tuthill and his incredible team have allowed us to bring our vision for the All-terrain Competition Study to life in the most spectacular way. We’ve taken particular inspiration from the iconic Rothmans-sponsored 911 SC/RSs and 959s that conquered events like the Qatar International Rally and Paris-Dakar in the mid-‘80s and, at the request of our client, have reimagined these all-terrain 911’s in their honor while utilizing fresh perspectives and state of the art know-how.”