The Quest for Perfection: Thornley Kelham Reveals The European RS
Thornley Kelham, award-winning restoration specialists and world-class experts in the art of bespoke classic cars, has revealed the European RS – the first of a collection of reimagined automotive icons in its European programme. A Porsche 911 restored to concours standards and then thoughtfully upgraded for modern day performance, every example of the European RS will be tailored to each customer’s exact specification. A masterpiece of hand-made engineering and craftsmanship, it requires more than 6,000 hours to complete, and no more than 25 will ever be made.
The European Collection cars are a celebration of a golden era in European car design – a period that delivered some of the most beautiful and revered cars of all time. Taking everything that made them so special, and reimagining them for the expectations of today, they are faster, sharper, more reliable, and more practical, but just as beautiful and engaging as the legends that inspired their creation. The European RS is the first car to be completed, with customer examples of the European SL – a restored and upgraded Porsche 356 – and European GT – a redesigned and reengineered Jaguar XK – completed later this year.
The guiding philosophy for each car is: ‘The Design. The Details. The Drive’. Reinterpreted and reimagined by Thornley Kelham’s team of designers and engineers using cutting-edge technology, and meticulously built by hand using the very same craftsmen and techniques that have won major concours awards throughout the world. This philosophy ensures that even in the ultra-competitive world of modified, updated and re-thought 911s, The European RS stands alone.
Simon Thornley, Thornley Kelham Co-Founder, said: “Our European Collection is a celebration of some of the most beautiful and iconic cars of all time, maintaining their allure and thrill but bringing their usability and performance into the 21st Century. The European RS combines the pure engagement of the original 1973 Carrera 2.7RS but comes complete with a lightweight, handcrafted body and reimagined, driver-focused interior. This is a truly unique car imbued with the nuanced dynamics and feedback of the legendary 2.7RS, the thrill of the 2.8RSR, and performance, precision and progressive handling of the legendary 997GT3 RS 4.0.
“The European name was once used by Porsche in the USA to capitalise on a trend for lightweight, engaging sports cars that had become all the rage in the country after US servicemen brought them back home from Europe after WW2. This golden era, that lasted from the ‘50s through to the ‘70s, was perhaps the greatest ever time for sports car design and innovation. WithTthe European RS we have worked hard to capture that magical period and evolved it to the tastes and expectations of the modern supercar buyer.”
The meticulous build process begins with sourcing a pre-964 donor, selected because of its inherent lightness. The bare shell is extensively modified by an experienced team of metal workers, making it longer (+19mm), lower (-51mm), and wider (+220mm), and with wider front and rear track (+112mm and +214mm respectively) to enable the car’s more planted, poised stance and to accommodate the uprated chassis. It is also seam welded for greater strength and stiffness – torsional rigidity is increased further by the custom-engineered roll cage.
To keep weight down, the new front and rear bumpers are made from carbon fibre composite, and so too is the ‘ducktail’ rear spoiler. Further weight savings are achieved by replacing the original glass rear three-quarter windows with polycarbonate. Doors and bonnet are aluminium-skinned. Perfecting the finished body – entirely by hand – requires more than 2,500 hours to achieve a Concours-standard finish. The renowned Thornley Kelham preparation and painting process is one of the most comprehensive in the whole automotive industry.
The updated interior is at once instantly familiar, yet thoughtfully updated to bespoke modernity. Hand-crafted, updated with new technology and outfitted with the finest materials, such as Connolly leather and Alcantara, as well as enhanced sound deadening for greater refinement – this is a car designed to be comfortable enough for everyday use.
One-piece carbon fibre Recaro seats, Momo Prototipo Black Edition steering wheel and repositioned gear lever for the G50 6-speed manual transmission, are subtle updates to the original, while the instruments retain their classic look but are re-engineered to suit the all-new electrical system and are set in a dashboard offered in a range of expertly-crafted finishes. Further options are available for all of these features.
