We love to hear from our customers. Connect with us today and let’s start a conversation.
Tuthill Porsche 911K review: What does 11,000 rpm sound like?
31/01/2024 By Harris Cumming
Weighing just 850 kgs and producing over 350 bhp, Tuthill’s creation turns the ‘70s 911 up to 11 (literally). Join Gordon Shedden and Vicki Butler-Henderson as they sample every last rev.
Typically, restomods take the handsome vintage styling of a classic and bring the internals up to modern standards. However, at Tuthill, they do things a little differently: their 911K isn’t just as good as a modern car to drive, it’s better.
From the outside it looks just like an exceptionally well-preserved 1970s Porsche 911 — and that’s the point. But, while the panels, wheels, and glass might all appear identical to the original, they’ve been carefully re-engineered to shed vital kgs. From the bonnet to the bumpers carbon is employed extensively on the exterior. Then, inside, almost everything — including the heater controls and radio — has been gutted to further Tuthill’s lightweight mission. As the DriverReviews hosts discover, you won’t miss that stereo for long.
So, what exactly does 11,000 rpm sound and feel like in a car which weighs the same as a Lotus Elise? Pretty phenomenal, apparently. As they ring out the downsized 3.1-litre flat six all the way to redline, Vicki and Gordon are blown away by the visceral auditory experience. Vicki exclaims “I can’t even speak; I feel like I’m in another world or a movie”.
Need new performance tyres?
Enter your registration and postcode and we’ll show you the best tyres for your car
Make no mistake, though, just because this 911 is brimming with modern parts, it doesn't drive itself. Gordon revels in the physicality of the controls, arguing that “you have to drive the car from your shoulders, rather than fingertips”. Equally, the pedal offset and requirement to manually rev match each downshift, mean this is a machine that’s best treated with concentration and respect.
But what inspired such a creation? And how much will one set you back? Find out in the full video as Vicki quizzes founder, Richard Tuthill.
Blackcircles.com is partnering with DriverReviews to bring you more great motoring content and the latest new car reviews.