A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity To Own 1 Of 2 Singer ACS

This safari-style 911 resto-mod can be yours, provided your bank account is as bold as the car's design

by Amrit Balraj on August 9, 2024, 12:00

The Singer ACS has been controversial since it first came out in 2021. Its rally-car-inspired looks and performance specs made a splash in the automotive world. Drawing design cues from iconic rally cars like the 911 SC/RS and the Paris-Dakar 959, the Safari-style ACS is built on a Type 964 air-cooled Porsche 911 platform. Two versions were researched and developed for a long-standing client of Singers, with the agreement that more would be built later - one for dessert rallying and one for tarmac.

Unfortunately, Porsche was displeased with their name placement on the ACS and got their legal team involved. Shortly thereafter all traces of the ACS vanished from Singer’s media channels. Porsche was happy that a brand like Singer was keeping their older models on the road and growing the brand community. However, they also sent out a statement "We are glad to have a growing community of Porsche enthusiasts. They help us to ensure that so many Porsche cars originally built decades ago remain on the road and are still being enjoyed. At the same time, we have a responsibility to our customers to ensure that Porsche products – designed and engineered by us – can be clearly and easily identified."

The ACS is currently available for sale on Joe Macari In London
Only 2 variants of the ACS were planned, one for dessert rallying and one for tarmac.
The ACS is built on a classic Type 964 air-cooled Porsche 911 platform.

The Conception Of The Singer ACS

A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity To Own 1 Of 2 Singer ACS storyboard - image 188924

Earlier this year Porsche filed and quickly settled a lawsuit against Singer Vehicle Design, which many assumed was centered on Singer’s All-terrain Competition Study (ACS) model. However, newly revealed court documents display a far more complex legal battle between the two companies. Porsche’s legal issue with Singer Vehicle Design hinges on their disagreement about brand identity and creative freedom. Porsche escalated its dispute with Singer over the DLS and DLS Turbo models.

The German automaker argued that the DLS was more than just a customized Porsche; it was effectively a new, limited production model inappropriately using existing Porsche VINs. Despite Singer’s insistence on presenting the DLS and DLS Turbo with prominent Porsche branding, including at high-profile events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Porsche demanded the removal of these badges. The situation intensified when Porsche objected to the even more powerful DLS Turbo, only to see it receive overwhelming public acclaim. These factors created a significant rift between the two companies, culminating in Porsche’s formal legal action. For those of you interested in the legal details you can take a look at it here.

The All-Terrain Competition Study Was Built To Shred Dirt Roads

A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity To Own 1 Of 2 Singer ACS storyboard - image 187972

Singer Vehicle Design worked with UK-based Porsche restoration specialists Tuthill to create this unique beefed-up 911. The Singer ACS cuts quite a formidable figure, with its heightened stance on forged aluminum 8x16’’ wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires. The full list of modifications include:

Enhanced off-road capability with jacked-up ride height, and long travel suspension with a total of eight dampers, each with 5 levels of adjustment.
Rear-mounted twin-turbo 3.6-liter flat-six engine with an output of 450 horsepower and 420 foot-pounds of torque.
Sequential 5-speed racing transmission with 3 differentials for front, center, and rear limited-slip differentials sending power to all 4 wheels. Paddle shifters are also provided.
Reinforced monocoque with lightweight carbon-fiber body panels designed for quick replacement and easy underbody access.
Interiors outfitted with custom FIA-certified racing seats, a hydration system, an advanced GPS, and an FIA-certified roll cage.
Monoblock steel disc brakes with 4 pistons linked to hydraulic hand brake
Parallax White paint job with custom orange livery
2 full-size tires placed in the front trunk and rear trunk
Long-range fuel tank

As you can see the ACS is no garage queen, and would be the perfect companion to your next extreme adventure. If you would like to own this unique, and 1 of 2 creations, it is currently on sale at Joe Macari’s Performance Cars website. The price is currently ’on asking’, which I expect would be well over 1 million dollars, considering the development funds that went into its creation. Is it worth the asking price, or would you be better off trying to buy a second-hand Porsche 911 Dakar? The fun factor is a given with this, but the Dakar can be yours for less than half the cost of the ACS. The Dakar also comes with a whole gamut of Porsche factory-branded accessories like the roof tent and auxiliary lights. However, the ACS is far, far cooler, especially when you consider that we might never see something like it again.

Amrit Balraj

When not reading up or watching videos about obscure and rare automobiles, Amrit spends his free time planning imaginary road trips on some of the best driving roads in the world, preferably in an old truck with a motorcycle strapped to the bed. Read full bio