Rezvani Motors, traditionally known for its armored vehicle conversions has ventured into the classic sports car market with the launch of its Rezvani RR1. When I first saw the RR1, my inner child went ballistic, because; a modern take on the iconic Porsche 935 race car of the 1970s? Sign me up! Now, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a modern-day makeover of the 935, a.k.a, the Mobydick. Porsche themselves unveiled their version, based on the 991 chassis, back in 2019, limited to 77 examples.

Rezvani Motors is the latest to join the 935 crazr and as part of their Retro builds, the RR1 will be available in three distinct versions and is limited to just 50 examples. Rezvani has already commenced the conversion process with several deliveries of each made-to-order RR1 set to commence soon. But after dissecting the details, this Rezvani creation is a mixed bag of pure joy and head-scratching decisions.

This 935-Inspired 992 By Rezvani Combines The Best Of Both Worlds

First, the good stuff. The carbon fiber bodywork is a knockout. It captures the essence of the late ’70s 935 Kremer liveried racers perfectly, with that iconic sloping Slantnose hood, narrow headlights (though the Taycan four-point headlights throw me off a bit), and of course, the integrated massive rear wing. The aesthetic is pure retro-futurism, and I can’t wait to see it carve up a racetrack.

The fact that Rezvani is offering a manual transmission with some of these packages is pure gold. In a world of paddle shifters and automatics, a throwback to a proper stick shift in a car like this is the stuff dreams are made of. And let’s not forget the naturally aspirated option! A screaming, high-revving flat-six sounds absolutely divine to me– a stark contrast to the turbocharged norm these days.

Options

• Steel Roll Cage: + $5,500

• Racing Harness: + $750

• Upgraded Brembo Brakes: + $7,500

• Lightweight Polycarbonate Windows: +$2,700

• Custom Livery Graphics: +$2,500

Now, for the questionable bits. Those wheels. They’re just too damn big. Yes, I know design is a subjective matter, but for me, they seem to throw off the proportions a bit and make the car look a tad bit cartoonish. Then there are the weird tubular intakes on the front bumper. I get the connection they’re trying to make to the original 935 headlights, but in execution, they just look out of place.

The price tag is another hurdle. While the $149,000 starting price for the first five units is tempting, that’s on top of the cost of the donor Porsche (Carrera S, GT3, or Turbo S, depending on the package) if you’re lucky enough to even get your hands on one, to begin with. Let’s be honest, if you already own a 992 GT3, are you really going to rip it apart to turn it into something else?

Personally, the RR1 565 would actually be my pick of the three available options. Now, while you’re in essence tampering with an original GT3, I’d argue that a car like this would be amongst a handful of examples to get this conversion kit, making it that much more desirable and collectible. Picture this, a naturally aspirated engine, with a stick - inspired by Porsche motorsport royalty and period-correct, livery. Is it something that you can even buy off the shelf from Porsche today? Tell me, something like that could not win over even the most staunch Porschephile. Regardless, for someone with a hankering for a 935 vibe and a deep enough wallet, even the 550 horsepower conversion on a Carrera S could be mighty tempting.

Overall, the Rezvani RR1 is a fascinating concept. It’s a bold reimagining of a legendary Porsche racecar, and the option for a manual transmission and a naturally aspirated engine is a breath of fresh air. But some of those design choices and the hefty price tag make it a car that will likely appeal to a very specific niche. Still, I can’t wait to see some real-life footage of this thing in action. Who knows, maybe the giant wheels and awkward intakes will grow on me. But that glorious manual transmission sound? Now that’s something I can definitely get behind.

GALLERY