The Ateliers Diva Blends Classic 911 Style With A 400bhp Race Engine

As if the world didn’t already have access to enough stunningly beautiful and outrageously over-engined Porsche resto-mods, the French are getting in on the act with this: the Ateliers Diva, in Targa body style.

Also available in Coupe and Safari(!) body styles, just 25 of each will be made at an unknown price that would most likely make us cry. Each will start out as an ordinary 964, which is stripped back to its chassis and comprehensively refreshed throughout. Then a hand-made carbonfibre body is built back onto the 964 guts, made to look like a classic 911 but actually 30mm wider.

The original engine is removed (but, we hope, not destroyed). In its place slots an all-new 4.2-litre engine of unspecified configuration – presumably another flat-six or it wouldn’t fit – with a healthy 400bhp on tap. That carbon bodywork helps keep weight down to “just over 1100kg,” so the Diva should move.

Described as ‘essentially a racing spec engine for the road’ but without accompanying technical details, the car’s makers Crubilé Sport say it offers sensational performance and will stir the soul. Elsewhere there’s a ‘specialist’ adjustable suspension system and a custom-fabricated exhaust designed to sound as fantastic as possible. We can’t wait to hear it.

Inside, the classic 911 design cues continue with the wooden dashboard strip, steering wheel and gear knob, while the seats are retro-styled modern items with tall bolsters and multi-way electric adjustment. It’s one of the finest-looking interiors we’ve ever seen, crowned as it is by a jaw-dropping five-dial instrument cluster.

Naturally, buyers with this sort of money can customise their order whichever way they like, as long as it doesn’t offend the makers’ delicate Parisian traditions too much.

Each car takes 12 months to build, according to the firm. It’s a good job they can build several at once, then, or they’d still be going after 75 years. The Targa you see here is due for a UK debut at the Salon Prive show at Blenheim Palace, which is due to run during 5-8 September.