Singer and Louis Vuitton Reveal Two Bespoke Porsche 911s at Monterey Car Week

Key points

• The collaboration produces two unique vehicles: the LV-01 Classic coupe and the LV-02 Classic Turbo convertible, both based on the 1989-1994 Porsche 964 chassis.
• The LV-01 Classic features a saffron orange exterior with cobalt blue accents, a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six engine producing approximately 390 horsepower, and a six-speed manual transmission.
• The LV-02 Classic Turbo is a convertible with a 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine producing 510 horsepower, featuring a carbon-fibre and aluminium roof structure with no glass.
• Both cars include a removable Tambour dashboard clock that converts into a desk clock, inspired by Louis Vuitton's watch collection, which required a complete redesign of the instrument cluster.
• The interiors utilize Vachetta leather with LV-specific stitching and embossing, and the packages include bespoke luggage, clothing, and accessories, including a custom surfboard for the coupe.
• The project was developed with Nicolas Ghesquière, Louis Vuitton's artistic director for women's collections, and Jean Arnault, the brand's watch director, who noted the collaboration began with a request for a dashboard clock.

Background

Singer Vehicle Design, founded by Rob Dickinson in 2009, specializes in bespoke restomodding of vintage Porsche 911s, particularly the 964 generation. The company has previously collaborated with other luxury brands and has its own watchmaking division, Singer Reimagined. This partnership with Louis Vuitton represents a significant expansion into high-fashion collaboration, building on the brand's existing reputation for luxury travel goods and watchmaking. The reveal at Monterey Car Week highlights the growing trend of ultra-exclusive, one-off automotive projects that blend performance with haute couture.

How outlets are covering it

Monochrome Watches emphasizes the technical and design substance of the collaboration, noting that it goes beyond simple branding to include genuine watchmaking and design integration. Wallpaper.com highlights the role of Louis Vuitton's artistic director, Nicolas Ghesquière, and the watch director, Jean Arnault, in shaping the project, focusing on the craftsmanship and the origin of the collaboration from a single dashboard clock. Robb Report provides a visual focus, detailing specific interior details like the gearshift inspired by the Noé handbag and the marquetry on the surfboard. Car Magazine places the collaboration within the broader context of the restomod boom at Monterey Car Week, comparing it to other non-Porsche Porsche projects like RUF and Gembella, and noting that this is the first time Louis Vuitton has partnered with a car company. A comment on Monochrome Watches from a reader criticizes the design as 'ugly' and lacking in purity, contrasting it with other restomod brands like RUF, highlighting a divide in public opinion on the aesthetic direction of the collaboration.

Why it matters

This collaboration signals a new frontier for luxury automotive projects, where fashion houses are not just branding partners but active design collaborators. It demonstrates the potential for cross-industry partnerships to create unique, high-value products that appeal to collectors of both automotive and fashion luxury. The project also underscores the growing influence of watchmaking in automotive design, as seen in the integration of the Tambour clock and the redesign of the instrument cluster. For the automotive industry, it highlights the continued demand for bespoke, one-off vehicles that offer a unique blend of performance, craftsmanship, and brand prestige.

What to watch

No pricing has been disclosed for the two vehicles, but they are expected to cost north of one million dollars each. There is no indication of further collaborations or a production run, as both cars are one-off builds. The project may influence other luxury brands to explore similar partnerships with automotive manufacturers, potentially leading to more cross-industry collaborations in the future. The success of this collaboration could also impact the market for restomodded vehicles, as it sets a new standard for luxury and design integration.