First things first. There’s no such thing as a 911 STR. But there is this one. Add inverted commas and call it an “STR” if you will. From the garage of one of California’s foremost Porsche collectors, this highly modified 911 is one of his favourites. The unique STR moniker is a tribute to the 911 variants that inspired this streetwise build. Now tell us you don’t want it.
"I’m a Porsche fan. I’m a Porsche collector. I’m a Porsche driver. I’m obsessed with Porsche. I have been for the past 40 years. To me there’s not a day goes by that I’m not doing something with a Porsche.” The words of the STR’s owner Magnus Walker, fashion entrepreneur and life long Porsche fan. His Los Angeles collection now includes more than a dozen 911s. But he’s no purist. Walker simply wants that flat six engine to fire up, so that he can experience "the sensory overload of sound and smell and energy and vibration and then the journey begins”.
The STR you see here incorporates elements from the 1967 limited run - just 20 - 911 R. Small things like moulded to body shape turn signals front and back, for instance. There’s also inspiration from the track-based 911 ST, a true Porsche great, in front and rear bumpers. Race-inspired central fuel filler in the bonnet is a further nod to the 911’s distinguished competition history. Further detailing includes custom made drilled door handles based on those from very early 911s.
911 STR: A car to be driven
Walker is a driver rather than an air conditioned garage perfectionist. Which is why the STR exists at all. There’s no obsession here with stripping back to original specification for show on the manicured lawns of Pebble Beach or any other concours d’elegance. His own obsession began at the age of ten when Sheffield born Walker was taken to the annual Earl’s Court motor show by his dad and saw a white Martini-liveried 911 on the Porsche stand.
Wealth from the fashion industry funded his love of all things 911 - and that Martini 911 fuelled the sense that this is a car that can be played with in the restoration process. The STR is - it should be said - no fashion model. Base for the build was a 911 T fitted with a perfectly adequate 2.4-litre flat-six engine. That was presumably not enough in the sensory overload department. Instead Magnus Walker commissioned the specialists at Rennwerks to build a bespoke 3.2-litre short-stroke flat six, now installed under the rear lid, itself featuring additional cooling louvres. Transmission has been toughened to cope with the extra power.
Beyond the unique colourway, uprated suspension includes Tarrett sway bars front and rear, specialised engine and transmission mounts and sports shock absorbers by Bilstein. Inspired to build your own? Start with a 911 T of the right period and you’ll need £30,000 for a pre-restoration example. Sky’s the limit for what the build would cost. We’re entering the lottery to fund ours.
Next up: A stunning Carrera Coupé reimagined by Singer.
