Lab Eleven's Porsche 911 Restomod in Jay Leno's Garage
From Singer to Kalmar, there is no shortage of high-quality Porsche 911 restomods. Lab Eleven is another entry in the genre, and in a recent episode of “Jay Leno's Garage,” Axel Weller, the company's U.S. distributor, explains what makes these special Porsches so special.
The car in the video (the only Lab Eleven 911 in the U.S. at the time of filming) appears to be an early 1970s, but is actually a 1995 993-generation 911. According to Weller, the reason that Lab Eleven is based on the 993 is because the 993 is the last, and thus the most modern, air-cooled 911 generation.
Each chassis will be completely disassembled and rebuilt with a mix of components from different 911 generations, including 930-style flared fenders and Carrera RSR-inspired wheel opening moldings. To save weight, this R model features an aluminum hood, rear deck lid, and roll-up windows. The vehicle weighs only 2,640 lbs.
However, instead of custom-made carbon fiber parts, Lab Eleven used original Porsche parts whenever possible. According to Weller, the modifications are done with Porsche's permission. The cars are assembled in Milan, but are sent to Porsche for inspection and a certificate of authenticity is issued by Porsche.
Customers can choose from several engine options. The car shown here is powered by a 3.8-liter flat-six that produces 350 hp and is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential; a 3.6-liter version is also available, and Lab Eleven has also developed a 4.0-liter engine
Interior designers are also developing a 4.0-liter engine.
The interior features period-spec Recaro bucket seats in a combination of fabric with Porsche's distinctive Pepita pattern (also used in the luggage) and Italian leather. Air conditioning is integrated into a period-inspired dashboard, and a Porsche Bluetooth radio is also provided.
Customers can provide their own donor car or have Lab Eleven procure one for them. The lead time for each production run is approximately six months. Lab-Eleven is currently building several cars, including a Targa model.
