Step One: The Go
Thereareplenty of cars out in the world that can steal your attention for a minute or two, but the nature of my limited Speedhunting time means I often have to be content with that fleeting moment, perhaps grabbing a photo for the archives, and then moving on.
Occasionally, however, you find it – the feature car– and as I’m sure all Speedhunters can attest, it’s an endorphin-highthat we keep coming back for. Thebuild should never be formulaic in its approach, however, and I’d like to share with you what might embody the perfect example of a Speedhunters feature car. This will be a straightforward lesson on how to build your own feature-worthy car and your instructor today is Hidaka-san, owner and driver of the 1970 Porsche 911S you see before you.
Your firstcheckpoint when building the perfect feature car is making sure it’s fast; we areSpeedhunters after all, right? The formula here is pretty simple thanks to those ever constant laws of physics: add power (P), subtract weight (W).
Stripping weight is almost always the cheaper option to improving your powertoweight ratio, but once carpets, sound deadening andaudio equipmenthave been deleted, more extreme measures are required. For Hidaka-san, that meant looking to alternate materials (namely carbon fibre) to replace stock panels. It’s hard to miss the full carbon dash, of whichapparently only two were made; the other one belongs to none other than Nakai-san of RWB.
The dash is capped off with probably the one most standout pieces of this build, a carbon fibre wheel from Reverie, a UK-based manufacturer who also supplies F1 teams with their oblong wheel direction control units.
It goes without saying that glass windows and factory door panels are extraneous, and here they were unceremoniously evicted so Lexan and our favourite composite, carbon, could take up residence.
On theP side of the equation, we have a textbook execution of ‘turning it up to 11.’ The 911S originally shipped with a naturally aspirated flat-six engine, and anaturally aspirated flat-six engine is still what you will find behind the rear axle of Hidaka-san’s car.
Except this powerunit is an M64 transplanted from an early ’90s 964, and it’s been teased into a state of excitement by Saitama-based engine builderFront Row. Mahle high compression pistons sweep 3,800ccin accompaniment with a genuine Porsche RSR-spec crank and camshafts.
Being a later engine, carburettors are nowhere to be seen. Instead, individual throttle bodies are actuated by a mechanical throttle linkage and topped with beautiful custom carbon fibre funnels. This approach earns extra credit for preserving the original spirit of the car despite the pants-wetting power figure – take notes, please.
The powerplant is managed by a JDM favourite – the HKS F-CON V Pro, while drive is sent through a later G50 5-speed box and this suitably raw Wevo shifter. M’s MachineWorks, a Japanese Porsche shop that you’ll be hearing a lot more about on these pages soon, supplied the pedal box.
The frunk holds a massive 100-litreATL safety fuel tank and motorsport pumps, providing the enginewith reliable fuelling for cross-country blasts or the odd endurance race.
It’s this writer’s opinion that not much comes close to a worked Stuttgart flat-six for aural indulgence, Hidaka-san once again scores full marks for thesymphonicsection of the feature car course. But I don’t expect you to just take my wordfor it…
Evidence of this fact is provided here, in video format.
With a kerb weight right around the 1,000kg mark and power at 380hp, our equation neatly sums to approximately 380hp/tonne. Suitable reference points at this figure are the Ferrari 458 Italia and McLaren 570S – and ahead of the most recent 4.0-litre Porsche 911 GT3 RS. For further reference, the original 911S on which this car is based packed 166hp/tonne when it hit showrooms 48 years ago.
Step Two: The Show
We’ve undoubtedly reached peak 911, even to a point where diehard 911 guys and girls are starting to yearn for the ‘next 911,’ whatever that may be. Yet even amongst a sea of fantastic modified 911s in 2018, Hidaka-san’s creation stands out. It’s a car that doesn’t seem constrained to an era, effortlessly combining stylistic elements with unashamedly modern technologies like carbon fibre(which wasnot seen in Formula 1until 1981).
One detail I completely overlooked until I was sorting through the photos after the shoot is the thick black pinstripe that traces the 911’skey body lines, giving them extra definition. It’s an aesthetic master stroke, so simple in theory and practice, yet I can’t imagine the car having the same visual presence without it.
That pinstripe is overlaid on Porsche’s ‘Gulf Orange’ hue – the colour Hidaka-san found the car in, but alas not its original paint (Gulf Orange was offered from 1972 onwards, as a recognition of Gulf Oil’s sponsorship of the factory 917 racers).
When I shot the car it was wearingLindsey Racing P3 three-piece Fuchs replicas, 17×9-inches up front and 17×11-inches in the rear, with plenty of negative offset to fill up those lightweight fenders.
Hidaka-san has his eyes on some even lighter and wider units, however. Students, take special note: this is a minor symptom that typically accompanies builds of this level – constant obsession with TNP (The Next Part).
Yet despite the solar-flare intensity of the paintwork and mouth-watering motorsport stance, it’s that rear wing that commands the most attention from outside of the 911.
It’s a unique style that I’ve never seen on a street car before, but the inspiration does indeed come from Porsche’s rich motorsport archives, namely the 1973 Martini Racing-liveried ‘Mary Stuart’ RSR.
A series ofbodywork shops refused to take on the project due to the complexity of custom-forming a wing into the complex curves of the 911’s rear haunches. But finally, Bodyworks DB,a small shop that sits in the shadow of Mt. Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture agreed to tackle the wing. Using only a scale model of the 1973 Targa Floria winning-car as a reference, Johnny Daibatsu of DB crafted the fibreglass bodywork over several months through a process of trial and error.
Full marks for creativity and execution here.
In this photo you can also see the asymmetricalVitaloni side mirrors, a practical touch that minimises drag on the drivers side but keeps the passenger-side mirror visible to Hidaka-san. Oh, and you’ll never hurt your chances of feature car success with a Speedhunter by appealing to his vanity – the silver Speedhunterswindshield banner should dothe trick.
Step Three: The Part Where You Drive The Wheels Off It
So, like Hidaka-san, you’ve now built up your dream car over 10-or-so years and are wondering what the next chapter contains?
Well, this is no longer a theory course – it’s time to get into the field fora practical syllabus.
As the plates suggest, this 911 is still road registered and street driven on a regular basis. I can’t stress enough how much appeal this adds to a potential feature car;there’s something inherently badass about what is for all other purposes a race car being driven on public roads.
That might seem like an easy criteria to fulfil, but it means that many items which a race car can neglect, like working driving lights, indicators, windscreen wipers and so-on, must be retained and maintained. Porsches have proved themselves over the years to be adept atsplitting road and track duties (arguably more than any other make), and if you follow Hidaka-san on Instagram, you can see just how much he and his orange 911 get around.
As the tow hook and one-off Bomex front splitter (connected to a flat carbon underbody) suggest, this Porsche has racetrack aspirations. The racetrack is the ultimate test – just the car against the clock – and no matter what your car looks like, a fast lap time will earn the respect of your peers.
As such, certain tracks have time barriers – thresholds that represent when drivers pass from the realm ofcasual enthusiast into that of esteemed graduates of the school of speed.At Tsukuba Circuit the benchmark is a flat minute, and still today tuners struggle to get highly-boosted and be-winged cars around the 2kmtrack before the second hand passes 12.
Hidaka-san’s 911S is a member of that exclusive 59-second club. Now is perhaps a good time to remind you that this is a car almost50 years old and driven by its owner. He’s not ashamed to mention his scalp’s either – a 997 GT3 RS 4.0 amongst them.
As you might have assumed at this point, hygiene factors for this level of speed – big brakes and a proper roll cage (still a rare treat in Japan) are present. A 964 RS donated front calipers and a 930 Turbo at the rear. Coilover suspension is from Quantum, with 24 points of adjustability.
Prior to purchasing the 911S, Hidaka-san owned a number of powerful new 911s, but none satiated his need for a raw, engaging driving experience. I think it’s safe to say he has that now.
You can see Hidaka-san’s personality reflected through countless small touches and details throughout the car. It’s probably not intentional, but these little details cement it as feature car perfection by imbuing spirit into what is, at the end of the day, a cold machine.
Ultimately, the best feature cars aren’t built for Speedhunters readers, nor even for us over-opinionated writers and photographers. They are built for an audience of one, the owner, and any broader appeal is purely consequential.
So really, students, you can throw your notes in the trash on the way out – the only metric that really matters is how big your smile is behind the wheel.
Blake Jones
Instagram:blaketjones
blake@speedhunters.com
Cutting Room Floor
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25 comments
8:34 amJanuary 24, 2018Avery
Soooo clean. Probably one of my new favorite Porsches
9:13 amJanuary 24, 2018Nate
Is there a reason he isn't using engine tin?
5:46 amJanuary 29, 2018Brian
What is engine tin?
8:29 amJanuary 29, 2018Nate
It's sheet metal that seals the engine bay from the lower part of the motor. It's very important with air-cooled engines in order to regulate temperature.
1:52 pmJanuary 29, 2018Brian
Ah cool thanks. May be so they can get better shots of the car like how some cars are shot without intakes / filters in place?
As someone who likes pushing a 1.8L na hard I think lots about airflow and air stalling / bypassing my essentials!
9:25 amJanuary 24, 2018Devon
Stunning!! Hardcore and beautiful!! Thank you so much for this feature.
9:30 amJanuary 24, 2018Felix Rolon
Sick car, love the colour!
9:40 amJanuary 24, 2018Joe
Great article and fantastic photography Blake more of this please!!! Also I totally agree, its how big your smile is at the end of the day that counts everything else is just a bonus
2:25 pmJanuary 28, 2018Blake Jones
Thanks for the kind words, Joe!
11:59 amJanuary 24, 2018SpeedingCow
Not afraid to admit, that I'm 100% in love with this car (especially the carbon steering wheel). Before I scrolled down to the parts where you address the rear wing and pin-striping, I thought it was all factory done, at first. I guess that's a testament to how well the bodywork was done, and how well executed the car is overall. I certainly didn't expect to read that this car can do a 59 second lap at Tsukuba..very impressive!
This is easily one of my favorite features on SH.
12:18 pmJanuary 24, 2018Adam
Beyond the car itself, I really like the choice of location. The car's color contrasts really nicely with the backdrop.
1:29 pmJanuary 24, 2018Matthew Everingham
That's one epic build and sure does tick a lot of boxes without even trying.
Well done Hidaka-san!
1:39 pmJanuary 24, 2018FlyingFlux GoGods
I'm equally impressed with the creativity of the article as with the magic of this machine. Job well done to you sirs!!
Thanks
1:47 pmJanuary 24, 2018Par
Looks like a 1972 body, it features the distinct "ölklappe" that was a 1972-only... Serious mod if not.
2:20 pmJanuary 24, 2018Blake Jones
I’m glad you asked, that is indeed a modification casually performed by Hidaka-san. Great spotting!
1:56 pmJanuary 24, 2018David K
Awesome car! Love the video too.
3:07 pmJanuary 24, 2018Ricko J Suave
Congratulations Hidaka-San
This feature has been on the shelf for a while. Finally it's out. His car is all smiles. He is @porsche.party on the gram
He does all kind sfo cool stuff with this car. Good vibes Japan.
5:29 pmJanuary 24, 2018benos
nom nom nom
7:23 pmJanuary 24, 2018Ishac Ishac
I really can't imagine ho you missed the black strips ( or is it only for building the article?) it was the first thing i noticed sure after i passed 5 minutes looking at the rear wing and continue the article. The interior is expected after seeing the quality of the exterior but that steering wheel stands out. What i really missed is the asymmetrical mirrors, maybe because i was charmed by the car or maybe because it's seen on images not live but in both ways i was tricked.
Than you for the story and the notes, if "we" don't take notes we will never understand that the build is for that smile on our faces prior to the social media love.
The best thing is these "war medals" earned by the owner. Respect to our elder Hidaka-san.
5:53 amJanuary 25, 2018Andy
Fantastic photography, excellent words and a car for me that tics ALL the boxes! Great job Blake!
2:52 pmJanuary 28, 2018Blake Jones
Cheers, Andy.
10:32 amJanuary 25, 2018Alex Clark
I have been following this car on Instagram for a long time, and happy to see it end up on speedhunters! Such a unique yet awesome porsche build! Really holds it own in the ever growing sea of RWB and outlaw cars!
9:55 pmJanuary 26, 2018Doip
Love everything about this car, but at 6'5" all I can think about is hitting knees on the underdash crossbar. Even worse in a wreck.
5:47 pmJanuary 28, 2018Scott
Clean build. Orange and the lighting snapped really well.
10:04 pmFebruary 7, 2018THE GEAR HEAD SHED
I have been skipping the Porsche features of late. All the RWB cars seem too similar and I was getting bored. The rear wing in the cover photo drew me in however and I'm glad i clicked because this is exactly what a feature car is! Nice approach to the write up also Blake