Page 13 - Bespoke Issue

I’m not really a Porsche person. The latest GT3 RS (if that’s even what it’s called) is I am sure a serious weapon on road or track, but it’s not my cup of tea. I had a 996 turbo for a few years, the rear seats were OK for the school run and it was stupid fast, but I just didn’t like it that much... but the Porsche that
will always stay in my mind was the 911 Carrera RS with the duck tail spoiler in my childhood Top Trumps pack. If I had that card, then I knew I could win the hand on acceleration every time.
The old “Top Trumps” 70’s Carrera also had an iconic look about it. More than any brand or car model today the 911 is still completely recognisable in its latest version. They just got bigger and faster. It was the 1980’s bulky looking Turbos that put me off I think, they epitomized everything that was wrong about the decade that style forgot...
So why is the coolest, sexiest, crowd stopping and fun car I’ve driven on the road this year a Porsche? The answer is, because it reminds me of my Top Trumps car. It’s not a 70’s Carrera though, it was a brand new one...
The Paul Stephens Autoart 911 is a work of art. It looks like the iconic Porsche from the 70’s. It even feels a bit like it to drive, but it’s all new, gorgeously nished and remarkably quick. It also starts when you turn the key... every time.
Paul Stephens Porsche has been around a long time, based in Halstead, Essex they deal in all kinds of Porsche, but it’s the modi ed cars that have earned Paul his reputation - like Singer I hear you say... err yeh, but Paul did it rst. I’d seen the cars around, but like I said I’m not a Porsche person so didn’t take too much notice, any more than I would do for Singer or Ruff or any of the other “specialists” that breathe on these German go carts.
I met Paul’s wife Rebecca through a mutual friend at Salon Privé, then again when we were seated at the same table at a gala, where Rebecca told me all about the Autoart project so I arranged to go down to Essex and meet Paul. It was mid-February when we visited Paul Stephens Porsche, based in a quirky 1930’s style building that houses the showroom and workshops it looked like an interesting set up. Paul and Rebecca greeted us in their reception on a cold grey wet February morning.
After a cup of tea and bit of history Paul decided that the best way to describe what he does was to show us, so we followed him into the showroom. There was a sea of Porsches, from a lovely classic early 60’s car, through the vulgar 80’s models to the 996 I used have right up to a very new RS model, but the one he really wanted to show me was a late 70’s 911. A clean classic looking motor, but lift the bonnet, the front one where you put your tooth brush, and he showed me just how untidy they were. The same on the interior, massive gaps around the dashboard and door cards that could have come of an old MGB, the nish certainly didn’t live up the performance or the iconic status these cars have achieved.
Paul showed me a few older models, each time saying remember this, notice that... then we went through to the workshop, itself an Aladdin’s cave of pretty Porsches. Past the ramps that had a bright orange car on them complete with my Top Trumps ducktail spoiler, was the most stunning looking Porsche I’d ever seen - and I’ve driven the 918 Spider, a black 70’s Carrera - or was it?
13