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custodian in the sacred halls of the past, to maintain a wholly backward- looking gaze and uphold an ideology that the soul of a car is solely the sum of its mechanical parts. But Singh and Wagenheim see things differently. e road to electrify the 911 began in 2020 and rightfully shocked the car world on the Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, August 20, 2023, when this dark threat debuted. It's a 1992 911 America Roadster (one of 250 made), which Singh converted at his laboratory (formerly a Skip Barber facility) near Lime Rock Park, swapping the original M64 engine for a custom Tesla Model S motor. e commission was named the "SR001 BlackBird" by its owner, aer the supersonic Lockheed SR-71 aircra; it's a street-legal EV powerhouse that looks, at first glance, like just another 911 turbo. That's because Singh and Wagenheim take an "as needed" approach to EV conversion, using OEM Porsche components whenever possible and maintaining the original 911 look, drivability, and legendary quality at all costs. With an engineering background that began with restoring 747's at John F. Kennedy Airport, followed by three decades as an elite Porsche mechanic, Singh understands the legacy behind the Porsche crest and speaks the language of its legendary mechanics. "For me to do this project and stand behind it," says Singh, "I had to do it the right way. I have 30 years of seeing the way Porsche built their cars. I thought if Porsche built an EV car I wanted to say, 'maybe this is what it would look like.'" For over three decades, Wagenheim has trusted Singh to maintain his own 993 twin turbo, and he's not alone. "In Bobby's shop there is a 959-s, 959, and a CGT, all with engine-outs," says Wagenheim. "Very few people would trust someone with those cars with an engine-out restoration." VUENJ.COM 41

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