Louis Vuitton and Singer Create a Porsche 911 Reimagined

It began with a clock. Not an ordinary one, but a removable mechanical timepiece created by Louis Vuitton. You may know the name: LVMH is the most valuable company in luxury goods, while its owner, Bernard Arnault, is Europe’s wealthiest man. He is a rather more polished figure than Elon.

Louis Vuitton is not a brand that casually lends out its equity, making its collaboration with original restomod specialist Singer a notable event. Having started in a basic Los Angeles lock-up in 2009, Singer now operates at an exhilaratingly elevated level within the car world, with first-rate sites on both sides of the ‘pond’ serving the most discerning high-net-worth 911 devotees. Its partnership with Louis Vuitton has produced two cars, rather than one, combining signature features from each party’s prized work. Brace yourself for a Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer – Classic, presented alongside a Classic Turbo Cabriolet. It may represent bespoke motoring at its peak – or luxury taken gloriously over the top.

“This unique and remarkable adventure began with a request for a dashboard clock for a car reimagined by Singer. In addition to the design and production of this clock by La Fabrique di Temps Louis Vuitton workshops in Switzerland, it quickly became apparent to us that this collaboration with Singer could extend the personalisation of every functional element of the vehicle, enhancing them through our expertise in leather craftsmanship and watchmaking,” says Jean Arnault, Louis Vuitton watch director. He is a young descendant of the dynasty.

Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer: the Louis Vuitton Classic

The Classic is recognisably Singer, albeit with an added twist. Louis Vuitton himself started out in 19th-century France making luggage, helping establish the ‘art of travel’. His grandsons, Pierre and Jean, designed their own car in 1909, while the interwar Jazz Age provided abundant possibilities – particularly for the wealthy. Singer’s LV Classic is a fine example of artistic travel, fitted with a bespoke roof rack designed to carry a trunk, surfboard or set of skis. Its owner will certainly be travelling in style.

The carbon body is finished in a saffron and cobalt-blue scheme that draws strongly on Louis Vuitton’s signature livery, with the colours even extending to the tyres. A geometric L and V design also appears on the engine air-intake grille.

Naturally, it uses a 4.0-litre air-cooled flat-six in familiar Singer fashion, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. No output has been given for this particular car, and every build differs. We would suggest something in the region of 400bhp.

Louis Vuitton craftsmanship in the Singer Classic interior

The cabin, however, is where the personalisation reaches its highest point, with a finish influenced by Louis Vuitton’s celebrated VVT leather. Singer’s obsession with detail is evident throughout: look at the yellow thread used for the door-trim stitching, the ventilation ‘eyelets’ in the seats and the embossed diamond motif. Plastic switchgear has been avoided entirely; the adjustment knobs, control switches, locks and other fittings are metal, with most receiving rhodium plating.

Then there is the removable clock that set the entire project in motion. Its styling takes inspiration from the Louis Vuitton Tambour watch, including 12 polished, engraved letters around the bezel spelling the ‘House’s’ name. Once work began, the team chose to reinterpret the whole instrument cluster, applying the Tambour’s visual language to the speedometer, rev counter and supplementary gauges. Cobalt blue returns, offset by vivid orange detailing. The process reportedly required a year of intensive work.

“Every transition between materials, every metallic reflection, every knurled surface, every mechanical interaction and graphic element has been meticulously considered, often at an almost microscopic level,” says Octave Chany, project lead designer at Singer.

Classic Turbo Cabriolet and its Louis Vuitton collection

The Classic Turbo, by contrast, was directed by Nicolas Ghesquière, artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s women’s collections. In addition to fashion, his interests include cars and boats, which helps explain the nautical timber used in a bespoke luggage compartment and front boot. The latter contains a three-piece luggage set. Leather fastening straps are fitted at both the front and rear, while this car also features a clock and dials that reflect its exterior colour palette. Fashion followers may spot the similarity between the gearshift leather and Louis Vuitton’s famous Noé bag.

This version has a 3.8-litre twin-turbo engine producing around 510bhp, together with a six-speed manual gearbox and selectable drive modes.

“The depth of the dialogue established between the worlds of automotive design, fine watchmaking and leatherwork make these two cars particularly remarkable,” concludes Octave Chany. “The collaboration with Nicolas Ghesquière was just as fundamental to elevate the concept. [His] sensitivity to proportions, silhouettes and cultural expression has brought a perspective that has propelled the cars beyond traditional automotive design.”

Ghesquière has also created a capsule collection inspired by the Classic Turbo. It comprises a Tambour Automatic wristwatch, a made-to-measure parachute-silk suit, a garment bag and a Heritage necklace that also holds the car key. As if all that finery were not enough, there is a car included as well.

The price remains undisclosed, because those involved – especially the client – are evidently far beyond worrying about such minor matters as cost. Singer is not expected to repeat the collaboration, either. This is an ultra-luxurious pair of one-off creations. Enjoy.