Lanzante, a British firm known for maintaining McLaren F1s and making race cars road legal, has created a unique Porsche 911 restomod. Instead of upgrading the contemporary flat six engine, Lanzante retrofitted the 911 with a genuine Formula 1 V6 engine from McLaren’s back catalogue. This turbocharged 1.5-liter powerplant, named the TAG after its sponsor, was rumored to produce over 1000bhp in qualifying trim. The engine propelled McLarens to three consecutive drivers’ championships between 1984 and 1986.
The original plan was for Lanzante to purchase McLaren’s TAG test mule, a 930-generation Porsche 911 Turbo. However, when Team boss Zak Brown declined the request, Lanzante saw an opportunity. They assembled a business case to build a small run of road cars based on the original mule. Cosworth was chosen to modify the engines for reliability and tractability on the road, but costs quickly escalated. To make the project financially viable, Lanzante decided to build 11 cars, one for each driver for each year of the championships won by TAG-engined McLarens.
Lanzante insisted that the standard cars had to resemble the original mule, forcing clients to choose from Porsche colors and materials. However, one customer, the owner of Alain Prost’s 1985 championship-winning McLaren MP4/2, wanted more power. Lanzante faced criticism for increasing the power output to 625bhp and shedding 400kg of weight in the three “Championship” cars. The design details of these cars are period-correct, including seatbelts with Hugo Boss branding and a steering wheel made by Personal and trimmed in suede.
The TAG 911 project was a significant undertaking for Lanzante, but they remain committed to building just 14 TAG Turbos in total. They have purchased one extra engine as an “insurance policy,” but Lanzante does not plan to press the engine back into production. The appeal of these cars lies in the fact that they are original and have a soul of their own.
Looking to the future, Lanzante wants to lead with something new rather than following the saturated market of Porsche restomods. While they initially expressed uncertainty about their next project, Lanzante’s team recently made a big statement by announcing their intention to develop the necessary upgrades to make the Red Bull RB17 hypercar road legal.
In conclusion, Lanzante’s unique approach to restomods, particularly the retrofitting of a Formula 1 V6 engine into a classic Porsche 911, sets them apart in the automotive industry. Their commitment to authenticity and attention to detail in recreating the original mule has attracted customers who value the experience of driving a car that a Formula 1 driver campaigned in. With their future projects, Lanzante aims to continue standing out and leading the way in the industry.