Everrati Porsche 964 Signature 2021 UK first drive

Porsche won’t sell an electric 911 for some time, if ever, but a British firm is offering you the chance to own one right now – if you have a 964-generation (1989-1993) classic and a desire to swap its flat six for a battery and motors.

Everrati has broader plans involving other classics, and this wide-body 964 is intended to show what’s possible and the quality and driving experience it aims to offer. The result might by worthy, but your view on whether the effort is worthwhile will be coloured by your takes on old 911s and electrification.

Our test car is powered by a pair of Tesla-sourced AC induction motors, which make a combined total of 500bhp and drive the rear axle through a common input shaft and a limited-slip differential. And as these motors are hung out behind the rear axle, this 964 remains rear-engined.

Finding room for 53kWh of battery cells was a tougher task. Most of it went into the engine bay, but there’s also a secondary site up front, with a high-voltage cable linking the two. In addition, the need to manage the temperature of the batteries means that, unlike the original, this 964 features water cooling, having radiators behind its front bumper.

Other changes include carbonfibre replications of the doors, bonnet, roof and rear deck and a retrimmed interior featuring Porsche’s own DIN-sized aftermarket head unit.

Unusually for an electromod, Everrati’s 964 also gets a CCS port under its former petrol filler flap to support high-speed charging. From the right charger, this can top up the battery from 20-80% in 40 minutes.

The prospect of a 911 without the friendly chatter of a flat six from the rear is odd, and even after an hour, I still hadn’t got used to the Everrati’s lack of combustion noise.

There are other sounds, more evident given the lack of engine distraction, with the 12V pumps that power the brake servo and power steering evident at low speeds and some whine from the motors under harder acceleration. Everrati is working on a fake exhaust note (you will notice the car still has tailpipe finishers), but I’m not sure that would feel any more appropriate.

The performance is striking – well beyond that offered by even the most potent original 964s. The urge isn’t instant (there’s a very slight delay to the throttle response), but it pulls impressively hard well before the pedal is half down – and acceleration doesn’t start to diminish until you’re well beyond likely cruising speeds.