When the co-founders of French Porsche Specialist, Crubilé Sport finished the Le Mans Classic race, one driving his Porsche 935, the other in a 911 RSR R5, they dreamt of returning to Paris in a car that would offer the same ultimate performance and emotion only coupled with comfort and refinement. In essence, they wanted the thrill of a 935, the reliability of a modern 991 clothed in the elegance of a classic 2.4S.
Located on the outskirts of Paris, Crubilé Sport has decades of experience restoring and repairing some of the rarest and most historically important Porsche racing cars ever built and as a result, they are now regarded as one of the world’s foremost specialists of the marque. For them, compromise simply wasn’t an option when they began to conceive their dream car and this approach is apparent in every aspect of their business as well as the car’s design, build and finish.
In 2018, Ateliers Diva was born. Jeremy Garamond, Partner at Ateliers Diva said “The original idea was to build a Porsche that connects those fearsome racers with the regular cars we use in everyday life” – clearly, they have succeeded with the new Targa.
The Ateliers Diva Targa starts its life as a 2 or 4-wheel drive 964 which is then taken back to its shell and treated thoroughly. It is then fitted with a classic narrow body, hand-built in carbon fibre – the same grade of Prepreg carbon-fibre as is used in F1 and LMP1 which, along with other weight-saving measures, brings the weight down to just over 1,100kg. The body is widened by just 3 centimeters to allow for all of the modern (and larger) technology that lies beneath those wonderful curves.
Power is derived from a howling all-new 4.2-Litre engine producing 400 bhp. It is essentially a racing-spec engine for the road and so offers sensational performance. From its specialist suspension system offering a variety of settings to the custom exhaust created specifically for this car and designed to enhance the audio experience, the Ateliers Diva Targa will stir the soul.
The interior is no less impressive with each car designed entirely to the customers tastes and specification and if requested, award-winning interior designer, Tristan Auer is on-hand to advise on styling. Whilst the car can be fully personalized to the individual customer, it cleverly manages to retain signature design queues from the early 911s, for example, the classic dashboard strip, crafted from straw-based marquetry sourced from a Parisian atelier and tailor-made instrumentation which use period Porsche serigraphy. There’s also a high-fidelity audio system developed in collaboration with French audio specialists, Focal.
Just 25 Targas will be built alongside 25 Coupes and 25 Safaris ensuring that they remain ultra-exclusive. Technology and design at this level do not come cheap and it takes 12 months to build each car. What you have at the end of it is a precision-built, hand-crafted masterpiece that goes every bit as well as it looks.
Co-Founder & Sales Director of Salon Privé, David Bagley commented “We are witnessing an extraordinary number of new launches at this year’s event. Some are ultra-modern EVs and others, like the Ateliers Diva Targa pay homage to the past with stunningly hand-crafted, bespoke-built machines utilizing modern technology and racing-derived engines – with these cars, you get the very best of both worlds; a stunning as well as enjoyable daily driver or an out-and-out racer – you choose.
“The attention to detail is unlike anything else and these cars really are works of art. For a bespoke-built, limited production brand such as Ateliers Diva, there is no better event in my opinion than Salon Privé where the client and guests can meet and spend uninterrupted quality time discussing the ethos and intricacies behind the company and models on display.”
Now in its 14th year, Salon Privé is a must-attend event for any car enthusiast or aficionado. Having been invited into the Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award, the Concours is now recognised by the experts as one of the top events in the world alongside Pebble Beach, Villa d’Este and Amelia Island to name a few. It is an automotive Garden Party held within the grounds of ‘Britain’s Greatest Palace’, Blenheim Palace and firmly established as the UK’s most exclusive automotive Garden Party.