"Why I built the world's lightest Porsche 911"

[@mattbuckley392]

This episode was hypnotically good. Totally absorbing stuff .... the best way to chill after a looong day. Cracking stuff.

[@zensmylie5393]

“So no sound proofing?” “Sorry?” “No sound proofing?” “No” I could not stop laughing at the perfection of that exchange!

[@NitrousVolvo]

LOL was just about to comment exactly this

[@kristian5821]

damn i was about to comment that haha

[@davevernon4993]

Almost like being slapped with a stick

[@michaelj8582]

i was looking for this comment. This is the kind of dry humor i would make only to hear crickets chirping! shoulda been born in the UK!

[@middleclassthrash]

Sometimes, the comments are better than the video...

[@ryanhoffmann9341]

Using Porsche's current mindset of charging more to remove things this car would cost about $20 million!

[@Surestick88]

There was a period in the 70's and 80's when drilling parts to lighten them was popular in cycling. The resultant parts became known to be made of "drillium". They also became known for failing, sometimes catastrophically.

[@oneeleven9832]

Did you spot the bikes and jersey’s as they walked through the shop 👍i bet he was drilling those back in the day.

[@MrOvershoot]

Yes I was thinking that with all the bikes suspended from the ceiling & then thought if he knows fellow Londoner Alf Engers who set the trend for drilling most bike components. I was guilty myself of doing just that in the late 70's 😳

[@buttguy]

My thoughts exactly. Wasn't surprised to see the bicycles in his front room.

[@MB-rn6gh]

very popular with bmx riders, early 2010's aswell.. we drilled holes in everything

[@scottlehuray7062]

Lotus

[@Mart77]

Absolutely mindblowing work there! Also this guy must be gold-member of local hardware store in drill bits section

[@nitroustommy3668]

😂 Real fabricators know how to sharpen drill bits.

[@Mart77]

@@nitroustommy3668 yah but sometimes they break and you still need a new one

[@davidtheking341]

He said he only destroyed 4 bits but sharpened over 150x

[@nitroustommy3668]

What I would like to know is if he hollowed-out or used titanium fasteners? Better yet hollowed-out titanium fasteners. If he sees this comment his other project my never get finished 😂

[@isaacsrandomvideos667]

Hahaha

[@ElBison126]

Although almost empty, the interior is Mesmerising. What an insanely cool car, excellent craftsmanship!

[@sierraecho884]

It is cool until you hot something with it and well....die instantly

[@Sinnistral]

287hp/tonne - lovely. A real passion project. Awesome vid as always Johnny.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

It certainly felt responsive.

[@theinsaneshecklador6598]

@@DankensteinsNooner If thought about adding a turbo he'd probably have a heart attack once he weighed it.

[@theinsaneshecklador6598]

@@DankensteinsNooner 👍

[@swecreations]

That is a higher power/weight then a Tesla Model S Performance

[@j.3854]

In other words, a SRT Hellcat. The right way.

[@LS-uv9gg]

Absolutely enthralled with this episode! Totally a man after my own heart. I remember happily drilling out every part within reach of a drill bit on my motorcycle, prepping for race weekend back in the mid 80's. To this day, I have on my keychain, drilled out house and car keys, lol. That was one of the very first things that caught my eye. Loved this, thank you!

[@beetooex]

That was the cheekiest 'welcome to the late break show' I think you've ever done

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

I was channelling my inner daytime TV presenter...

[@euphoric5172]

I cant believe this weighs HALF of what a current model boxter does, thats insane, and what a work of art inside too, absolutely incredible i love it

[@startedtech]

@@fruhlingsbilder Especially the safety part lol

[@paulgaish4918]

Wow. Just wow. What a passion! Can’t decide if it’s crazy/brilliant or just a piece of art. Great video as always.

[@BigKrisMorris]

I think it’s all of them lol

[@stuartd9741]

Agree.. It's All of them....

[@jameskingston]

This thing is amazing! What a guy

[@robin_marriott]

What an absolute legend. I’m not an air cooled guy at all so the fact I’ve heard of him says something. Cracking video Jonny.

[@vintageexcellence]

Wow missing out on life 😆

[@robin_marriott]

@@vintageexcellence I grew up 3 miles from Santa Pod so most of my childhood, my only interaction with aircooled VWs was the broken down ones littering the village on a Bug Jam weekend 😂.

[@joeblow1942]

@@robin_marriott Oh man, NOTHING beats the beautiful whine of an early revved up air cooled 911.

[@phenomanII]

Didn't expect this to capture my attention as much as it did. I love the fact that drilling things to lighten them is so universal - from bicycles and Porsches to computer mice and airsoft blowback pistols. Also, after making a DIY drill bit holder (1-10mm in 0.2-0.5mm steps, 4-8 holes per size) I can't even imagine starting a project like this.

[@joshbrailsford]

I have to say, as someone who doesn't consider themselves much of a Volkswagen or Porsche fan, nor is into modifying cars much, I never fail to be astounded by the creativity and attention to detail that people in the VW/Porsche scene put into modifying their cars. Like you say Jonny, they can be as much art as a car. Thanks for sharing this one with us.

[@garyhalkon8749]

If meccano made cars in life size this would be genesis! Always loved the early Porsches, something about them just turns heads, this one ticks all the boxes! Loved this episode, so many interesting parts throughout. As you mention, Ritchie treats them as pieces of art and I totally agree. Some cars don't have to be moving to enjoy them. Thank you for all these episodes Jonny and team!

[@user-jg6vi4cd7v]

OMG! this was incredible , i loved this episode , nice to get more left-field car stories , keep em coming quality viewing !

[@jessta21]

I used to go to that pub in the 90s! Didn't realise that it had become this. The little gems that are hidden away locally are wonderful

[@that_biker_boy5550]

This is borderline ‘INSANE’, but I absolutely LOVE IT! 😍👌 If I lived locally, I’m sure this would become my second home. Haha. I could listen to this guy all day and learn so much about this car craft knowledge. What an absolute hero! 🏁✌️

[@lunabouch]

WOW! I just want to see that car in person. Of course driving it would be a HOLE lot of fun.

[@markgambrill]

"There's no soundproofing" "sorry?" Best unintentional pun!!

[@davidp7414]

Holy moly, LBS goes from strength to strength. Fantastic content, makes me smile. So happy to know these people are out there. I want to know more about his vintage bicycles.

[@notchboy]

Being in the VW scene heavily over here in States, I liked this one a lot. Cheers and thanks for posting!

[@djcrossie]

Love love love this, great video Jonny. What a master Richie is, the sound of that engine is amazing. Who cares what bhp it has

[@csiga79]

What an amazing car! On the other hand, I do get reminded of my friend's 2CV that he used to periodically daily drive to work with me...the sparse metalwork and intricacies of the internal shapes. But then the noise in this Porsche! Fantastic!

[@ijustfelldown]

Can I just say, I love the juxtaposition of beginning a video about one of the most iconic piston cars with an establishing shot of one of the most beautiful modern EVs.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Well, that has always been the mantra of The Late Brake Show. We like eclectic automotive variety. Thanks for watching.

[@ChrisBWelch]

Absolutely fascinating! I loved this episode so much, the attention to detail with the aim of lightness is enthralling! Ritchie is a genius and this was fantastic to watch. Great job Jonny and team 🙂

[@mwheatley2365]

I used to cycle past Karmann Konnection’s store in Hadleigh, Essex on my way to school…I’ve never really been into VW’s but the cars and parts in the shop window really inspired my passion for cars - thanks Richard!! 👍

[@alexball5907]

That's where it was! I was trying to remember.

[@MrWallybones]

Excellent video Johnny. 2000 hours of painstaking work but what a result. This is a museum piece! The color is very striking indeed.

[@Sir-Prizse]

At the beginning of the video I thought "oh my god, why do you do that" and with every minute I could understand it better and the beauty of it. The result is stunning and it reminds me of classic road bikes from the 60s that were trimmed to lightweight in exactly the same way by drilling holes in the components. My ''99 Mazda MX-5 NB 1.6 in comparison is fat cow at 990 kg.

[@jonntischnabel]

Simply fantastic. The best form of tuning there is. Makes the car faster for "free", and improves the dynamics. This video has made me seriously consider stripping my 205 down and start drilling. 👍👍🤣

[@hollyandtheev6519]

Utterly bonkers but completely brilliant! The dedication to create this is INSANE!

[@darrylmac6150]

Having watched you on the telly growing up Jonny, I have to say I am very glad you are creating your own content. You have such an interest in anything automotive, its always a joy to see what you're going to showcase next. With that said, I have to applaud Ritchie and the guys for their effort on this machine. I have never been a massive lover of Porsche, however now all I want to do is look through his collection of cars/ parts in that beautiful building he has. That 911 is just stunning, I love a car that's built to purpose. Even if it sets my trypophobia off 😅

[@mclarenjohnf1]

As always a great video, the passion is strong in Mr King, Shame the insurance companies have killed most custom work, all my usual car parts and custom parts places have all gone.

[@joeleonard9965]

I didn't know that was a thing. Are you in the UK or US? Hagerty insures in the UK as well if I remember right and we get in loads of custom classic cars.

[@_Makanko_]

Oozes passion and extreme perverseness for lightweight, what a project. So very impressive. Another great story and video, thanks for sharing

[@kentbeitel9966]

I couldn’t imagine having such an eclectic collection. I love old Porsches. All those holes and gussets is so crazy! I couldn’t imagine all the time, effort and planning. 🔥🤯

[@robertchubb1518]

Having watched the Alfaholics 105 GTAR with those drilled bonnet hinges etc..this Porker takes “drilliam” to a totally stratospheric level...great car..great presentation and as always great show..keep them coming Jonny...

[@robertchubb1518]

Oh...and very grateful to receive your reply...the sign of someone that considers their audience..very touched

[@robmcdonald992]

Great vid. It’s not quite for me, but you have to appreciate the dedication and attention to detail. More like this please Jonny.

[@pgr3290]

It is truly wonderful, looks amazing and you feel the passion. You also feel that if it was hit by anything heavier than a pine needle it would fold up into something the size of a shoe box.

[@dinolino3313]

With the driver in it...

[@eriklarson9137]

it 100% will. It's neat for about a minute. Then you realize you can't even toss it in a corner anymore. What a fun car.

[@318iSpoons]

I have been a customer of theirs for the last couple of years - awesome place for anything air-cooled. Nice video as well!👍👍👍

[@garywgilkey8267]

There is a 1972 911 in Conifer Colorado USA that may be a competitor for the lightest. The owner replicated ALL of the external steel body panels including the roof in carbon fiber. The owner did all the work in his home garage over a period of many years. Very spartan interior. Total emphasis of the build focused on lightening. It is red with bold yellow stripes.

[@cabshots8739]

Do you know where I can find some information about this Porsche?

[@protocetid]

INB4 Richard buys it and turns it into Swiss cheese

[@rustedratchetgarage6788]

When I read Colorado 911 and lightest I envisioned rust

[@stevet47]

@@rustedratchetgarage6788 Colorado is dry; very little rust

[@cjp6527]

Love it, love it, love it...what a car, what a bloke and what an episode 👏🏻 🙌 👌🏻

[@Rob_Dekker]

All those calculated drilled holes make it into a nice piece of art. What a machine. I love it. Thanks for sharing it with us, Jonny!

[@stuartd9741]

Love the dash...so symmetrical...

[@LLLLLLLLLucas]

That thing looks lethal...

[@trampman454]

This is absolutely incredible. Engineering on another level.

[@James-semaJ]

Loved it! What an interesting cool man and amazing car collection. Great video again Jonny.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Cheers James.

[@roostah]

Phenomenal work by Richard, thank you Jonny for this insight into his work. As much as every ounce counts, I'd be tempted to 3D print some in fillers to those missing front indicators to finish the form. I wonder how many hours calculating drill bit sizes and spacing measurements went into this alone.

[@tz6414]

Bit of a death trap with no seatbelts, fibreglass etc. Rather him than me

[@Shadow0fd3ath24]

yup even if he drives just 30 miles a year that shit is scary...those cars are already tin can deathtraps, and he took out all of the structural integrity of the doors, body crush zones, seats, plus he shaved the wheels down a ton, and then put no seat belts in it also lol

[@NotCommanderShepard]

This is the type of madness that is born out of unadulterated passion. I am in awe.

[@hockdg]

No seatbelts is perhaps going a touch too far…

[@playwme3]

Apparently they didn’t wan’t to drill extra holes in the body to fit the seatbelt bolts.

[@AlienLivesMatter]

500g of webbing is worthwhile in my opinion.

[@markm0000]

It’s more of a showpiece anyways.

[@nauthizzz]

If you hit something in that hard enough for a seat belt to have mattered, you're probably going to have bigger issues to deal with, like the car being one giant crumple zone.

[@buttguy]

I followed this build on Instagram and then completely forgot about it. So happy to see it again. Amazing car.

[@scottcowan6798]

Can’t get my head around the fact that this car is almost 100kg lighter than an early mk1 Elise!! What a car! What a project! What a cracking piece this was to watch! Bravo!

[@stuartd9741]

Yeah this Porsche is 40% air lol...

[@R8_Jake]

What an amazing little car. Love vids like this! Anyone else looked up what the heaviest 911 is? 911 992 Turbo S cabriolet. 1710kg!

[@maxmeier532]

you can drive that without earplugs though and i am pretty sure it has seatbelts.

[@eddominiczak669]

@@maxmeier532 I’m unsure if they’re hearing aids tho

[@freddiejones4598]

Makes you realise what a masterpiece Gordon’s new car is. A v12 and circa 900 kg. Mental

[@r129r16pfl]

@@freddiejones4598 Agree? Nothing comes close. Weight is everything.

[@TestarossaF110]

@@freddiejones4598 carbon fiber, composites and the best of the best of Great Britain's automotive designers and engineers. Cosworth has done it again and so has Mr. Murray, however I do wonder how she compares to Adrian Newey's Aston Martin Valkyrie and Mercedes-AMG's One. Hope we ever see them together (racing) at Le-mans or at the very least at Goodwood.

[@Abandon7d]

Consequent. And I thought I was mad drilling 700 holes in my bicycle frame... :-) Please more videos like this 👍👍

[@dankrafted]

another cracking video Jonny and team, always with the quality and interesting content

[@chrishamilton4999]

I think there is a saying in the racing aviation field "build in lightness and add simplicity" - something like that. This chap has certainly taken it to heart.

[@tupolev141]

Amazing project, and he sounds a bit like Michael Caine! On the car itself, I would think that the lighter it gets, the less rigidity it needs because there's less mass trying to warp it?

[@jaycee8748]

I stumbled upon this video on my recommended and the presenter looked familiar to me, then I realized its the same person I used to watch as a child on fifth gear. Holy crap how times have changed

[@georgebrown8757]

Would not like to have a shunt in that!

[@sky173]

10:47 - what a beautiful sound. It reminds me of my dads 1972 911 Targa. He bought it in the late 70's when I was just a young boy. I'd do anything to find it once again. Almost chokes me up listening to it purrr..

[@freddiejones4598]

Weight ruins everything. It’s much harder than you realise to build a light car. Look at everyone’s favourite car. It’s always e46 M3s or something similar as you can’t replicate that lightness. You ask Chris Harris what his favourite car is and he’ll tell you some variation of the Peugeot 205. Why do you think that is?

[@tomasteckavesely]

THE BEST LATE BRAKE SHOW EPISODE EVER.. such a cool dude, house, car, bikes.. dream!

[@shughes911]

Just so rad! The orange and gold wheels is so bold ! Great job man!!! I would love if this guy had a channel!!! Very talented

[@mroctarine]

I'm sure he could go further if the stresses were computer modelled, some nice organic shapes cut out.

[@MetalY2KMusic]

I just love drilled stuff. Always have from DIY cycling nature. One thing worth noting, is that especially in stiff aluminum, things prefer to snap (cracking first) around drilled hole edges. It's the sharp flat edge that causes the crack/break. To solve this, always chamfer the holes. Make them smooth and round as much as possible. That prevents cracking and snapping. (Came to mind when I saw the shifter.)

[@KevinJohnson-gs6xn]

That was just great. Love this guy but wouldn't want to get stuck in a lift with him

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Ritchie is a proper character. I thought he'd tire of car customising by now, but he always has a 'vision'.

[@jondonnelly3]

wdym?

[@KevinJohnson-gs6xn]

@@jondonnelly3 He'd start drilling holes in it..

[@kyle_c936]

I wouldn't mind at all, quite sure I could listen to him all day long.

[@MrAdopado]

Well, not if he's got his drill with him!

[@Bd-ox4mi]

This is awesome 👏🏽 I would be happy for the rest of my life owning this beautiful car …congratulations

[@ForeverNeverwhere1]

Richie had way too much of my money in the mid to late 80s, early 90s, mostly via German Car Company, but upstairs he had so many cool retro bits at Karman Konnection, never cheap, always cool. I also remember an immaculate looking 959 replica he had, you could buy a body kit from a company in the back of Exchange and Mart. I always fancied doing my own, luckily I never did. He always seemed to have way more money than anyone else into VW's back then, most of ours we thought were flash if the primer patches were the same shade of grey. I got into VW's the same way, VW trends and hot VW's. I still have some original french made Simili glass parts, a W decklid and on oval panel, which my dad found funny as he converted his 51 splitty into an oval from parts supplied by the VW dealer.

[@altruismfirst6489]

My 1966 Datsun 1000 was 625kg from factory 89in wheelbase 136hp A13 (A12 79mm bores) later went with no bumpers, alloy radiator, smaller battery, lexan side and rear window, alloy steering column, corolla steering rack conversion, mono rear FRP leaf springs, electric heater, no window winding mechanisms, lighter front disc brakes and FRP hood came down to 572kg with no drilling or holes anywhere. New owner was going with all alloy 1.6L 240hp honda D16 engine, custom quaife 5 sp, frp doors and a bit of drilling for 540kg. What I like about this Porsche and my old datto was that you dont worry about wind, sun or rain and less need for earplugs :)

[@tedpalmer1537]

I'd rather have some seat belts, chassis rigidity and roll protection.

[@DuckReach432]

Total respect for the master craftmanship with one caveat - I have driven a car with no seat-belts and it was unnerving. There is a limit to what you should delete - I'd get rid of the passenger seat and put in a light set of belts for the driver.

[@alexeimscruz2893]

yes indeed the car looks incredibly light... but is it safe to drive? it's one thing to make it light but with all that hole drilling around, one bump might crumple the car to half its size...

[@kinkong1961]

it looks like a Meccano set I wouldn't like to be in it in an accident to be cheese grated might not be fun lol but the outside looks amazing and another great video.

[@williamforbes7156]

I've heard of this car but to be this close and sit to listen to all of the detail is just awesome thanks so much for sharing with us!

[@Polorigolo35]

This is like having a Porsche 911 - Lotus 7 ! Crazy, I'm in love with the idea

[@WiksGarage]

Great to get the in depth details on the car and Richard's philosophy. Seeing the dash out of context I thought "oh no" but after seeing the whole car and getting Richard's insight to his build process I'm a big fan. Love the lengths he went through for the steelies. I would have just done aluminum reproductions of the steelies, but I like that he went that far with the wheels. That 2.2 case is extremally light, I actually had a 2.2, 2.7, and 3.2 all on my work bench. The difference is massive in terms of lightness, just on the case. Did you ever consider the non CW 66mm crank? That thing is silly light. Also seeing the car on social media out of the context of the rest of Richard's work doesn't give you the full story. The build just makes total sense now. Great (pub) building, great builder, great car and great episode.

[@kaygeebee]

Beautiful work. When I look at the interior, it reminds me of my Dad’s soaring glider and how he had built it out of aluminum with holes drilled for lightness. Reminds me of aircraft construction.

[@marklipson]

Have you ever noticed how serenely happy people who follow their passions (like Mr. King here) are...? He's exactly as enthralled by some little doohickey that saved the project an 1/8 of an ounce as he is that he's got (not one but two) vintage Carreras in his shed. I try to learn things from people like this. And not just about cars.

[@bharatpatel7682]

Art on wheels- a masterpiece!

[@DestryAlecto]

Ritchie King is a legend and a truly great guy. I had the pleasure of meeting him many times, hanging out, having a meal and a beer etc. Ritchie used to come to the US often and scour every VW show for ghia and beetle parts. As my brother and I had made several runs down to Central America and scooped up thousands of NOS parts Ritchie always swung by our stand and over to our house. They were good times. Thanks for this and cheers to Ritchie for some great cars (btw. Like him I moved from ghias and split window beetles to Porsches many years ago).

[@808v1]

what a wonderful work/playground he has built himself there! Love it!!

[@justingolia6249]

I just stumbled on your channel today. I absolutely love it. From New Jersey USA. I'm a late braker myself I will definitely be spreading the word about the late braker show.

[@gungfuriceboy]

Lightness is the KEY!!...for a FUN...Moderatley 'Powered Car'!!! Just beautiful!!...cheers

[@tommcintyre5608]

Love this episode. Vote yes on the seatbelts to pass tech for a track day. Would still drive with care as I would hate to wreck it. Love the thought and care that went into this. Beautiful work.

[@doctormccarty4137]

Brilliant! Thanks for all the wonderfully skilled inspiration creating this masterful Porsche work of Art! =)

[@rideshareog]

Triples, sixes and twelves always have the very sweetest note. Amazing work.

[@chrsl3]

A beautiful fantastic work of art. And so much fun driving such a featherweight.

[@peterdevreter]

Wauw, episode was over before i knew it. Enjoyed it, great work!

[@timemachine9156]

So many attractive classic bicycles as well! And lightweight is magic!

[@upstate922]

This car has to be seen IRL to be truly appreciated. It’s a beautiful piece of engineering.

[@tlniec]

That is beautiful, both from an aesthetic standpoint and for the sheer singularity of purpose!

[@mwh3227]

Such an amazing collection! I'm drooling!

[@devonbikefilms]

And the friend who bought Richard a hole saw kit for Christmas wondered if he had started something that got a bit out of hand😂 Cracking car and superb workmanship, thanks.

[@knobstar67]

Great vid, and your contacts just keep on giving - long may that continue

[@CarlosRodriguez-dd4sb]

Brings new meaning and significance to 'passion project' - Kudos to Mr. King

[@Duncan94]

This is just incredible!

[@timwilliams2343]

what a truly extraordinary build, thanks for the film.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Cheers for watching Tim

[@TheCooperville]

bloody hell this thing is beautiful ......how is his very proud ..... great inspiration

[@scottlehuray7062]

Sounds as good as it looks. Never heard a beetle sound as good as that. Beautifully drilled holes, thats an interesting machine.

[@steveluck9541]

Amazing work utterly bonkers. Perhaps the owner has deep pockets and no sense of fear at at all. Call me fraidy cat but I’ll stick with my 760kg 1999 Elise it has a front crash structure and side impact protection in the doors and from the chassis. Mine even has carpet.