A Singer Reimagined Track1 Chronograph Prototype On Offer From Philips In London — Featuring A Peek At The Singer DLS Turbo

In 2017, Singer Reimagined launched its first-ever wristwatch, the Track1 Chronograph. Singer Vehicle Design is a Los Angeles-based car tuning house specializing in restoring and upgrading the iconic Porsche 911 Carrera. Specifically, Singer focuses on the air-cooled Carreras (964 chassis for car nerds) phased out in the ’90s. The Singer Reimagined Track1 Chronograph also draws from the past to revitalize the classic racing chronograph in a new dial layout. Since the watch’s launch in 2017, Singer has expanded the concept into four distinct collections based on this pioneering design. Yet, I still favor the original Track1 Launch Edition — and now there’s a chance to own the original prototype.

Born out of obsession, LA-based Brit Rob Dickinson founded Singer Vehicle Design to celebrate the classic Porsche 911. Singer carefully modifies and modernizes all components of a 911 with enough attention to detail to bankrupt Porsche in the 964 era. Some view Singer as “Frankensteining” valuable vintage sports cars. By contrast, many appreciate this approach of harmoniously assembling various parts and design cues into a single concise package. Whatever your view, the results are in high demand. Singer Vehicle Design has your back if you like the classic 911 body but wish it had Fuchs alloys, wide wheel arches, a luxurious cabin, and a beefier engine. Although, for your bespoke Singer, you have to have the means. A Singer 911 can start around US$500K and quickly escalate beyond $800K once your dreams become a reality. Even so, Singer has built quite the clientele with a strong focus on loyalty.

Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer ― DLS Turbo

In 2023, Singer developed its Dynamics & Lightweighting Study (DLS) to incorporate turbocharging in response to client requests. Singer’s latest vehicle creation starts as a Type 964 Porsche 911, gradually evolving into a track-ready beast with a carbon-fiber widebody. The flared wheel arches, venturi tunnel diffuser, “Moby Dick” rear wing, gaping cooling ducts, and low ride height celebrate the victorious 934/5 endurance racers of the 1970s. With a 700hp twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six and a manual gearbox, the Singer DLS Turbo makes a belting sound. At the Goodwood Motor Circuit, the car hit 120dB flat out at 9,000rpm during shakedown testing. I first saw the car during the Festival of Speed last year. But with a swarm of car lovers surrounding it in the paddock, it was tough to get a closer look.

Luckily, Phillips London is presenting the car in its showroom and invited me for a viewing. The purpose of showcasing this Singer DLS Turbo is not for auctioning but to demonstrate the finished product to potential owners. With the long lead times for commissioning restorations in this spec, Singer and Phillips allow seeing an example in the metal. However, to cough up for a bespoke Singer DLS Turbo restoration, you’d need at least US$3,000,000, excluding the donor Type 964. It’s a high-end hobby, and the wide wheelbase will make parking a chore. However, this Singer is bred for the race track. The loud side exhausts spitting flame on the overrun will make for a monstrous lap time. Singer invites owners to collaborate on choosing paint schemes. The gold-toned “Moet Blanc” example above evokes the excess of the ‘70s and ‘80s, especially with the BBS wire rims.

A chance to own the Singer Reimagined Track1 Chronograph prototype

With customers able to provide hands-on input and deep levels of customization, Singer can center around its client’s wants and needs. While there may be a long road to owning a Singer car, there is a chance to own the Singer Reimagined Track1 Chronograph prototype via Phillips Perpetual for £45,000. Singer Reimagined was born in 2017 to broaden Singer’s product offerings and expand its branding. The Track1 Chronograph was the company’s first-ever wristwatch and its first all-original product. A racing-inspired chronograph was a natural place to start, but how the Track1 came to be was more a series of sweeping corners than a straight line.

The Track1 uses the AgenGraphe caliber 6361 developed by Agenhor. By making the chronograph seconds, minutes, and hours the focal point of the mechanism, the usual time display moves to the periphery. The AgenGraphe was in Fabergé’s Visionnaire watch, but that was a futuristic timepiece. Conversely, Marco Borraccino and Jean-Marc Wiederrecht from Agenhor share a love of the ‘60s style. We featured Borraccino on Fratello On Air, discussing his vision of reimagining the classic chronograph. By sheer luck, Rob Dickinson of Singer shared this philosophy for reinterpreting the past. The Swiss designers now had a brand name related to sports cars that would complement their vision.

Creating a contemporary, cutting-edge watch

The Singer differs from the Fabergé because the Visionnaire had a static dial for time-telling with traditional, albeit floating, hands. Instead, Singer’s Track1 rotates the hours and minutes on independent discs, allowing you to read time at the fixed 6 o’clock marker. With the luminous-numeral time rings on the outside, the chronograph hands can shine bright ― orange in this case ― to offer unimpeded legibility while timing laps. The stark contrast of black and white on the dial also references the panda dials of the ’60s. You can spot the lineage from chronographs such as the Rolex Daytona and Heuer Carrera. Carrying this mantra through to the Track1 highlights Singer’s source of inspiration. Also, contrasting black and white ceramic sectors with staggered steps adds depth, drawing your eye to that polished central pinion.

But I am revisiting this watch because I still believe that the Track1’s case is the most compelling and beautiful case since the brand’s inception. The tonneau-shaped case refers to another era of classic chronographs — namely, the ’70s — and models such as the Omega Mark II Speedmaster and Heuer Autavia Viceroy. The chronograph pushers flank the case at 10 and 2 o’clock, similar to traditional stopwatches and “bullhead” chronographs, with the svelte crown for time setting at 4 o’clock. The symmetry of this design combines with the finely polished bevels that break up the brushed Grade 5 titanium. Even with steep sides, the case also offers a fluid shape that contours to the wrist.

Singer Reimagined Track 1 Chronograph Launch Edition

A pioneering movement in an equally exciting watch

You’d be forgiven for thinking this watch is of the hand-wound variety when examining it from the back. I assure you, the Track1 has automatic winding, but the case hides it. The benefit of a peripheral rotor is that it allows the movement to be uninhibited by the self-winding mechanism. The AgenGraphe caliber is also quite a sight with gentle sunburst, beveling, and ribbing polishing techniques. And it’s not just a pretty caliber. With 477 components and twin barrels for 55 hours of power reserve, the AgenGraphe is also technically impressive.

Although the prototype’s leather NATO strap hides the view, the strap can be easily exchanged. Despite having pump pushers, the watch still provides an impressive 100m water resistance rating, and the domed sapphire flows effortlessly into the 43 × 15mm titanium case.

The original Launch Edition was limited to 50 pieces, came with a US$40,000 price tag, and sold out. So to get an opportunity to own the prototype at £45,000 is quite the deal. The prototype differs slightly from the Launch Edition as the case back surround is blank with no engravings. Phillips Perpetual provides a certificate from Singer Reimagined attesting to this unique detail specific to the prototype. Even if you’re not in the market for the Singer DLS Turbo or Singer Reimagined Track1 Chronograph, it’s worth booking a viewing to see both. The car will be on display at Phillips until the end of this week at 30 Berkeley Square, London. For the Singer Reimagined Track1 Chronograph prototype, check out the Phillips Perpetual site to enquire.