Though it’s not a common sight seeing a Porsche 911 go sideways in such a stylized fashion, this one does look fairly natural doing it.
Tuned by KA-TUN, a Japanese racing outfit, this 964 is meant to slide gracefully at speed. To do so, it sports massive wheel spacers, Bride seats (drifters adore them), the toe and camber settings conducive to oversteer, and a set of blister fenders for both a widened track and the aggressive styling drift machines are known for. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it does turn heads. For those not interested in the looks, the action begins fifty seconds into the clip.
This 964 exudes a bit of that Rauh-Welt Begriff style we’re so familiar with. With the choice add-ons, it’s certainly a vibrant Porsche, and it has the soundtrack to match the exuberant driving. It seems to have it all. However, it is handicapped in one respect.
The pendulum effect inherent in every automobile is quite violent in this rear-engined 911. Noticeably, the way this car breaks and regains traction are quite abrupt. More obviously, transitioning from a leftward slide to a rightward slide, somewhat like a feint but also known as a manji in drifting parlance, is not as graceful nor as progressive as with a car with an engine in front. Therefore, the Porsche requires very delicate steering to keep it from spinning when swinging the rear around.
Snappy and sideways, the KA-TUN 964 is a definite crowd pleaser.
Not to say that competitively drifting a 911 is impossible, it’s just that its weight balance isn’t as suited to producing long, smoky, elegant slides as front-engined cars do. “>Tyler McQuarrie took a modified 993 GT2 to Formula D years ago, but he’s since retired the machine for a Camaro. In any event, enjoy this cerulean blue 964 show how 911s really are the versatile sports car for every occasion—including playing the hooligan.
