An Australian-built Porsche 911 is being transformed into a front-engined V8 machine, with an LS engine, twin turbochargers and extensive custom fabrication replacing the standard layout of the 996-generation sports car.

The project is being developed by Gary Reid, who operates ShowTime, a company known for heavily modified drift and stunt cars that appear at selected rounds of Australia’s Supercars Championship. The unfinished 911 has already required more than 1,800 hours of work.

997-inspired bodywork

The build began as a relatively ordinary 996-generation 911. Its exterior has since been extensively reworked with a custom bodykit drawing inspiration from the later 997 model.

New headlight clusters sit above a bespoke front bumper, splitter and canards. The car also features substantially widened front and rear arches, all hand-fabricated from aluminum. At the back, ShowTime has fitted a large diffuser, a substantial rear wing and a Le Mans-inspired shark fin.

An LS V8 moved to the front

More radical changes have taken place beneath the bodywork. The front suspension and braking systems now use components from a Porsche 911 Cup Car, while a new firewall and custom cross-member were created to make room for the V8 beneath the hood.

According to the project details, the arrangement makes this the first front-engined V8 911 in existence. Reid has not disclosed the source or displacement of the LS engine, but he has confirmed that it is being upgraded with two turbochargers rather than used in standard form.

The engine will send its output through the rear wheels. The final power figure has not been revealed, although the source indicates that the completed car is expected to produce enough power to significantly exceed the output of a standard 911 GT3.

From sale listing to ambitious project

Reid reportedly conceived the build after initially advertising the 996 for sale. A prospective buyer sent him a message suggesting that an LS engine could not be fitted to the car. That challenge prompted Reid to consider whether the conversion was possible—and ultimately led to the heavily modified project now taking shape.

The 911 remains unfinished, so details such as the engine’s exact specification and final performance have yet to be disclosed.