Inside Australia’s home-grown $1.6 million Porsche
Zeigler Bailey Z/B 4.4 shows Australian car manufacturing isn’t dead, just exclusiveThe News
An Australian automotive startup has unveiled one of the most ambitious locally engineered cars in decades, the Zeigler Bailey Z/B 4.4, positioning itself as a $1.6 million, ultra-low-volume alternative to the world’s most revered Porsche restomods.
The Key Details
- Zeigler Bailey Z/B 4.4 gets a custom-made engine
- Based on classic Porsche 911 from the 70s and 80s G-Series era
- Priced from $1.6 million – excluding the donor car
- Limited to 10 builds per year, with eight already sold
- Engineered and built in Australia
The Finer Details
At first glance, the Zeigler Bailey Z/B 4.4 looks like another high-end Porsche restomod. In reality, its Melbourne-based creators argue it is something far more ambitious.
Power comes from a hand-made 4.4-litre air-cooled flat-six producing 300kW/500Nm, and the engine bay features glass panels so owners can admire the mechanical centrepiece.
And it sounds incredible – check out the video for evidence.
We had a sneak preview, a chance to poke around inside the Z/B workshop and co-founder Greg Bailey told us the engine was (surprisingly) not the biggest challenge of the project.
Rather, all the ADRs (Australia Design Rules) and regulations to make a car roadworthy in Australia – and overseas – were trickier to navigate.
But with so many restomods and modded 911s from established players out there – Singer, RUF, Gemballa – Zeigler Bailey says it has a point of difference that’s already resonating with the first eight buyers: the scale of the operation and customer involvement.
Buyers are encouraged to be part of the build process – even fitting cylinders into engines – and with extensive personalisation available, from materials and finishes to highly bespoke design requests, the team is confident of expanding the operation in the latter half of the decade.
Inside, the Z/B 4.4 blends old and new. Power-adjustable Porsche bucket seats upholstered in tartan and Nappa leather are standard, with options ranging up to carbon GT3 units.
The dashboard and door cards are fully trimmed, while the instruments mimic classic 911 layouts using analogue-style digital displays.
Modern comforts are not ignored, either.
There is a 9.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, sat-nav, Bluetooth and live data logging, along with an Alcantara headliner and an open-gate titanium gear lever.
Despite the price, Zeigler Bailey says demand is strong.
Eight cars are already spoken for, with production capped at 10 per year.
The platform has been designed for both right- and left-hand drive, with the ability to convert between the two relatively simply for those who wish to take them overseas... to the Nürburgring, for example.
The Road Ahead
The co-founders told us it’s planning a savage turbocharged version of its hand-made 4.4-litre six-cylinder engine that could become the world’s most powerful air-cooled engine, with 745kW.
Bailey said there’s also scope to shift its attention towards bespoke Ferrari and Lamborghini models, and even potentially a unique Australian-designed exotic.
Related: Aussie car manufacturing isn’t dead yet
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