Ontario race shop Mantis Autosport has pulled the cover from its latest project, a mechanically remastered 1982 Porsche 911 SC dubbed ‘the Cloud Outlaw’.
The Oakville, Ontario shop, formerly known as Mantis Racing, has been a Porsche Club Racing community fixture for decades. Now under new ownership, the rebranded team is expanding its scope to cater more directly to road-going European enthusiast cars.
But where the shop has traditionally split its attention between all-out track builds and everyday-driver maintenance, the Cloud Outlaw bridges the two. Built to satisfy objectives that blur those lines, this restomodded SC channels that race-building experience into a comfortably streetable, reliable package.
‘Restomodding’ refers to the popular style of restoring a street car with a spectrum of cosmetic and performance modifications. Think hot-rodding, but less winga-dinga and more Bronski Beat.
According to shop co-owner Jon Dunski, the 911’s owner approached Mantis offering the car as a “blank canvas,” telling Dunski, “You make it what you think it should be.”
Mantis’ vision, in turn, is rendered as a hardcore aircooled enthusiast drive which remains functional for use as the owner’s daily driver.
From the outset, this car bucks the common ‘backdating’ trend by modernizing the Porsche’s appearance. For this build, Mantis has adapted Ruf Yellowbird-style valances from a 964 to fit the older G-series. Dunski says that the team had planned to repaint the car, but that removing its heavy impact bumpers “woke the colour up,” leading them to preserve it. With black accents outside and silver flourishes inside, he refers to it as “fresh and fluffy,” a decisive influence in the Cloud name.
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ at RClub Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
RS door pulls in the 1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ by Mantis Autosport Photo by Elliot Alder
1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ at RClub Photo by Elliot Alder
Club and member vehicles at RClub Photo by Elliot Alder
Honda NSX at RClub Photo by Elliot Alder
Porsche 911 at RClub Photo by Elliot Alder
Jon Dunski with the 1982 Porsche 911 ‘Cloud Outlaw’ at RClub Photo by Elliot Alder
Also breaking from the usual, this restomod is more than just skin-deep. Beneath the cowl, Mantis has doubled the SC 3.0L’s power output. Arriving with just 120 horsepower on the dyno, the flat-six has been bored to 3.2L and now produces 246 hp. Ignition is electronically controlled, pumping 40kV through carbon leads to tiny-gapped plugs, ensuring instantaneous spark. Each cylinder also gets its own velocity stack with individual TPS and injectors, with modern electronic fuel injection replacing the notoriously troublesome and obstructive CIS mechanical system of the era. Mantis notes that its setup feeds 10% more fuel to the hottest cylinders farthest from the engine’s fan, and that modern computer failsafes can drop the car into a protective limp mode should any cylinder report more than a 5% deviation from specification.
Matching the boost in power is a drop in weight. Mantis went through and selectively lightweighted the car, retaining everyday comforts while shaving overall mass. A custom lightweight exhaust channels important flat-six noises, and has been installed to accommodate the aircooled car’s traditional heater box.
Upgrading from the 911’s traditional torsion rear setup, the shop has fitted comfortable street springs with fully adjustable RSR-spec coilovers, along with a bump-steer prevention kit to ease controllability, along with geometry-correcting control arms to reduce CV wear. The car is stiffened with prominent internal bracing, while solid engine mounts and a stainless carrier plate tighten the experience further.
Keeping the power under control is a Porsche 220-option LSD, along with restored stock brakes gripping sticky pads via stainless lines — the same setup Mantis trusts from its own racing experience. Finally, a custom set of 3-piece replica wide-fan Fuchs carry the car on wide contact patches, their 17” size ensuring generous availability of performance rubber. Their tread required some gentle rolling of the 911’s fenders, bringing another subtle detail to the car’s understated flair.
After a year of restoration work and extensive road testing to match the car’s dyno tuning, the shop team is proud of its work. Having long had more ideas than resources to realize them himself, Dunski is excited to have had the trust and opportunity to build something for someone else.
For the owner’s part, the Cloud Outlaw should be an exciting change of pace from his 1,000 horsepower BMW. Once the salt clears, GTA motorists can expect to see — and hear — plenty of this unique 911.
Keyword: Oakville race shop looks to the road with under-the-radar ‘Cloud Outlaw’ 911