CREAM DREAM

Cream Dream

Eddie Chan on the Porsche 993 he built in just four months.

Built in just four months, Eddie Chan’s 993 skirts the perfect line between OEM and tuner shop special. If it weren’t for the wheels, we could be reasonably convinced that it began life as a one-off Sonderwunsch car.

Completing it in such a short amount of time was the real feat. We’ve heard of paint jobs that have taken as long as this entire build, but when Eddie was offered the opportunity to display the finished car at Air|Water back in April, he knew he had to get a move on.

“Realistically, we were finishing the car up until the last minute,” explains Eddie. “I think the car was done literally the day before the show. One of the biggest challenges with a custom build like this is managing all the moving pieces.

Like any custom build, there are always surprises no matter how much you plan ahead. Something won’t fit right, a part will show up different than expected, or a new issue pops up at the worst time. At that point, you just have to adapt, problem solve, and somehow make it work.”

The speed at which the car was built is one thing, but that alone isn’t why it’s worth celebrating. The colour, bodykit, and interior details are all of what makes this car one cohesive package and we’re not used to seeing the 993 generation receive such a considered level of attention.

“To me the stock 993 front end was always living a bit in the shadow of the 964. With a C2S, there are also very few directions you can go without ruining the flow of the car. Once I finally found a kit that worked, I started searching for period-correct wheels that would really suit the car. I’ve always been a fan of running Japanese monobloc wheels on non-Japanese cars. It’s a culture and design language that I really respect, and I think they work surprisingly well with European cars.

Last but not least, the colour. I went back and forth over 10 times trying to choose the right shade. Then a friend in Asia came up with this really unique cream finish.

“Realistically, we were finishing the car up until the last minute, I think the car was done literally the day before the show. One of the biggest challenges with a custom build like this is managing all the moving pieces.”

"I’ve always been a fan of running Japanese monobloc wheels on non-Japanese cars. It’s a culture and design language that I really respect, and I think they work surprisingly well with European cars."

This 993 is 100% a driver’s car to me. I’ll admit the ride height is definitely on the lower side but for my builds, I always try to keep the style and overall form flowing together the way I envision it.”

So yes, Eddie finished his 993 in time for Air|Water. He may have cut it close, but the car was very well received when the crowds came in for its grand public debut. Finishing it for static display and finishing it for use on the road are two different things however. So how does it handle the real world?

“It might not be the absolute fastest car in the canyons, but it handles great and is honestly just really fun to drive. That balance between looks, driving feel, and personality is what I enjoy most about it. I’m planning on taking the car up to Monterey Car Week this year, and hopefully many more memorable road trips with my wife after that. At the end of the day, that’s really what the car was built for - to be enjoyed and create memories with.

This was my third year attending Air|Water, and it remains one of the best Porsche events on the West Coast. The crowd, the atmosphere and the overall organisation of the event are always top tier. Seeing the car completed and displayed there made the whole build process feel worth it. After all the late nights and last-minute stress leading up to the show, it was a really rewarding moment seeing people connect with the car and appreciate all the little details.”