A new era of Porsche-based engineering emerges from Melbourne
Australian automotive manufacturing may have officially wound down years ago, but in a Melbourne workshop, a new chapter is quietly—and loudly—being written. Led by vehicle aficionado John Zeigler and renowned engineer Greg Bailey, the Zeigler/Bailey 4.4 project is bringing precision engineering, local craftsmanship, and Porsche heritage together in a way not seen before.
Far from the global trend of “resto-modding,” Zeigler describes their undertaking differently.
“This is re-engineering,” he says. “Whilst we closed down the automotive industry, there is something about young people—men and women—that is part of our core culture as a country.”
At first glance, the Zeigler/Bailey (ZB) car resembles a classic G-Series Porsche 911. But beneath the familiar lines is an entirely new machine.
“People refer to these as restomods,” John says. “But this is a re-engineered car that has all the latest technology, suspension, and luxury inside the classic G-Series 911.”
Engineered from the ground up, the ZB project doesn’t rebuild an old Porsche—it uses the platform as a starting point for total mechanical redevelopment. Every major system has been reconsidered, redesigned, and re-manufactured to modern standards.
The centrepiece of the ZB project is its bespoke 4.4-litre naturally aspirated flat-six, derived from Porsche DNA but reimagined using modern engineering principles. Developed by Bailey, the engine features over 1,200 uniquely engineered components and produces over 300 kW without forced induction.
The design utilises a Getrag-engineered architecture, with the goal of extracting what Porsche’s original creators might have envisioned with today’s knowledge.
“What would Ferdinand Porsche have done if he knew what we know now?” John asks. The ZB 4.4 is their answer.
In total, each car contains over 3,500 custom-made parts, created specifically for the ZB platform. Inside, buyers can choose between Porsche GT3/GTS-style seats for a racing posture or a more refined touring layout. Despite the classic shell, the cabin is loaded with modern technology, driver feedback, and comfort systems.
One of the project’s most innovative achievements is its dual-configuration layout.
The ZB is uniquely engineered to switch between left-hand drive and right-hand drive in a single day at the workshop.John offers a real-world example:
A customer could run the car in Australia as a right-hand-drive car, ship it to Europe for a grand tour, convert it to left-hand drive for the trip, and then return it to Australia to be switched back—all by design.
“That’s because our unique skill allowed the car to be ambidextrous from the start,” John explains.
The first ZB cars start from $1.6 million AUD. While undeniably premium, Zeigler notes that comparable Singer-style builds often exceed $3–4 million AUD locally.
The ZB aims for similar craftsmanship and engineering depth at a more grounded—but still ultra-exclusive—price point.
With eight cars already in their Melbourne workshop, demand is accelerating. John suggests that the 2026 build allocation could be fully spoken for within months.
“We’re going steady for perfect,” he says. “We never intend to produce hundreds of cars. We want a bespoke, really unique global car.”
The Zeigler/Bailey 4.4 is more than a Porsche project—it’s a statement.
A statement that Australian engineering excellence never died.
A statement that craftsmanship still matters.
A statement that the spirit of innovation can outlive an industry.
And perhaps most importantly, it’s proof that world-class automotive manufacturing can still happen right here, in Australia.
