The 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed showcased an impressive array of hypercars, legendary road and race machines, and Formula 1 greats. Yet, among the glitz and glamour, Oilstainlab‘s Half11 stole the show as a magnificent Frankenstein of ’60s and ’70s inspiration.
In an era where mainstream production cars are mostly uninspiring and only boutique brands like Koenigsegg and Pagani offer groundbreaking designs, two brothers from California, USA have brought to life something truly extraordinary.
Speedhunters covered the Half11 a few years back during its build phase, and it immediately piqued my interest. So when the Oilstainlab team announced their invitation to race at the 2024 Festival of Speed, my excitement level was high – I would finally witness this creation in person.
After five years of blood, sweat, and tears, twin brothers Iliya and Nikita Bridan were set to showcase their custom automotive masterpiece. Few have the opportunity to display their work on this international stage, so the pressure was on.
The Bridan twins are professional car designers, a fact evident in every facet of the Half11. Despite their lack of mechanical expertise at the project’s start, they quickly adapted, learning and outsourcing certain aspects of the build where it made sense.
The Half11 was a Festival of Speed crowd favorite. When it wasn’t screaming up the Goodwood hillclimb, it was surrounded by spectators in the pits. Half were baffled by its eccentricity, while the other half were captivated by its engineering.
To me, the Half11 feels like a 1970s Porsche Can-Am racer mixed with Mad Max, and I love it. The fact that it’s road-registered in California is just the cherry on top. It’s proof that race cars can be road-legal, though not all road cars can double as race cars.
Delving into the details, the Half11 features a 5.5-liter LS3 motor custom-built by JMS Racing Engines. With a big bore and short stroke, it revs up to 8,500rpm and delivers 650hp and 745Nm on regular pump gas.
Engine highlights include eight Inglese individual throttle bodies and a Dailey dry sump system. The headers and rear-exit exhaust – coated in white heat-resistant material and finished with a sleek 3D-printed Inconel tip – took 18 months to perfect. Power is transmitted through a Porsche 996 GT2 transmission with reversed internals. Wet, the Half11 weighs just 839kg (1,850lbs).
The custom tube chassis, engineered by Joe Scarbo, is wrapped in sculpted aluminum bodywork with an epic retro color scheme. A low-level wing finishes the rear end off in style.
The suspension design is built around a Porsche 935-style front layout with Elephant Racing-modified struts and 75mm raised spindles, while Öhlins dampers are used at the rear. Stopping power comes from Porsche 930-spec Wilwood brakes.
One of my favorite features is the wheels, which the Bridan twins designed themselves using Porsche 917 K wheels as their inspiration. The Rotiform one-offs are wrapped in chunky Avon semi-slicks.
Inside, it’s a simple affair with much of the interior being 3D-printed. OEM Porsche gauges, a quick-ratio 911 steering rack, and a Tilton adjustable pedal box complete the setup.
Oilstainlab’s creation is a testament to the power of dreams and passion. The way the global car community has embraced this build proves that when you pour your soul into a project, greatness can be achieved.
If it wasn’t already blindingly obvious, I’m thoroughly impressed by the Half11 and can’t wait to see what the Bridan twins create next.
Stefan Kotzé
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