Our 7 Favorite Safari 911 Builds
From the moment the 911 was introduced, it was getting down and dirty. And now thanks to a resurgence of unique builds, Safari edition 911s have sprung up from everywhere. We take a look at some of the coolest ones, even though they are all cool.
The 959 Wouldn't Exist Without This Exact Car
Quite literally built for the Safari, the 953 Paris-Dakar rally racer is the pinnacle of all off-road 911s. Sure the 959 gathered fame, but it's this car which tested out the all-wheel-drive and laid the foundation for future 911s.
Porsche did more than just lift the 953. It had a special low-compression engine to make do with poor fuel quality during the Paris-Darkar route. And they had a whopping 71-gallon tank to cover long distances at speed, according to Porsche.
But this one right here? This is the undisputed king of Safari 911's.
Photo courtesy of Porsche
Even Singer Went Too Far With the ACS
Singer makes incredible re-creation Porsche 911 models. So when they tried their hand at a Safari build, we were watching closely. Turns out Porsche was watching even closer.
Due to the Porsche branding being on the car at its debut, Porsche actually stepped in and told Singer to re-design it without the Stuttgart company name plastered all over it. According to InsideHook, Porsche's decision to prod at Singer was well-timed with their own introduction of a Safari model.
Photo courtesy of Inside Hook
Porsche Got On Board With A Volcano Climbing Prototype
Not too long ago, Porsche decided they wanted to have a try at this Safari thing, too. Uncharacteristic for them, they went all in.
According to Evo Magazine, these Porsche prototypes were made to scale the largest volcano in Chile. And they did. Modifications to the 992 include the use of Portal axles, re-configured cooling systems to reduce the potential of damage, and a slew of safety items for the driver.
Images courtesy of EVO Magazine
A Simple 996 Can Possess Subtle Safari Attributes
You don't always need to go to extremes to have a Safari edition Porsche. Sometimes you just need some drive. We spotted this one at a winter auto-cross event at Road America in Wisconsin. The mods are simple, but effective in order to make this 996 more apt to take on unpaved surfaces. It also shows that with even a simple approach, a mild Safari build is just as cool as the more intense versions.
Photo courtesy of RennList
Porsche Made This "Vision Safari" Concept And Kept It A Secret
Way back in 2012, Porsche built this Vision Safari concept. And then proceeded to do diddly squat with it. According to Road and Track, the car was kept at Porsche's Weissach test facility but was never officially revealed to the public until 2020.
Maybe lessons learned from this car have been transferred to the 911 Dakar, or even to the Macan and Cayenne. Either way, this prototype shows that if Porsche really wanted to get the hearts of enthusiasts pumping, they already had the exact car ready to go way before it was officially cool.
Photo courtesy of Road And Track
Russell Built 911 Is More Like A Trophy Truck
Of the more extreme Safari 911 builds is the Russell Built 911. "Over a foot" is a unit of measure mentioned more than once in describing the changes to this car. Track width? Widened by over a foot. Suspension travel? According to ManofMany, suspension travel is over a foot.
Despite all of those changes, this kit is claimed to be street-legal. which is by far the coolest appeal of any Safari build. Cost? $650,000. Not including the original donor car.
Photos courtesy of ManOfMany
The Original Did It Just As Good
Porsche's 911 was practically brand new in 1965, and it was already in the Monte Carlo rally claiming top 5 finishes. Though not a "Safari" build, it was made for off-road racing, and to us has all the qualifications to be included in this group.
After all, if modern 911s are doing the Safari thing well, the predecessors were just as good. And the early 911s were more than good. in 1968, the 911 had its first Monte Carlo Rally win, which in its day was seen as a mighty achievement to rival a Le Mans victory.
Photo courtesy of Porsche
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