Real-Deal 1973 Porsche 911 Safari Could Fetch $3M At Auction

Real Thing

Porsche has undoubtedly produced some special machines in its 75 years of existence, many of which are based on the 911. However, in recent years, the Safari-style version of that iconic sports car has seen its popularity rise to rare heights as many have built their own off-road 911s. This 1973 911 RS 2.7 Safari going up for grabs at the Broad Arrow Auctions' 2023 Monterey Jet Center Auction is no clone, however - rather, it's the real deal, and it's expected to fetch upwards of $3 million when it hits the block.

Photos: Broad Arrow Auctions

Rare Breed

This is a rare car on several levels, including the fact that it's one of just 500 first-series cars Porsche built to homologate the 911 RS for FIA Group 4 competition, and the German car maker also created just 130 M471 "Sport" models, otherwise known as Lightweights. It originally rolled off the assembly line in December 1972, wearing Grand Prix White with Red Carrera side stripes.

Photos: Broad Arrow Auctions

Factory Build

However, rather than be delivered to a customer, this particular 911 2.7 RS was instead one of 25 cars shipped over to Porsche's racing department for further modifications with the idea of transforming it into a factory rally car that would compete in the 1973 East African Safari race. As one might imagine, that required some pretty extensive changes to the road-going sports car.

Photos: Broad Arrow Auctions

Heavy Modifications

On the outside, Porsche lifted the suspension of the 911 to give it a total of 250mm of ground clearance, then gave it steel bumpers with extra ram bars, chassis reinforcements, a 110-liter gas tank, "spectator handles" above the rear quarter windows, hood-mounted lights and horns, and of course, a special livery.

Photos: Broad Arrow Auctions

Hard Luck

Despite all of this, Porsche had a tough go at the muddy off-road race, and this particular car - with Björn Waldegård and Hans Thorszelius behind the wheel - suffered a mechanical issue that resulted in a DNF. However, that wouldn't be its swan song, as the 911 Safari soon headed to the 1,000 Lakes Rally with a new suspension setup. There, it won 20 of 43 stages and earned a third-place overall finish.

Photos: Broad Arrow Auctions

Moving On

Porsche continued to tweak its Safari racers heading into the 1974 season, but it still faced issues in Africa, though a sister car to this one - car number 288 - wound up scoring a second-place finish. Thus, Porsche ultimately sold car number 285 to a local enthusiast, who proceeded to rally race it all over Kenya and Tanzania for a number of years.

Photos: Broad Arrow Auctions

Doing What It Does

In the early 2000s, the old Safari racer was rediscovered and brought home to Germany, where it was rebuilt and returned to its original livery. The 911 has been raced on numerous occasions since then and is no museum piece as a result, but truthfully, that's the kind of life it deserves - one lived out in the rough, proving that the 911 is good at more than just carving up paved circuits.

Photos: Broad Arrow Auctions

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