The concept of a Safari (or Dakar) Porsche is one that has captured the imagination of quite a few people and the attention of the rich more recently. That means that there’s no shortage of off-road-ready 911s on the way but there is a shortage of availability for the masses.
This homemade 1978 Porsche 924 “Safari” going up for auction through Collecting Cars may be just the solution for you. Admittedly a less desirable vehicle than the 911, the 924 has oft been lumped in with the quote-unquote lesser Porsches, but that concept is being challenged now when even so-called “poor man’s Porsches” can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Read Also: Porsche May Pick “Dakar” Over “Safari” For Its High-Riding 911
So why not bid on an oddball 924 that has been given a Martini livery, decked in manufacturer decals, and fitted with a roof rack to make it look rally-ready? It also has a set of brand new Toyo all-terrain tires that are wrapped around 15-inch mesh alloys wheels.
The team that built it has also installed spacers to give the car a wider stance, and the interior now features Auto Style bucket seats with racing harnesses, OMP footwell plates, VDO dials, and a black synthetic suede-trimmed steering wheel. It also gets a hydraulic handbrake and a fire extinguisher to make things extra racy.
Making things a little less racy is the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that drives the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, though it does get a dog-leg first gear.
The odometer shows 58,220 km (36,176 miles), though that’s a little misleading because it has had a thorough rebuilt and has not been driven since work on the vehicle was completed this year. The seller reports that the paintwork was redone in 2015 and has only a few minor imperfections on the sills and a small blister on the rear bumper.
The 924 might not be everyone’s idea of a classic Porsche but wouldn’t you rather see someone try to make one of these more interesting than cut up a classic 911 in order to cosplay as a classic rally driver?
