This Porsche 993 Safari Build Is Much More Affordable Than The New Dakar

Jan 01, 2024

This Porsche 911 Carrera rocks an upgraded engine, new suspension, and beefed-up brakes

The new Porsche 911 Dakar has been in the headlines a lot in recent months but its exorbitant $223,450 price tag puts it out of reach for most. This particular safari-style 1997 911 Carrera Coupe is a little more affordable and approachable.

This heavily modified 911 Carrera has been listed up for auction through Bring a Trailer and while it probably isn't as capable off-road as the new 911 Dakar, it certainly looks the part and would be much more suited to gravel roads and sand dunes than a standard 911 of this era. It is being offered with manufacturer's literature, a Carfax report, and a clean California title.

Watch: Is The Porsche 911 Dakar Good Enough To Impress Chris Harris?

While the exterior is adorned in Olive Green, this is actually a wrap, and hidden beneath is Ocean Blue Metallic paint. The front end also stands out with a new bumper with an integrated skid plate finished in black while the car sits on black 16-inch Braid wheels wrapped in 215/70 Yokohama Geolander A/T tires. The seller also had the 911's suspension modified by BBI Autosport to include custom-built JRZ long-travel adjustable coilovers as well as new control arms, links, and moonball bearings.

As for the 3.6-liter air-cooled flat-six engine, it remains largely stock but does have a new VarioRam intake system. It is coupled to a six-speed manual transmission that drives the rear wheels. New brake rotors and pads have also been fitted.

A handful of welcome changes have also been made to the car's interior. For example, there are new Recaro Pole Position seats clad in black leather with houndstooth inserts and an embossed Porsche crest in the headrests. A harness bar also catches the eye and has allowed for the fitment of Sparco six-point harnesses. The Porsche also has a hydraulic handbrake, a wood shift knob, air conditioning, and power windows.

The listing doesn't note how many miles the car has traveled since its Safari overhaul but notes the chassis and engine have 124,000 miles (199,000 km) under their belt.