Off-road “Safari-style” Porsche 911s are all the rage these days, with even high-end outfits like Singer getting in on the action. However, while those examples are likely to set you back hundreds of thousand of dollars, a similar kind of fun can be had for much less.
Listed for sale on Bring A Trailer, this 1985 Porsche 911 received a full rally-spec conversion by California-based Vali Motorsports shortly after its current owner acquired it in 2017.
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Starting with the obvious, the 911 got a substantial lift, complete with chunky off-road tires and 16-inch Braid wheels. It also received off-road bumpers front and rear, a roof-mounted spare tire carrier, and a hood-mounted light pod that features a combination of both HID and LED lights.
It also has skid plates, a limited-slip differential and refurbished brakes and the suspension was completely reworked, with all-new dampers, torsion bars, axles, camber plates, suspension bushings, and wheel bearings. As for the 3.2-liter flat-six engine, while it appears to be stock, the seller says it was recently resealed and had its belts replaced.
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The interior also got a total makeover, with Vali Motorsports stripping out everything except the dashboard and door cards. They installed six-point harnesses, a four-point roll cage and, most notably, Alcantara-finished carbon fiber racing seats. A metal shelf lies where the rear seats used to be, and the floorboards, pedals, and other interior paneling are all powder-coated. Also, next to the gear lever, which controls a five-speed manual transmission, sits a hydraulic e-brake.
Behind the car’s MOMO Prototipo steering wheel lie a number of gauges for fuel level, oil level, oil temperature and oil pressure. It also has a red VMS Motorsports tachometer, a VDO speedometer, and an analog clock. And while this is a capable off-road machine, it does come with some creature comforts such as power locks and windows, air conditioning, an electric sunroof and an aftermarket radio with Bluetooth and USB connectivity.
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The seller was kind enough to include photos pointing out the car’s imperfections, but whoever buys this car likely need not worry, as we’ve seen more damage on average everyday road cars than this purpose-built rally machine.
With two days left in the auction, the bidding currently sits at $70,000, and while that might be quite a bit of money, it’s a fraction of what a lot of similar builds would cost. So if you’re looking to dip your toes into the Safari Porsche 911 market, this might just be the car for you.