Porsche revealed its high-riding all-wheel-drive 911 Dakar in November last year after years of lapping the Nurburgring and intense mixed terrain running to put the model’s off-roading capabilities to the test.
Already limited to 2500 units, Porsche is adding to the 911 Dakar’s exclusivity with three wraps inspired by the designs of Porsche’s most famous 1970s rally entrants.
The 911 Dakar was initially announced with a Rally Design Package inspired by the winning 1984 car, but the new wraps draw from the 1971, 1974, and 1978 entrants in the East African Safari Rally
The Rallye 1971 decal pays tribute to the team of Polish drivers who took modified 911 S models through 5000km of the Kenyan savanna, desert, and highlands, on what is considered one of the most challenging rallies in the world.
The modified 1971 911 S was distinguishable by its simple black details on the bonnet, front wings, and doors, which are carried into the modern interpretation.
The racing number 19 is added to the side of the model in the new wrap for the most successful 911 in 1971, which finished in 5th place and was driven by Sobiesław Zasada and Marian Bień.
The 1974 decal, an ode to Swedish rally champion Björn Waldegård, is characterised by two-tone blue stripes along the shoulder of the car’s white body which were originally to make space for a team sponsor.
Only 16 of the 99 cars entered in the 5-day East African Safari Rally made it to the finish line. One of them was a Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS driven by Waldegård and co-driver Hans Thorszelius, who ultimately placed second.
The most recognisable decal of the three wraps, the 1978 design, takes the original Martini Racing Team design of wave-shaped stripes of orange and grey and reimagines it in a deep red and ocean blue.
Also added to the wrap is the racing number 14 on the doors, which is a nod to South Africans Vic Preston Jr. and John Lyall, who placed second in his 911 SC during the 1978 East African Safari Rally.
Porsche 911 Dakar buyers wishing to adorn their unit with one of the three exclusive wraps will have to pay an additional €4165 (AU$6500) for the 1971 and 1974 decals, and an extra €5950 (AU$9300) for the 1978 decal.
That is on top of the initial $491,400 for the base 911 Dakar model and additional $54,730 for the Rally Design Package, all before on-road costs.
The decal sets can all be ordered via the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, and deliveries of the Porsche 911 Dakar are expected to begin in late 2023 for Australia.
