While the first Safari 911s were developed to handle the seventies wilderness following the success of early rally-spec 911s in the sixties, a growing number of Porsche aficionados have used them as inspiration for something rather newer. Among them are Tuthill Porsche, the British firm that specialises in preparation and competition of rallying 911s, and Keen Projects, the American company which offers a Safari kit for roadgoing 911s. What you see here though is unique. Reason being, it’s the brainchild of a PHer who wanted all of that rough and tumble magic in a Targa.
The story of Andys1000’s project began back in 2018, when he sourced a 1977 Targa from rural Wales to provide the working platform. You may already know how it went down from there; the car got a bored-out 3.2-litre flat-six, built by specialist Neil Bainbridge with a short stroke to 240hp. Its body was stripped and built back up layer by layer, with Riviera Autobody painting applying the ‘Goldfinger’ colour in no fewer than 14 coats. The exterior chrome trim was finished in nickel, just like Singer's creations. It looked glorious even when unfinished.
Next was the rolling chassis, starting with Elephant Racing Bilsteins to offer a four-inch lift, uprated bearings and polyurethane bushes. Tuthill supplied the brakes, and a new rack and handbrake were added, so everything was in a like-new or, more likely, much-improved condition. Andys1000 didn’t hold back on style front, either, drafting in the dash maker from the Singer Mulholland project to create the maple wood arrangement that went into his car. The carpets and leathers were all top notch as well, while the Prototipo steering wheel finished off the classic 911 sporting look.
Add in a set of proper off-road tyres wrapped around Fuchs-style rims, plus a set of mud flaps, and the project duly delivered one of the coolest, most purposeful-looking 911s ever. With underbody protection and spotlights, the car’s intent has always been clear – although plenty of 911 Safari drivers see fit to use their cars in less extreme environments. For example, the builder of this car started off his thread stating that he wanted something to use “where or whatever the weather”; while US journalist Matt Farah has openly admitted to using his own Keen Safari 911 almost exclusively in the confines of LA.
Given the amount of love lavished on it (not to mention the accompanying bills) and the condition of the Goldfinger machine as seen, we're guessing the car hasn’t seen much action away from tarmac. In truth, it’s not seen much action at all, with only 2,000 miles of use since the restomod project was completed. We’re not sure why the Targa is being moved on, but one thing’s for certain: the next custodian will have themselves a truly unique specification of 911 Safari thanks to that removable lid, that’s not far off brand new. £120k is 911 GT3 money, but here it buys you a singular creation. And if 2020 is anything to go by, a toughened-up and go-anywhere 911 isn't going to let you down in any respect.
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