Keeping up with trends can be exhausting. Thankfully, in the car world, trends usually emerge and subside at a manageable pace. However, a recent niche has burst into the Porsche world at pace - off-road, resto-mod, ‘Safari’, 911s. A niche within a niche, if you like.

The concept of a ‘resto-mod’ is nothing new. Take an old classic car and modernise it with the latest componentry. Therefore, keeping the classic shape of a bygone era, without the associated mechanical gremlins. Over the last decade, Singer Vehicle Design in California have catapulted to almost mythical status with their impeccably enhanced air-cooled 911s. Each and every machine created by Rob Dickinson and his team is uniquely formed to the demand of each customer. Many commissions will generate a bill for over a million dollars. Perfection doesn’t come cheap.

Another firm known for enriching the classic 911 recipe, is Kelly Moss Road and Race. In recent years, the Wisconsin firm have seen their order books bulge with commissions to build ‘Safari’ Porsche 911s. Starting with a classic air cooled 911, Jeff Stone and his team transform a humble machine into an all-terrain monster. Bespoke raised suspension, colossal horsepower hikes and immaculate craftmanship are cornerstones of any bespoke Kelly Moss Safari 911 build. Many firms have followed suit with their own takes on an off road 911, but where did the inspiration come from for these wonderfully mad creations?

“A local Wisconsin guy walked into my office one day. He says ‘I own an archery company and I cater to archery hunters. I love to hunt myself and I’ve always loved Porsches, but I’ve never had one. Can you build me a 911 that I can drive on gravel roads and if I harvest an elk I can put it on the roof and drive it back from wherever I’m hunting from?’. I thought for about two seconds and said that’s no more dumb than anything else we do so let’s have a run at this!” explains Jeff Stone, president of Kelly Moss Road and Race.

“We walked around the yard and found one of my old race cars that had been languishing for many years, but structurally it was exceptional. It had a really good roll cage, safety equipment, fuel cell etc. It really just evolved as an organic, off the cuff experience. That was the first safari car.”

“Everyone that I knew, including people within our company, said ‘what in the world are you doing?! Have you lost your mind?! Why are you building an off-road Porsche’” laughs Stone. “I said well, the customer wants it and its going to be cool.”

Although it may seem highly eccentric to transform a highly prized vintage 911 into a go anywhere, off-road racer, Porsche 911s have previous form for cross country motorsport. In fact, the Porsche 911’s first ever competitive event, was the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally.

Finishing first in class and fifth overall, Herbert Linge and Peter Falk began a competition legacy for the 911 which continues to be enriched with every passing race.

Despite claiming four outright victories on the perilous icy contours of the Monte Carlo rally, three attempts at the infamous Safari rally yielded three second place finishes. Even a Martini backed works effort in 1978 couldn’t break the Kenyan event.

Nevertheless, Porsche avenged their Safari rally disappointment with an assault on the notorious Paris-Dakar rally in 1984. Encouraged by Le Mans ace, Jacky Ickx, Porsche called the versatile 911 into action for their first ever works effort on the Dakar. To survive the 14,000-kilometre route, the 3.2 litre Carrera required a few alterations including four-wheel-drive. However, the essence of a 911 was maintained. Hung out over the rear wheels, an air cooled 3.2 litre flat six motor ensured plentiful grunt and a thrumming, snarling soundtrack to boot.

On the first of January 1984, a pair of Rothmans liveried 911s rolled away from the Place de Concorde in Paris in pursuit of a debut Dakar triumph. Neither crew would enjoy any rest until the finish line at Rose Lake in Dakar three weeks later. Struggling through vicious environments in the Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, the Porsche crews completed nearly 6000 competitive kilometres along the way.

Jacky Ickx and Claude Brasseur’s challenge for victory was thwarted by an electrical issue on stage three, but the tenacious Belgian drove on to the finish in sixth place. A fine effort amongst long distance rally specialists like the great Andrew Cowan.

Claiming the spoils, René Metge and Dominique Lemoyne scored Porsche’s first ever win at the infamous event and the first ever for a sports car. Once again, the 911 had exhibited a breadth of ability never seen before by a single model.

Although Kelly-Moss continue to lead the way in the ‘Safari 911’ market, many other reputable Porsche tuners like Tuthill, Ruf, Singer, Gemballa are all joining the party with their off road 911s. Even Porsche themselves have been spotted testing a current 992 generation 911 with raised suspension and chunky tyres at the Nurburgring. Could Porsche be returning to off road motorsport with a modern-day Safari 911? If so, we have the unique requirements of a Wisconsin archer to thank.