Porsche 911 Modified

The vehicle in detail

While no manufacturer is more closely associated with road racing than Porsche, some of the marque’s most compelling competition legends were forged far from paved circuits. In the punishing heat, dust, and isolation of international rallying—where speed meant little without durability—the 911 proved capable of redefining its own limits.

Developed to withstand the extraordinary rigors of Group B rally competition, the 911 SC/RS was among the most focused competition 911s of its era, distilling Porsche’s hard-won motorsport experience into a rally weapon as direct in conception as the Carrera RS, yet engineered for a vastly more hostile environment. Its 3.0-liter flat-six featured racing-derived 935 cylinder heads and a 10.3:1 compression ratio, while Turbo-derived bodywork and suspension were complemented by coil “helper” springs to support the torsion bars under the relentless demands of rally competition. Both axles were equipped with 18-milimeter anti-roll bars, while thinner-gauge steel and aluminum body panels, lightweight glass, Plexiglas side and rear windows, and fiberglass bumpers helped pare the car’s mass to an absolute minimum.

This 1983 Porsche 911 SC was extensively restored in 2016 as a tribute to these formidable machines, beginning with a 911 SC donor entrusted to concours-winning restorer Tim Marinos of Vintage Autocraft, who oversaw its transformation into a purpose-built rally specification. The body was refinished in a dramatic Rothmans-inspired livery, with its blue, white, red, and gold paintwork and period-style striping reportedly recreated using photographs and measurements taken from an original Rothmans competition car. The comprehensive build incorporated custom TRE Bilstein coil-over suspension with Bremtek brakes, a lightweight rear wing, a TRE light pod housing four Hella lamps, and a custom skid plate, while the 3.0-liter flat-six was extensively upgraded with custom camshafts, cylinder heads, and carburetors.

A dramatic and expertly realized homage to one of Porsche’s most evocative programs, this exceptional Rothmans Safari 911 offers an irresistible contrast: an extensively developed air-cooled 911 rendered uncompromisingly functional for the vast, unforgiving terrain beyond the tarmac.