The last of the revived 911 Dakar legend

The last of the revived 911 Dakar legend

The 911 Dakar story is one that celebrates an odd yet iconic period in Porsche's rallying story. The Dakar as we know it in this day and age is the 992.1 911 Dakar and offers a unique off-road variation of the current 911. The rally car from 1984, which not only competed in the Dakar but also won it, served as the inspiration for this intriguing take on the modern sports car. This bold interpretation wowed the world on its release in November of 2022, but only 2,500 models were expected to be manufactured. As this production run comes to an end, a passionate Italian sports car collector will receive a one-off custom Dakar to end its run.

To touch on why the Dakar is so obscure, let us travel back in time. The original 911 Dakar began its life as a 911 Carrera 3.2 with a 4x4 setup. To account for the bone-rattling terrain, its wheel travel was increased by 270mm, double wishbone suspension was installed with twin shock absorbers for the front axle, and a reinforced rear axle with coil springs was placed in the rear. The body was derived from a 911 G series model and was of course reinforced with a bulletproof roll cage and a tonne of weight savings.

Prior to the 1984 Dakar, there was speculation about this vehicle's durability, so its victory shocked the rally world. Returning to the present, the 992.1 Dakar was a vision that drew inspiration from this legendary victory, and its arrival was more than well received. Due to the nature of this heritage celebratory item, its life was destined to be industry-shaking but short-lived. And to give the Dakar a farewell of sorts, Porsche produced a one-off called the Sonderwunsch.

The Sonderwunsch's new three-tone paint job is its most obvious and significant change. At the request of the new owner, a custom painted line divides the Signal Yellow and Gentian Blue Metallic. The blue on the custom stripe, called Lampedusa Blue, is a colour that correlates with the traditional Porsche Dakar colour scheme, but the name for this blue comes from the Italian Mediterranean island and is a request made by the new owner. You should note that this paintwork was done entirely by hand.

The same colours are used in the alloy wheels too, with the Signal Yellow covering the wheel, marked with the Lampedusa Blue highlight around the edge. On the inside, the same design language is reflected, leaning on the side of yellow and black. The headrests are embroidered with ‘911 Dakar’ in Speed Yellow, and the gear selector is further enhanced with Speed Yellow leather inserts. The LED projectors further enhance the design by reflecting the Sonderwunsch logo onto the floor. As for its name, Sonderwunsch translates to "special request," which is straight to the point and so undeniably German.

The 911 Dakar, as crazy and obscure as it is, is an icon in the 911 lineup. As much as we wish there were more than 2,500 units of this masterpiece, its time has come to an end, and to celebrate, the Sonderwunsch is a stunning example to bid a final farewell. As for now, this one-off Dakar will be on display in the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart until it is collected and added to its owner's collection in Italy.

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