There’s something undeniably magnetic about a Porsche 911 that has been liberated from the smooth asphalt of a racetrack and reimagined for the grit and unpredictability of the wilderness.
While the factory-fresh 911 Dakar has recently brought the “Safari” concept to the mainstream, true purists know that the soul of this movement lies in the custom builds—the ones born from passion, greasy fingernails, and a refusal to let a classic car fade into obscurity.
Enter the Elfer Spot Porsche 911 3.0 SC ‘Safari’, a vehicle that represents the pinnacle of this “go-anywhere” philosophy. This isn’t just a weekend project; it is a award-winning, meticulously engineered masterpiece that proves old-school fabrication and raw mechanical spirit can still dominate the conversation in 2026.
The story behind this particular build is as well-traveled as the car itself. Originally a resident of the sunny shores of Hawaii, this 1980 911 3.0 SC eventually found its way to Sweden before being imported to Finland. By the time it landed in the hands of its current creators, it was in what could charitably be described as “very poor condition.”
But where others saw a scrap heap, the team in Finland saw a blank canvas. They drew inspiration from the legendary modified 911s of the late ’70s and early ’80s—cars that were built to survive the brutal East African Safari rallies. What followed was a total rescue mission that prioritized traditional craftsmanship over modern shortcuts.
In an era where fiberglass panels are the norm for body modifications, this Safari was built using traditional sheet metal work. Every panel, every weld, and every structural reinforcement was executed with a level of purity that is increasingly rare in the custom car scene.
Listed at EURO 129,000, this build is a serious investment for the serious collector, but the level of detail more than justifies the entry price. The entire vehicle was stripped and overhauled by Carace, a renowned Porsche specialist in Finland, while the heart of the machine—the 3.0-liter flat-six engine and the manual transmission—was entrusted to the experts at Kiveriö Customs Oy.
The 201 HP engine breathes through a custom Turbo Thomas exhaust system, giving it a soundtrack that matches its aggressive stance. To handle the terrain, it’s equipped with a Bilstein rally suspension and iconic Fuchs wheels wrapped in Nokia Rockproof 225/75R16 tires.
It even carries a full-size spare on the roof rack, flanked by a trio of LED headlamps for those midnight escapes into the deep woods.
The aesthetic choice is equally inspired. Finished in a metallic “Geminigrau,” the car has an understated, rugged elegance that feels far more sophisticated than the loud, sticker-heavy liveries often seen on Safari builds. Inside, the cabin has been completely reupholstered to a standard that borders on obsessive.
You’re held in place by Recaro bucket seats and four-point TRS harnesses, protected by a custom-made roll bar and protective bars that are as much about safety as they are about structural rigidity. It’s a space that feels purposeful and tactical, yet surprisingly refined.
This commitment to quality didn’t go unnoticed; at the Porsche Festival Finland 2022, the car was rightfully awarded “Best of Show / People’s Choice,” cementing its status as one of the finest Safari conversions in existence.
What makes this Porsche Safari truly special is its timing. It arrives at the perfect moment, just as the automotive world is rediscovering the joy of analog, tactile driving experiences in off-road settings. With only 1,000 km on the clock since its rebuild, it is effectively a brand-new car with 46 years of heritage baked into its bones.
It’s a rear-drive, manual, air-cooled beast that invites you to take the long way home—even if that way involves a gravel trail or a mountain pass. For the driver who wants the prestige of a 911 with the utility of a mountain goat, this Finnish-built legend is the ultimate expression of automotive freedom.
