Based in Maxdorf, GTR Parts is a German shop that’s spent more than a quarter-of-a-century developing and producing spares and aftermarket upgrades for air-cooled Porsches. Though the shop’s bread and butter is churning out parts, it also delivers some wildly-impressive, highly-involved custom Porsche builds.
And the latest one-off work to roll out of GTR Parts is a stunning spare-no-expense 1986 Porsche 911 Safari build born out of over 700 hours of meticulous, expert labor.
The project started out as a particularly well-preserved 1986 G-Body 911 that’s not only a matching numbers specimen, but the thing has also had just 2 owners since leaving the factory nearly 40-years-ago. To kick off the project, the team at GTR Parts began with a complete frame tear-down and frame-blasting. From there, the vehicle was built back up using a combination of bespoke and off-the-shelf components. This recipe has ultimately allowed the 911 donor to remain much of its original character and charm, while at the same time gaining some more contemporary performance capabilities — and a good deal of go-anywhere prowess.
One of the project’s main focuses was on overhauling the donor’s powertrain. Also benefitting from a complete teardown, the 3.2-liter flat-six at the heart of this build has been paired with a custom DP Motorsport exhaust system, and an original 915 gearbox that’s been overhauled and fitted with shorter ratios. Also benefitting from the installation of a differential lock, this off-road-ready 911 now cranks out a respectable 231hp.
In addition to the complete frame-off restoration and extensive engine work, another major part of why this expert-built project took over 700 hours to complete is its body. Sporting flared fenders at all four corners, this bodywork was formed entirely by hand. The back of the car also features a deck-lid capped off with a ducktail spoiler. The entire suite of custom bodywork also now wears a Black Olive livery complemented via blacked-out headlight bezels, wheels, auxiliary lighting surrounds, and a custom blacked-out Porsche logo badge adorning the hood.
Once stripped down, the car’s frame was treated to a custom lifted suspension setup that offers markedly more travel than the donor’s stock suspension hardware. From there, the thing was bestowed with a classic set of 16” Fuchs-style wheels shod in beefy General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tires. Custom perforated bumpers have also been installed fore and aft, and the vehicle’s stock headlight arrangement has been jettisoned in favor of more modern LED units.
Inside, this safari-style 911 has been tastefully customized, using a largely period-correct, less-is-more approach. Fortified via a black-finished roll-cage paired with a black headliner, the cabin now boasts a set of Rallye sports seats, RS door panels, a shortened gearshift, an original Porsche sports steering wheel, custom insulation, a lightweight carpet set, and a period-correct German-made Blaupunkt radio. The entire thing is trimmed in a combination of black leather and black suede.
While its chassis, suspension, custom body shell, and overhauled powertrain are the main focal points of this ambitious safari build, the project does possess a few other minor details that are still pretty noteworthy. This includes a custom 26.4-gallon fuel cell and all-new braking hardware front and back. The 911’s speedometer has also been adjusted to account for the larger wheel and tire-set. What’s more, since the build’s competition, this safari-style 911 has only seen 124 miles put on the odo — just enough to break it in.
While they were once fairly rare, safari-style 911s have increasingly become a dime-a-dozen in modern Porsche building and tuning circles. What makes GTR Parts’ take on a go-anywhere G-Body so noteworthy is its ability to retain much of the donor’s original DNA — inside and out — while still offering more contemporary performance capabilities. What’s more, the handworked nature of the project — and the fact it required more than 700 hours of labor — also plays a major role in distinguishing this 911 build from other safari-style restomods. Lastly, the green-over-black color scheme really pushes it over the top.
Brand: Porsche
Model: 911
Model Year: 1986
Builder: GTR Parts
Engine: 3.2L Flat-Six
Power: 231HP
Asking Price: $196,000
Currently located in Germany, this 1986 Porsche 911 3.2 Safari By GTR Parts is currently for sale through Elferspot with an asking price of €180,000 (~ $196,000).
Germany-based Porsche components specialist GTR Parts rolls out a beautifully-built safari-style G-Body 911 born out of over 700 hours of expert labor.
