The Porsche 911 is a car renowned for its prowess on racetracks around the world, but its racing successes have not been limited to the tarmac. In 1984, three heavily modified 911s were entered in what is considered by many to be the most grueling off-road race in the world: the Paris-Dakar Rally. Out of more than 400 vehicles that entered, the Porsche 911 with the no. 176 emblazoned on the side ended up winning the race, which took nearly three weeks to complete. Images of these three cars covered in the famed Rothmans livery bounding over dunes and racing across the desert have become iconic pieces of Porsche’s racing history.

At the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show, Porsche unveiled a new car that pays tribute to those three legendary race cars: the 911 Dakar. Based on a 992-generation 911 Carrera 4 GTS, the Dakar in its standard setting sits 50 mm higher than a standard 911, but at the touch of a button, it can raise a further 30 mm when the road gets particularly rough. Bodywork is slightly changed, featuring a carbon fiber-reinforced composite bonnet with a pair of vents along the front bumper and a unique rear wing. Even with numerous off-road upgrades, the Dakar weighs just 20 pounds more than a standard Carrera 4 GTS.

This 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar is a one-owner example that shows just 35 miles at the time of cataloguing. The exterior is finished in what Porsche refers to as the Rallye Design Package, which pays homage to the trio of 911s that ran in the 1984 Paris-Dakar, but in place of the Rothmans branding, it instead says “Roughroads.” On the roof is a Porsche-branded roof rack, complete with two spare gas cans, off-road traction boards, a Porsche shovel, and a rubberized all-weather bag for additional storage.

The Dakar’s interior is optioned with the Rallye Design extension package, which features black leather-wrapped, carbon-back bucket seats with Race-Tex centers paired with Shark Blue seat belts and stitching throughout. This package also fits Race-Tex throughout the interior, covering the steering wheel and steering column, dashboard, center console, and door cards. All 911 Dakars were delivered sans rear seats, providing additional space for luggage on those long trips off-road.

Porsche built just 2,500 Dakars, of which this car is numbered 0639. The 911 Dakar is a unique tribute to Porsche’s motor sports history and will likely be known as one of the brand’s greatest special editions. This example is outfitted with all of the right options and shows delivery miles, making it the perfect example for the collector looking to add an off-road Porsche to their garage.