Ultimate Porsche 930 Safari Off Road Build (911) on 30″ M/T Tires

This lifted Porsche 930 Safari build is a beast in elegant clothing. When Kai Burkhard wanted to build an off-road 911 that didn’t lose its signature style, he turned to custom fab work and a host of upgrades that make it a game-changer. Can a rear-engine icon really tackle boulders while still turning heads? Let’s find out!

⚙️ Technical Details

Model: Porsche 911 Carrera (930)

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Production years: 1975-1989

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Approximate prices on the market: $36,000-$80,000 ⓘ

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Engine: 3.2L Air-cooled

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Drivetrain: Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)

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Construction: Unibody

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Traction Enhancement Devices: Available LSD (Limited-Slip Differential)

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Low Range Gearing: No

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Stock wheel size: 27″

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Offroad Wheel Size: 30″

When Kai Burchard got his hands on a 1986 Porsche 930 project car, he knew he didn’t want to just fix it up like a pristine garage queen. No, he envisioned turning this classic 911 into the ultimate lifted safari racer built for rock crawling and high speed dirt trails.

And after two intense years filled with radical fabrication and engineering feats most shops wouldn’t even attempt, Kai’s vision is now an awe-inspiring reality. Simply put – this custom lifted Porsche build just redefined everything we thought possible from an iconic 911 platform.

As someone who has built and tested countless off-road vehicles through brutal terrain, I can confidently say that the obsessive planning and meticulous execution of this safari-style 911 make it one of the most advanced I’ve ever seen.

Safari Heritage

Throughout the years, Porsche has forged the reputation of an ultimate driver-orientated sports car in racing events and competitions around the world. Unlike many automotive manufacturers, Porsche regards racing as an essential part of ongoing engineering development, which led the company to many technological innovations.

Everyone knows how successful the 911 Series was in road & track competitions, but the fact that it was also a strong player in the rally and even off-road racing back in the day is known only by the real Porsche fans.

“One of the first off-road versions of the 911 was the Carrera RS 2.7 developed for the African Safari competition back in the 1970-s.”

It featured a lifted and softened suspension, slightly bigger wheels to improve the handling on the unpaved roads, strong body armor that wrapped the vehicle around, and auxiliary lighting mounted on the hood. The 1984 Porsche 953 was a special edition 911 with extensively modified suspension, designed to compete in one of the world’s most challenging off-road racing events Paris-Dakar, which brought the company the winning title in its class for the first time.

930 Safari Custom Build

At some point, this stunning lifted Porsche 911 that you see in the pictures can be perceived as a tribute to the original 911 Safari model, but if you take a closer look at this unique resto-mod, you’ll realize that the owner went beyond that concept. Oversized mud tires, race-spec interior roll-cage, and fully custom off-road suspension resemble the image of the 1984 Porsche 953 Dakar edition.

“Oversized mud tires, race-spec interior roll-cage, and fully custom off-road suspension resemble the image of the 1984 Porsche 953 Dakar edition.”

“Another easter egg of this project is hidden in the name Syberia, which brings up the associations with the Transsyberia rally”

that was chosen by Porsche back in 2007 to demonstrate the outstanding off-road capabilities of the Cayenne models and prove their reliability in the most extreme environments. Being one of the most challenging endurance rally raids in the world, Transsyberia rally involved a 6,600-kilometer route through the Ural Mountains, subarctic forests, and Gobi Desert.

“It’s hard not to mention the unique appearance of this car. Rugged off-road elements are seamlessly integrated within the factory body lines of the 911, which creates a perfect blend of custom style and genuine Porsche aesthetics.”

While the off-road suspension and oversized tires required some radical modifications in the wheel well areas, all other exterior enhancements are true to the Porsche DNA. Carrera RS tail, Fuchs rims, classic hood-mount rally rights are here to please the purists. Even the look of the front bumper remained nearly untouched despite hiding a fully-functioning 3.5-ton winch behind the elegant custom fabricated panel.

The appearance and extensive list of modifications of the 911 Syberia RS project leave no doubt that this lifted sports car is up to any challenge the owner could throw at it, whether it’s the deep sands of African Desert or unexplored paths of the cold Siberia. To find out more about the background of this project,

“we decided to reach out to its creator Kai Burkhard from Burkhard from Düsseldorf, Germany, who was kind enough to share more details about his project.”

Interview with the Owner & Builder – Kai Burkhard

How did you come up with an idea to build an off-road version of the 911, and why did you choose this style?

I wanted to buy a HUMVEE for myself and my 11-year old son, just to have some fun, but the speed, performance, and my wife were not very convincing. This is how the SyberiaRS idea was born.

Who was responsible for the technical side of the project, parts selection, and putting it all together?

Kai Burkhard and my mechanics. In terms of the suspension, H&R developed a fully-custom solution for my car.

I am sure this is the question most Porsche purists would ask, as your build is pretty far from what’s considered to be a traditional restoration project. Was it hard to justify cutting and lifting the base 911 that you found for this project?

Of course, it was. The original car was so perfect. Clean, never snow, no salt – nothing. It was imported from Japan – a solid 10 out of 10! But it wasn’t the only 911 I have in my collection, so it made it a little bit easier for me to start on this “brutal” project.

I realize that the modification list is pretty extensive, but what are the most notable upgrades on this vehicle?

Suspension, Interior, Fly-Off Handbrake, Winch, roof rack, and the roll cage.

“As per Kai, one of the biggest challenges of this project was the suspension modification and choosing the appropriate wheel & tire combo that would look at home in the widened wheel arches.”

What is that you love about this 911 Syberia build the most?

It is mine, and it is absolutely unique. Nobody else has a Syberia RS! For sure the best looking SAFARI I know.

Is it a one-off example, or are you planning to produce more of these for customers?

It depends on the customers. I only want to have fun and be around with cool and friendly people. If a cool and friendly person wants to buy a SyberiaRS – the first step is done 🙂

What if someone reading this interview wants to buy one, how can they reach you, and is there an estimated price?

They can reach me via Instagram. The price depends on how cool and friendly a customer is and how much he can afford 🙂

Watch the progress and find out more about the Porche 911 SyberiaRS project by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @syberia_rs!

Off-road Capability Score: 35/70

From what we observed of its configuration, with the rear-engine RWD drivetrain, unibody construction and limited slip diff as the only traction enhancement, the off-road capability score of just 35 (out of 70 possible) reflects that while upgraded, there are limitations to pushing a 911 too far into rugged terrain (compared to body-on-frame 4x4s equipped with lockers and low range). But as a head-turning pre-runner-style build, this Safari 911 lets owners enjoy getting far off the beaten path while still enjoying creature comforts like racing seats, roll cage and upgraded exhaust.

Complexity Level: PRO

Exclusive suspension designed by H&R, bespoke fabrication and sophisticated design were the main indicators that this build belongs to the category of PRO level builds based on our evaluation standards.

Budget: $$$$$

With a long list of custom designed and fabricated components, it’s clear that tens of thousands have been invested to optimize it for off-road use while retaining the iconic 911 silhouette. It’s a prime example of an ultimate “no-expenses-spared” off-road build with a focus on style & performance, that’s why we gave it the maximum 5 out of 5 rating “$$$$$” as per our classification criteriums*.

Author’s Opinion

As an off-road vehicle expert with over 15 years of experience building and testing off-road vehicles, I’m blown away by the engineering feats accomplished in this 911 safari project. Kai took a no-compromises approach, implementing creative solutions that push the boundaries of an iconic 911 platform.

For Porsche 911 fans seeking a beautiful beast for safari-style adventures, this professionally-built 930 strikes the perfect balance between show and go. With its pro-level components, custom fab work and no-limits budget evident in our review, it’s guaranteed to deliver an exciting backcountry experience while reminding everyone that off-road cred can still come in a gorgeous package.

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