Our Two Cents: Safari dreaming?
For this week’s installment of Our Two Cents, we asked the staff here at Hagerty Media to give us their hot take on the renewed interest in the phenomenon known as the safari car. It seemed like a timely question, inspired by Nissan’s Safari Rally Z build for the SEMA show. Perhaps lower-riding vehicles—made to sit as high as a crossover and fitted with tougher tires—helps people enjoy their cars in different ways. Whether its a fad, a fashion, or a style that’s here to stay is tough to determine.
![Pontiac Bonneville Wagon Safari Ad](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2020/06/14-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
Below are the safari cars we wish we had in our driveway. Somehow, sadly, nobody mentioned turning a (Pontiac) Wagon into a safari car. (We came close, though.) Here are our outstanding choices for rising above the crowd and getting dusty.
Volvo PV544
![Safari Rally in 1965, a Volvo PV544](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2023/11/5.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=484&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
“I want the PV544 Volvo, which was a Safari Rally champ in 1965. These cars are mechanically and structurally durable, with a simple four-cylinder/three-speed powertrain. A two-door Swedish gangster saloon traipsing over dirt mounds with a cloud in its wake? Sign me up!” – Eric Weiner
Rolls Royce Phantom
@Matt Tuccillo: Rolls Phantom, but make it like Jules from 1981!
@Sajeev Mehta: Not the Cullinan? Yeah, I guess that’s too easy and obvious.
Chevy Tahoe
![chevrolet two door blazer suv front three quarter](https://media.hagerty.com/media/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1993-chevrolet-k5-blazer-1-1024x756.webp)
“A GMT400 platform Chevy Tahoe. They are readily available, cheap, have lots of ways to gussy it up, and its American. And I’m American!” – Joe DeMatio
BMW “Clownboot”
![2001 BMW Z3M Coupe clownshoe S54 manual](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2022/10/stills-50.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=480&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
“I’ve always thought the 2002 BMW M Coupe, the “clown shoe” model, had the off-road look already. I’d love to lift one and see what it could do off-road. Not sure how well it would work, but it’d look great.” — Steven Cole Smith
Toyota TRD Pro(?) Minivan
![toyota sienna trd minivan](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2022/06/2022-Toyota-Sienna-Road-Trip-driver-side-panning-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=427&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
“You’re really gonna make me bring up minivans again? Just give me a full Baja/Safari lineup of every generation of Toyota van! We can just forget the first-gen Sienna exists since it’s the only one without available 4WD or all-wheel drive!” – Ben Woodworth
BRZ Outback Edition
![2012 Subaru BRZ front three quarter driving action](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2023/02/010812BRZ30.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=448&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
“I’d give a Subaru BRZ the Safari treatment. Two in lift, rally flaps, small wheels, and knobby tires with gobs of sidewall. You’d catch me out there wagging my tail through every dirt corner I can find! Come to think of it, winter is fast approaching northern Michigan …. that might be the most fun I could have up here.” — Nathan Petroelje
High Riding Hot Rod Lincoln
“Yeah I know, big surprise, right? The guy who won’t shut up about Lincolns would Safari a Mark VIII in a heartbeat.
Just a few days ago a dude in a work truck chased me down to get a closer look and gush over my own 1995 Mark VIII. He knew a fair bit about the car and did a great job putting it into historical context, which was a nice reminder of just how awesome these cars were back then and continue to be as a modern classic. And that Mark VIII, pictured above, that was heavily modified to run in the Gambler 500? Yeah, sign me up for that. All day, every single day.” — Sajeev Mehta
A badder Volvo V70 Cross Country?
![volvo V70 xc wagon front three quarter](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2023/11/5-1.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=397&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
“The safari theme is a little too car-cosplay for me. Though a few voices I trust talk up the added comfort that longer suspension travel and more sidewall provides, the look is just too try-hard if you’re keeping it on pavement or don’t live in a crazy climate.Mecum Auctions
However, if forced, I’d find a 2000 Volvo V70 XC, beef up the suspension and Haldex AWD, add some bigger brakes to help with the heavier rolling stock, add a 19T turbo and put some snow tires on it. I think it’d have to be dark green.” — Eddy Eckart
GM A body… or a GM Dustbuster?
![1972 NORRA Mexican 1000 Off-Road Race](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2023/11/1972-NORRA-Mexican-1000-Off-Road-Race-GettyImages-165569230.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=640&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
“Ben’s Safari van idea is sweet! I would use a Pontiac Minivan, though. Would give a whole new meaning to the Dustbuster nickname. Well that’s not entirely true.
My actual dream safari ride would be an off-road take on late 60s/early 70s GM muscle, like that old Baja class. James Garner knew what was up with his 442 Olds back in the day. Here’s a similar car from a 1972 NORRA race. While we’re dreaming, I’d chop up a ’68 Chevelle for my desert driving.” — Cameron Neveu
![hooptie x mini van](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2022/07/HooptieX_rally_5724.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=427&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
@Ben Woodworth: Safari-ize ALLLLL the dustbusters!
@Nathan Petroelje: Well dang, now mine looks dull. Tell you what, let’s safari-ize a 427 Cobra and then hold on for dear life and dig 2-foot trenches through every trail we charge down.
A dirty, lifted Brat
![Subaru Brat 2019 Dirtfish Olympus Rally front three quarter high angle driving action](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2023/11/Subaru-Brat-2019-Dirtfish-Olympus-Rally-Flickr-Jim-Culp.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=427&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
“Subaru Brat. Small lift, not a huge tire. Will look great with some auxiliary lights and already has a good bit of off road prowess so soft roading to a nice camping spot should be no problem” — Kyle Smith
GMC Safari, or a Rose by any other name?
![gmc safari](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2023/11/Screenshot-2023-11-09-at-12.14.05-PM.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=409&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
“I’m of two minds here. On the one hand, it would be completely appropriate to safari a GMC Safari. The AWD version would do well with that look. There’s probably already an Instagram account for one. On the other hand, the challenge of safariing a lowrider has its appeal. Could the Gypsy Rose be safaried? Ohhh, probably.” — Stefan Lombard
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I’d hop up an already capable ’76 Subaru 4WD short wheel base wagon. See it here: https://www.auto-brochures.com/subaru.html
1990 Lexus LS400
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a36524494/natasha-adams-1990-lexus-ls400/
A GMS Safari Safari has a Ferrari La Ferrari kind of synergy to it.
Miata!!!!! What a sleeper in this sector!!!!!
Studebaker built a ‘safari’ version as a factory special Commander sedan and pickup named the “Desert Explorer” project back in 1950. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM9DvlewsgE
You have the the Volvo PV544 which has a delightful record as an excellent Rally Car. The Singh brothers did very well indeed with the “Flying Sikh: 58 years ago. The successor/concurrent car Volvo 122 “Amazon” has a good record as do the 140 series and following 240 series. Just plain simply rugged cars – I recall flying pothole down a dirt track in a 145 with a refrigerator in the back. The dropped jaw of the pickup slowing picking its way through as I went by at double his speed was priceless. If you go fast enough, the wheels don’t drop into the potholes!
But check out this car, a Volvo 1800ES doing the 2019 Peking-Paris. I don’t know how well links do on this site, but here goes:
https://www.rjcars.com/__media_downloads/152570/VCOA-Rolling-Mar-Apr-2018.pdf?downloadable=1
Or search “RJ Cars Volvo 1800ES Peking Paris”
I would use a 81 to83 Subaru wagon and also make it amphibious by adding a home made rear diff cover with a second pinion gear going out the back with a propeller. they do float pretty good stock. seals on the inside of the front diff inner cv joints to seal off the engine compartment. aluminum tanks with slopes up to the front down both sides, rockers. you could run down any boat ramp and fish with the windows down. to bad I can’t upload pictures of me with the water just below the door mirrors in the river. like I said the float good stock.
I noticed that most are not SUV’s which are the poser vehicles of today.
Mid 2000’s Audi Allroad would make a great safari ride with it’s 7 inches of air suspension travel and AWD make this car a safari sand and snow vehicle
Kinda funny this post popped up right now, considering what I’m considering doing at the moment .
I just looked at a last year of production PT Cruiser a few weeks back with wicked low miles and a blown motor that’s in pristine condition otherwise that’s for sale for next to nothing that I’m thinking about dropping onto a earlier Jeep frame with a 350 Chevy motor conversion I have kicking around that has been looking for a replacement body.
I think that would be something really cool and different for sure and a couple of car show friends think the same. I bet that would turn some heads at the shows and on the streets ?
Ridiculous and over the top , OH for sure, but not any worse than some of other crazy stuff I’ve seen out there before.
I’ve taken VW beetles off-road since the 1960s. Remarkably capable cars, although the stock skinny tires could leave you pushing it out of soft dirt.
A number of manufacturers have already covered the mid-engine thing pretty extensively….the Ferrari 308, Lancia Stratos and 037, and FIAT X1/9 are a few examples that come to mind….even Lambo has shown a Safari-ized Huracan recently.
Let’s just cut to the chase though, what we all want to see is a McLaren F1 Safari.