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.

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

“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

“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”

“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

“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

“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

This Lincoln that participated in the Gambler 500

“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?

“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?

“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

@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. 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?

“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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