Stunning Sounderwunsh 911 Dakar Marks The End Of The 2,500 Unit Production Run

Highlights of the Sounderwunsh 911 Dakar

This particular example seen here has been commissioned by Italian architect, designer, and collector Luca Trazzi,, and here are some of the highlights of the final 911 Dakar which also reminds me of a similar undertaking that the Sonderwunsh program was part of.

Exterior highlights

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• Three-Tone Paint Job: The standout feature of this model is its bespoke three-tone paint scheme, which includes Signal yellow, Gentianbluemetallic, and Lampedusablue; named after an Italian island. This color palette reflects the Rallye Design Package and was developed in collaboration with Luca Trazzi himself. I think the contrasting color palette certainly works and despite being devoid of the Rothmans or Rough Roads-style livery the overall aesthetic is unlike another Dakar out there, unless it’s been wrapped I suppose.

• Handcrafted Details: From the painted alloy wheels featuring Signal yellow spokes and Lampedusablue rims to individualized LED Matrix headlights with a matching accent ring, every aspect of the vehicle’s exterior has been meticulously crafted, as is expected from a Sonderwunsh model. The rims, in particular, are a highlight for me, because most 911 Dakar’s that I’ve seen either feature white or black rims.

Interior Highlights

• Striking Yellow Interior Accents: Inside, the car features contrasting black upholstery highlighted by yellow stitching and trim strips. The ‘911 Dakar’ logo is embroidered in Speedyellow on the headrests, while the gear selector is enhanced with a Speedyellow leather insert.

• Personalized Touches: When opened, the doors project the Sonderwunsch logo onto the ground, adding an element of sophistication and personalization to this one-off model.

I’d also like to mention that Mr.Trazzi unveiled another Sounderwunsh special earlier this year at Monterey. A yellow (993) 911 Speedster, that you can read more about here. Now Speedster models are already rare, but the Porsche decided to skip series production for the 993 generation and only made a handful.

Highs and Lows Of the 992 Dakar

The Highs

Now that you’re up to speed on the last-ever 911 Dakar (period), I’d like to touch upon some of the highs and lows of the 911 Dakar. In a world that’s gone SUV crazy and every other jacked-up hatchback is being passed off as a rugged alternative to the standard car, the timing for a safari-style 911 couldn’t have been better in the post-COVID era. The more rugged Lamborghini Sterrato also broke cover around about the same time and you read how the two models compare here.

Now, considering that the frankly bonkers-looking Singer ACS had already made its debut, and beyond the legal battle that ensued with Singer, I’m glad that Porsche acted at all and actually pulled the trigger on the Dakar project. Also unlike the ACS, of which only two examples exist, a far greater number of 911 Dakars were built. From the onset, Porsche wanted to capture the essence of the 1984 Paris-Dakar rally-winning car, and by tapping into the brand’s motorsport heritage, I think they certainly succeeded. While some may have dismissed it for lacking substance with its body cladding, scuff plates, and a roof rack with its over-the-top accessories (I’m personally a fan of the design), this Porsche has the Go to match the Show and genuinely does well in the rough-stuff.

Don’t take my word for it. Talk show host, Jay Leno himself has praised it for being one of the most usable Porsche sports cars in recent times. Former Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter, Richard Hammond was also all praises about the 911 Dakar. Sure this is no off-road 911 like Edith that conquered the world’s highest peak in South America, but for a sports car, the Dakar’s additional ground clearance (up to 3.2 inches more than the Carrera 4 GTS), high-tech suspension, and all-wheel drive traction, certainly improves the 911’s capability and versatility. With carbon bits and components borrowed from the GT3, the whole setup on the Dakar should complement the 480 horsepower, 3.0-liter flat six well, be it on the tarmac, a dirt track, or even an icy road.

The Lows

I suppose the biggest issue that I see with perhaps any exclusive series 911 has to do with the inflated prices and the Dakar is no different. If getting an allocation for a brand-new Porsche and dealing with markups is a problem, things are even more hairy on the secondary market for limited-run low-volume Porsches. My biggest concern is that it’s now becoming a numbers game and we’re heading increasingly in the direction of Ferrari, which is great for the affluent collector, but not ideal for an enthusiast or purist who’d rather enjoy the car and use it as intended rather than have it stashed up in a temperature controlled warehouse or garage.

To give you some context, the 911 Dakar carried an MSRP of $222,000, but the average asking price for a pre-owned example sits at $325,000, according to classic.com. I found a mint-green example earlier this year listed for $360k.Now, I’ve previously stated that at those prices, the mid-engined Huracan Sterrato is not too far off at $334,500. Also, Lamborghini only made 1,499 examples making it far more exclusive than the Dakar’s 2,500 production run and should Porsche choose to reintroduce the 911 Dakar (…you really never know with Porsche, remember how the manual GT3 Touring came along to ruin the 911R’s party?), it would play havoc with Dakar’s valuations.

I’m really curious to see where the 911 Dakar market goes next, but I personally feel that Dakar has had a great run. Now while we have no idea if the 911 Dakar will ever return, I wonder why Porsche hasn’t considered expanding the Dakar nameplate into a sub-brand for other models, the obvious ones being the Cayenne and Macan SUVs to satisfy a growing overlanding Porsche community](ar6877), but also future cross-turismo models. As for this particular Sonderwush example, it will be on display at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, for some time, before heading to its new home in Italy.