Have Porsche and Lamborghini started a new trend? Porsche with the 911 Dakar, as a tribute to their first overall victory in the 1984 Paris-Dakar rally. And Lamborghini with the Huracán Sterrato, as a homage to the… LM002? Or simply because they could? Or did both draw inspiration from social media trends where individuals raise their sports cars to make them more suitable for their offroad adventures? And who will be the next to follow suit? A contemporary reinterpretation of the Ferrari 308 GTB Group 4 Rally Car would undeniably be incredibly cool!

It is not Ferrari, but Nissan who is following this trend of the ‘offroad sports car’ with their Nissan Safari Rally Z Tribute, built by Tommy Pike Customs. This model celebrates their heritage through a contemporary interpretation of the #11 Datsun 240Z Rally Car that took Edgar Herrmann and Hans Schüller to a victory in the grueling 3,800-mile (approximately 6,100 km) East African Safari Rally of 1971.

The custom KW Safari suspension and NISMO suspension components provide a 2-inch increase in the coupe’s ride height, enabling it to comfortably accommodate the 17 x 7.5-inch prototype NISMO Safari wheels fitted with rugged Yokohama GEOLANDAR M/T G003 tires, perfect for off-road adventures.

Safeguarding critical powertrain and chassis elements with the addition of a brand-new front bumper guard and skid plate. Meanwhile NISMO Off Road LED lights ensures enhanced visibility in dusty conditions or after sunset. Notable interior upgrades a custom roll bar complete with 4-point harnesses and custom-fitted Recaro Pole Position seats for an elevated driving experience.

The Safari Rally Z Tribute boasts a meticulously tuned VR30DDTT engine by AMS, delivering over 400 horsepower. It pairs seamlessly with the high-performance NISMO Track cat-back exhaust system, cold air intake, carbon fiber engine cover, coolant expansion tank, heat exchanger, and a street twin-disc clutch and flywheel, enhancing the overall power and performance of the vehicle.

Unfortunately there is no further information about the possible production of this Nissan Z Safari Rally.