Why buy a Jeep, Subaru or a Landie for muddin’, crawlin’, or rallyin’ when you could have these ten great offroad machines?
10.) Rolls-Royce Corniche
This car competed (and finished!!!) in the 1981 Paris-Dakar Rally. It may have required a few adaptations to get it there: a custom tube frame, a GM V8, an 87 gallon fuel tank, and a 4WD setup borrowed from a Land Cruiser, but it did it!
Suggested By: Captain Pedantic, AWAY! , Photo Credit: autoevolution
9.) Bentley Continental GT
The Continental GT might carry itself like a proper British road car when chauffeuring celebrities and the like, but that changed when Top Gear got their hands on one. When TG strapped rally driver Kris Meeke in the driver’s seat and (former?) Captain Slow in the passenger seat as co-driver, this car’s true meaning and AWD potential had been unleashed.
Suggested By: UncleWalty
8.) Aixam Mega Track
Out of nowhere, Aixam stepped up from creating ‘world-famous’ European econoboxes and began developing this 400HP, four-seater rally supercar beast-thing. It was surely unlikely, yes, but it was also a grace from god.
Suggested By: SasquatchElvis, Photo Credit: supercars.net
7.) Ferrari 308 GTB
Getting on the podium nearly 20 times at rallies across Europe in the early 1980s, the 308 GTB was a competent contender. Unfortunately, most of Ferrari’s rallying came to an end when the FIA dissolved Group B.
Suggested By: carcrasher88, Photo Credit: rallyferrari.com
6.) Ford Galaxie
Raced with the National Off Road Racing Association in the Baja peninsula, this highly modified Baja Galaxie has proven itself to be extremely capable and downright scary, in a good way!
Suggested By: Who needs sway bars anyway, Photo Credit: Jalopnik
5.) Lotus Espirit
We’ve been shown by the fellows at the former Top Gear television program just how capable this classic rear-mid engined British sports car really is. I can’t tell you how many times during that episode I was surprised by this car’s determination to soldier on, and that it did.
Suggested By: Mr-PLP , Photo Credit: Top Gear via Average Car Guy
4.) Geo Metro
I might not be the world’s #1 Geo Metro fan, but I can’t help but notice how good they actually are at so many things. Not too long ago my colleague Andrew Collins found a fellow named Herrmann living and camping out of his.
Suggested By: As Du Volant, Photo Credit: Andrew P. Colllins/Truck Yeah
3.) Ducati 1199 Panigale TerraCorsa
The Ducati 1199 Panigale is already a great and purposeful track bike, but one Ducati dealer wanted to take it a step further. By only adjusting the suspension bits there were already there, swapping the tires and brakes, fabricating a skid plate and giving it a killer paint job, this bike had its whole world changed. Just watch.
Suggested By: clutchshiftington, Photo Credit: Taylor Ramsauer via RideApart
2.) Ford Crown Victoria
Crown Vics never cease to amaze me. This video couldn’t say it any better,“Who needs a Jeep?”
Suggested By: smalleyxb122
1.) Porsche 911
From its early days and even now, 911s have been rather successful rally cars in many different shapes and forms. The car that is arguably Germany’s most iconic sports car and most common track car seeing stage rally and the like? Not only is it unlikely, it’s perfect.
Suggested By: DennyCraneDennyCraneDennyCrane , Photo Credit: Jalopnik
Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day’s Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It’s by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!
Top Photo Credit: Porsche