When ‘Quick Vic’ Elford persuaded Porsche’s racing director and public relations manager Huschke von Hanstein to lend him a 911 to enter the Tour de Corse in 1966, few could have anticipated the legacy the perennial sports car would (and continues to) forge in the competitive arena. From day one, Elford proved the 911’s off-road prowess and in its various guises, the car continued to be a force to be reckoned with in rallying right up until the 1980s. But what if the factory had continued its off-road efforts into the 1990s and had a stab at transforming the 964-generation 911 into a high-riding, sliding, dirt-demolishing monster? Fortunately, TJ Russell of the Southern California-based workshop Russell Built Fabrication asked the same question. And instead of ruminating on the idea of the car’s existence, he decided to go out and build it. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the 911 Baja, billed to be the ultimate air-cooled off-road Porsche. And we can well believe it.
 
Alex Easthope
Deputy Editor