it's DAKAR time

[raafif]

even tho it's not in west Africa anymore, the Sth American terrain is giving just as good a trial to the competiters.  There are very few kits of these vehicles available - usually in odd scales for us modellers.  A few of the Tamiya 1/24th cars like the Pugeot 204 Rallye & Porsches could be modified and there's some Heller 1/43rd scale kits of older DAKAR cars.  There are several 1/24th trucks - also 1/35th trucks like the Revell MAN 6x6 & 8x8, HEMMT & maybe one of the new HobbyBoss MRAPs would make good DAKAR vehicles ?

This year we have an electric VW Taureg  -- how about a 4WD Toyota Prius

What others would make a good whiff ??  Jaguar sedan or E-type, 4WD Smart .....

[Geoff]

Classic 2CV

[Weaver]

Schwimwagen, maybe scaleorama'd from 1/35th to 1/48th? 

[chrisonord]

How about a red bull sponsored M3 halftrack
chris

[Geoff]

T-72

[Joe C-P]

Rommel's Rod.

I like the half-track idea. 

Me, of course, I'd take a Bowler. 

[Daryl J.]

Revell just released a Routemaster.   Certainly it somehow can compete with a Kamaz  or MAN. 
Tamiya do a beautiful Renault Alpine and classic Fiat 500 too.   Is Agip still around?   The Fiat in Agip@DAKAR 

[Hobbes]

In 1/24 there's at least a Range Rover, Mercedes G and iirc a Peugeot 205 Rally Raid.
The MAN 8x8 has been used in Dakar rallies, iirc so that would be an easy conversion.

Other conversions are more difficult, because you need tires of an unusual size and shape and I don't think they're available as aftermarket items.

(and yes, I've been thinking about doing a Dakar vehicle; specifically a Ginaf truck).

[mkhulu]

Seeing that this is Whatif :

Staghound , Sd Kfz 221 / 222 - all with guns removed , charged up engines 

[PR19_Kit]

I have a couple of 1/24 Transit van kits somewhere. One of those on MONSTER wheels with a BIG engine, in the back perhaps, could do the job? 

[Hobbes]

An offroad Supervan? 

[Rheged]

Seeing that this is Whatif :

Staghound , Sd Kfz 221 / 222 - all with guns removed , charged up engines  

This sounds like the  war surplus armoured car that Robson's transport of Carlisle bought just after the Second World War. They stripped out the armament and armour, and used it as a very powerful tug  to get heavily loaded wagons over Shap Fell before the motorway was built. All Robson's wagons were named "Border.........."   and this one was Border Warrior"  I have a photo somewhere.....

[pyro-manic]

South America??? It's not the Dakar rally then, is it!?

[Mossie]

Revell just released a Routemaster.   Certainly it somehow can compete with a Kamaz  or MAN. 
Tamiya do a beautiful Renault Alpine and classic Fiat 500 too.   Is Agip still around?   The Fiat in Agip@DAKAR 

If it's good enough for Cliff Richard it's good enough for the Dakar!  Revell's Black Cab would work well too, hike up the suspension, pop something monstrous under the bonnet, add a little rally trim here & there.

Top Gear Live stuck a Mitsubhi Evo VIII under an FX4 & took it drifting so why not???  To be honest, it must be standard fit as I've been on hairer Taxi rides!
http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/planetevovideos/274375/video_harris_drives_the_tg_live_taxi.html

[Rheged]

Perhaps a Thornycroft Mighty Antar?     It would be slow, but it would probably finish pulling every other  competitor behind it.