The CRAZIEST thing Porsche ever did!

[@FicarraClassic]

I hope everyone enjoys this little snippet of geeky car history! It's one of my favorites. Viva the Paris-Dakar! Viva VINwiki! Viva Roland Kussmaul!

[@thestarlightalchemist7333]

Your history stories on this channel are fantastic, to the point that, a couple years ago, I actually used your 1965 LeMans video as an example for good storytelling in a school project.

[@RXNFS]

Hey, you're probably already aware of this but you mentioning that G-Wagen reminded me of a video I saw earlier this year. I don't know if it's the same one or a second that was built, but it looks like Porsche still own that G-Wagen! Top Gear's YT released a video about Porsche's "secret stash" about 7 months ago, and it's there. Might also be fun to build another one? 🤔 Thanks for yet another insightful story, I really do love these!

[@slappomatthew]

I grew up watching old Paris -dakar videos with my dad and brother on vhs. I’d love to get some of those old videos to watch. 80s dakar was the greatest race of all times

[@drtone]

00⁰​@@thestarlightalchemist7333

[@marcrains3832]

Great history lesson, thank you!

[@EdBolian]

Everything about this is amazing. Well told John.

[@FicarraClassic]

Thanks Ed! And thanks for letting me share it on VINwiki!

[@Sean-John]

John's stories are the best and id bet he never runs out of them. He's basically a walking automotive encyclopedia.

[@tomkopp2115]

John Ficarra porsche stories are the best, thanks john and everyone!

[@DerUnbbekante]

As a truck guy, I found the pictures with the 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 support vehicles very interesting. They are all of a prototype 8x8 for the Austrian army that never went into production and most of the 4x4s and 6x6s trucks are very rare KAT III. Like 60ish built as far as i know. I did not know many of those pics. Thank you for including them!

[@Hendric-07]

They are MANs. They are not rare. German Army used them for decades, still does. 4x4 5 Tonner, 6x6 7.5 Tonner, 8x8 10 Tonner. I served 😉

[@DerUnbbekante]

@@Hendric-07 Klar gab es zu ihrer Blütezeit ein paar Tausend KATs bei der BW, aber von den 8x8 SLKW gab es exakt zwei Prototypen für die Österreicher. Der eine, der die Dakar mitgefahren ist, wurde anschließend bei Unicat zum Wohnmobil umgebaut und in den nahen Osten verschifft. Seitdem hat man von den beiden Fahrzeugen nichts mehr gehört. Die KAT III (also normales KAT-Chassis aber mit wassergekühltem R6 und zivilem Fernfahrerhaus) sind auch rare af. Da gibt es eine Handvoll, von denen der Verbleib bekannt ist. Dem entsprechend immer schön, wenn man (für einen persönlich) neue hochauflösende Bilder von den Kfz zu sehen bekommt.

[@VictorRivera1]

John Ficarra is the best VINwiki storyteller ever! I truly enjoy every video that features him on this channel.

[@OneOut1]

Have you forgotten Rabbit ? RIP RABBIT!!

[@runsi174]

I much prefer DAF Paris-Dakar story but this one is great because John Ficcara is telling it.

[@SimuLord]

Happiness is a Ficarra appearance on VinWiki.

[@jus__gra]

Knew by the title it would be John Ficcarra sitting in that chair 😄

[@dompdgaf]

I see John Ficarra, I click , I like, never a question.

[@Dale_Ross97]

Ficarra is getting to Rabbit level of story telling

[@CannonballCC]

Buckle up for another History lesson. No one does it better then John

[@Vinenz]

YAS. Another Ficarra video. My favorite storyteller.

[@gauravjoshi6310]

John the story was worthwhile. Thanks for sharing the story that was worth of waiting, the delay for getting to this story from you is forgiven in instance 😊

[@GM55_Manilock]

5:23 We need a story on the Proto-trucks, they were faster than a group b car on the flat zones. search Dakar Truck vs Group B car 1987

[@craigallen5092]

John is a great story teller

[@ckm-mkc]

I remember this clearly as I was living in France at the time - I eventually bought a Pajero (Montero) because of my memories of this time, can't afford a 959 ;-)

[@KGdoingthings]

My Monday just got better

[@floyd_v10]

I thought this looked interesting from the thumbnail, knew it was going to be good when I saw John! Love these stories

[@DrewskisBrews]

This story deserves a full-length book! (If it hasn't already been written? )

[@roglar]

What an interesting story. I used to live and breath the Paris Dakar rally. It never was the same when it left Africa. I saw it in person once when it was in South America, and that was an experience. I utterly lost interest when it moved to Saudiarabia.

[@jaykruze06]

Chills. Great story.

[@RDEnduro]

I never knew about the 3.2 engines in the 959, enjoyed the story and want Roland interviewed! Can it happen?

[@CraigSmith-qq3sr]

I had to click when it's a John WIKI Monday. Hello from Chattanooga Tn. 😊

[@oneslow8658]

Take a shot everytime he says 959

[@pmx2384]

Underrated comment

[@thechrisnels9955]

Mr. John ficarra rolls on here. Imma listen ❤❤

[@guillermoperezsantos]

Jacky Ickx is the GOAT of all the GOATS, PERIOD

[@Zzus321]

Greatest Porsche Story ever told 🏁🏁

[@TheCannonball79]

Love it John.😊

[@Hendric-07]

Always great stuff ! Keep it up ! - They‘re doing a Dakar Classic now alongside the serious race. You see some Rothmans cars there. I think it’s fun. Cheers from Germany.

[@NadezhdaAndreeva-nt5ox]

This video is so cool! I could watch this all day!

[@colinritchie1757]

John Ficarra improving US French relations since 2024

[@Mark_Proton]

John is rocking that moustache.

[@slappomatthew]

“Was” an amazing race. It was the greatest race of all time

[@biff85ta2]

A John Ficarra story is a story I don't miss. It's not even usually stuff in my wheelhouse but it's usually history being told by someone truly knowledgeable about the subject and passionate which makes it interesting.

[@WillyPanama]

The Dakar isn't the same since they stopped running in Africa

[@kfa0]

there are many smaller rallies on similar african routes, you can do it yourself if you are brave enough :) for example the hungarian version is the Bamako Rally

[@lukeduke1212]

The 953 that Jacky Icks drove in 1984 was at the Eifel Rally Festival in Daun in Germany this year (with several other cool cars). Its not just a show where you can look at any car up close but they also drive them on several rally stages.

[@andrefncduarte]

I love this stories ❤

[@MongoFlowofConciousness]

I recall a Road&Track article about Goodwood(?) where the driver of the Rothman 959 passed another Porsche at speed on the inside in the dirt because he could.

[@PeterWilliamson-wr1db]

This is an epic story told by a legendary gentleman

[@andrewfletcher5584]

Hmm, new VINwiki video, maybe lat.....wait, if that John?!? Fire that video up!!

[@daveblock4061]

I had a 930 at the time and followed the race the best we could back then.

[@HugoCorreiabzk]

The Paris-Dakar rally, is one of the races i miss the most. I used to miss classes just to wacht the parts of the race they showed in the TV. Since it moved tô south América and now tô Arábia its not the same, it doesn't has the same kind of appel it used to had.

[@MilyaushaErmakov-f8x]

It’s obvious how much effort went into this!

[@likenem]

Mr Ficarra, You should look up the Jeep wagoneer that got 4x4 banded in Rally. It was the reason why Audi had to get it unbanned.

[@mathiashakonsson2448]

Lovely story, and what a nice way to honour those who sacrificed their time for other’s glory

[@VINwiki]

What did you think of the second season of Rabbit's show on Netflix?

[@Mark_Proton]

Remember when racing was more about loving cars and going fast than advertising?

[@fixingfuturememories]

I remember me and my dad watching it on I believe the speed channel. The channel that played the old commercials.

[@MrPypro]

Wow, in under a thousand, cool.

[@toddandrews6352]

good morning

[@darrelstickler]

John, aren’t you living in NorCal? You’re flying to Atlanta for every vinWiki vid?

[@FicarraClassic]

Yep. I fly out once a year and record 10-12 stories in a couple of days.

[@pepvwaning8551]

i always though't the 959 was developed for the Group B rally and they where then transfert to dakar duty....

[@princedragun4901]

More CarTrek!!

[@thomaspavelko9412]

I get a pretty good laugh out of kids talking about how Subaru invented the AWD car and how good it is.

[@adamauxier4035]

The roads weren't bad through Morocco, it was really the Moroccan border through Mauritania that was the problem.

[@KittyPurrfect100]

I like the video about the curse of Oklahoma! Always interesting and amusing.

[@johnwight6041]

It’s now another time great intro 👍

[@matthewmckibben7445]

Does drilling that many (bigger) holes in the bottom of the chassis effect its strength?

[@chaoringmeister]

The real hero of this story is the G-wagen

[@EvaOanhnh]

Continue to delight us with your incredible ideas. Your videos are a gift!‍❄️😺😮

[@farmerlamb2372]

Google the twin engined DAF truck, you're welcome

[@Secretcircuits]

Spelled Porsche wrong in the thumbnail

[@dannydillon997]

🙏

[@DKarGarage]

I got a car just need money for Dakar if u r interested reach out, my lifes goal is to race in dakar

[@BobsYirUncle]

You can still do it, stop makin excuses 😂😂😂

[@jmzochsnrtr]

He acts like they only held this race back then. It's been going on every year! Get your facts straight.

[@SupernovaeTech]

It doesn't start in Paris or end in Dakar anymore though. The current era of the rally is entirely within Saudi Arabia. It's still a crazy and brutal rally (2025 has a 48 hour, 950km stage as one of the 12 stages), but nothing can top the insanity of 80's Paris-Dakar.

[@yannjules]

@ficarraclassic Fun fact : I worked with Hubert Rigal some years ago, who finished 3rd in 1986. He used to tell nearly the same story, but it was « how I almost won twice in 1986 » : - when Sabine’s helicopter crashed in a sandstorm (killing 5, including singer Daniel Balavoine and Sabine), 2 of the 959s had broken axles, but the cancellation of the day’s timed section meant they didn’t lose their advance. - the infamous river crossing, as described. The Porsches lost nearly an hour to Rigal, who was patiently waiting after passing the mud through a different path.

[@Charlotte54c]

Each of your videos is a unique story that touches the hearts and minds of your viewers. Keep inspiring and touching us!🐝‍🔥✨

[@OliviaHồngng]

I watch your videos with pleasure. Your videos are a real treat.🏑🔴🐆

[@Mia-f7f1]

Thank you for your videos! They are always so high quality and interesting. I can see that you are professionals.🍐🧪🤭