1987 Nissan Patrol Paris-Dakar entrant restored

1987's Paris-Dakar Rally is probably best remembered for being the first time that a Peugeot 205 T16 won the event. However, a Nissan Patrol was also successful, finishing in ninth place overall and taking a victory in the diesel class.

Sponsored by Fanta Limon, Patrol #211 was crewed by Miguel Prieto and Ramon Termens.

Nissan Patrol Paris-Dakar 1987 #211 Front Side

They certainly didn't have an excess of performance at their disposal. A 2.8 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced a modest 144 bhp (107 kW / 146 PS), resulting in a top speed of just 93 mph (150 km/h). Those stats demonstrate that reliability is sometimes more important than outright pace.

After its Paris-Dakar triumph, Patrol #211 languished in a Spanish private motor museum for almost three decades. Rust took hold, components seized and rats feasted on the electrics.

Nissan Patrol Paris-Dakar 1987 #211 Rear Side

Now, though, a team from the Nissan European Technical Centre in Barcelona has spent a couple of years restoring this historic vehicle as an 'after hours' project.

The fate of a second Patrol that competed in 1987 seems less fortunate. After having to withdraw from the Paris-Dakar Rally following an accident, the location of #212 is currently unknown.

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