The Transsyberia Look: How to Build a Rally-Tribute Porsche Cayenne

Before "overland Cayenne" became a trend, Porsche proved its first SUV across Russia and Mongolia. This was done with the Porsche Cayenne Transsyberia. The cars raced were called Cayenne S Transsyberia. The look they made famous is now recreated by owners on their 955s and 957s. This includes steel up front, armor underneath, extra lights, and a rack on the roof.

This guide covers the real history first. Then it explains how to build a Transsyberia-style tribute today. It uses parts that bolt to a standard Gen 1 Cayenne. The history comes from Porsche's newsroom and motoring press. These sources are linked below for your convenience. The parts and specifications are ours. We manufacture them in our own factory.

The rally that made the Porsche Cayenne Transsyberia an off-roader

The Transsyberia Rally was a two-week long-distance raid. It went from Moscow across Russia to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. According to Porsche's own history of the car, the Cayenne first entered in 2006. Two Cayenne S vehicles took first and second place. Every team was a private entry. Servicing was organized by Porsche.

For 2007, Porsche built a batch of dedicated rally cars. Porsche's Spanish newsroom states there were 26 cars. These were shared between different markets. They were based closely on the production Cayenne S. They also benefited from the car's first model update. That year, Cayenne teams took the whole podium. Motor Authority reports they filled seven of the top ten places. The same fleet returned in 2008 and dominated again.

Porsche then marked the run with a special edition. This was a road-legal Cayenne S Transsyberia. Production was small, with 285 cars. This number is per the same Motor Authority report. It used the higher-output 4.8-liter V8 from the Cayenne GTS. The rally cars ran in Basalt Black and Crystal Silver. The road car became known for its black-and-orange color scheme. It also featured off-road lights and steel skid plates.

Why build a tribute instead of buying one

Only 285 road cars were made. A genuine Transsyberia is rare. It is usually priced as a collector's car. Most owners would rather not take one on a muddy track. A tribute build gives you the look. More importantly, it provides protection. This is for a standard 955 or 957 you can actually use.

The 957 (2008–2010) is the closest base. The rally cars ran the updated body. The road edition was a 957. But the 955 (2002–2007) takes the same approach well. Every part below is available for both generations.

The tribute build, part by part

1. Front: a steel bumper with a bull bar

The front end is what people recognize first. A tubular bumper with a bull bar gives a rally stance. It protects the radiator, grille, and lights from brush and rocks.

• 957: the 957 Bull Bar Front Bumper (40 kg), or the 957 High-Clearance Front Bumper (45 kg) if you care more about approach angle than the upper bar.
• 955: the 955 Bull Bar Front Bumper (40 kg), whose bull bar is detachable — run it for the full rally look, or take it off for a lower profile.

All three are high-carbon manganese steel. They have a 50 mm tube, a 3 mm wall, and 5 mm plate. Each includes a 6 mm winch plate. It is rated for winches up to 12,000 lb. The winch is sold separately. They bolt to the factory tow points without cutting. Not sure which front end suits you? Read Bull bar or full-width bumper?

2. Underneath: skid plates

Steel skid plates were standard on the road-going Transsyberia. They are the part of the build that does the most real work. A Cayenne's oil pan sits low. Its transfer case and twin fuel tanks also sit low.

• Manganese Steel Skid Plates Kit (955/957) — five 3 mm plates covering the engine, transfer case, both fuel tanks and rear differential. Manganese steel work-hardens with each impact, so it is the choice for rocky ground.
• Complete Aluminum Skid Plate Kit — 5 mm 7075 aluminium covering the engine, transfer case and rear differential, lighter for long-distance travel. Available with rock sliders and side plates in the larger package. Note the aluminium kit has no fuel tank plates.

3. Lights

Extra lights are the signature of every rally car. Three places to put them on a Gen 1 Cayenne:

• Bumper: all our front bumpers have integrated light mounting provisions for LED bars or pods.
• A-pillar: the A-Pillar Light Mount Brackets (choose the Cayenne version) bolt to the hood hinge bolts, not the A-pillar itself, so there is no contact with the body panel or airbag components. They take lights with a standard 50 mm (2-inch) tab.
• Roof: a rack gives you a mounting point for a light bar up high.

Wire any auxiliary lights through an in-line fuse, relay, and switch. Check your local rules on when extra lights may be used. Rules for public roads vary greatly between countries.

4. Roof rack

The Cayenne 955/957 Modular Roof Rack is manganese steel. It measures 200 × 120.5 × 16.5 cm. It weighs 33 kg and is rated to 200 kg static. It mounts to the factory roof rail points. Factory rails must be fitted for installation. Remember that what you carry on the move is limited. This is by your car's own roof load rating. Our roof rack load ratings guide explains the difference.

5. Rock sliders

The sills are easy to damage on a car this long. The Cayenne Rock Sliders are 50 mm manganese steel tube. They weigh 22 kg per pair. They replace the factory running boards on the same mounting points. They also make a useful step up to the roof rack.

6. Ride height (optional)

The Cayenne's air suspension already offers a raised off-road setting. A lift makes extra height permanent and makes room for bigger tyres:

• 2-Inch Lift Kit for Cayenne 955/957 — keeps the factory air suspension, includes the 1-inch subframe drop, tubular upper control arms and adjustable sway bar and level sensor links. Typically takes tyres up to around 275/65R18.
• 3-Inch Lift Kit Complete Set — maximum clearance for the platform, with a 2-inch subframe drop and all correction parts included. Around 285/70R18, depending on wheel offset.

Why lifting needs correction parts at all is covered in Lifting a PL71: geometry correction. A full wheel alignment is required after either kit.

7. Colours and details

The finishing touches make it look like a Transsyberia. This means a black or silver car with orange accents. These are on the mirrors, grille surrounds, and lower panels. It also includes all-terrain tires on simple five-spoke wheels. These are wrap and wheel jobs. A local specialist handles these tasks. We do not make decals, wheels, or snorkels. So we won't pretend otherwise.

Keep an eye on the weight

Steel protection is heavy. It adds up quickly. Using our published figures: a 957 bull bar bumper weighs 40 kg. The roof rack weighs 33 kg. A pair of rock sliders weighs 22 kg. This totals 95 kg before skid plates, lights, or a winch. This is also before anything you load. Plan for it carefully. Check your car's payload and roof limits. Expect stock springs to sit lower at the front. This happens once a bumper and winch are on. That is one main reason owners pair a heavy build with a lift.

Tribute element	955 (2002–2007)	957 (2008–2010)
Front bumper	955 Bull Bar (detachable bar)	957 Bull Bar or High-Clearance
Skid plates	Manganese kit (5 plates) or aluminium kit — select your generation
Lights	A-pillar brackets (Cayenne version) + bumper light mounts
Roof rack	955/957 Modular Roof Rack — select your generation
Rock sliders	Cayenne Rock Sliders — select your generation
Lift (optional)	2-inch Cayenne kit or 3-inch complete set

Want the swingout spare carrier too? See our swingout rear bumper guide.

Frequently asked questions

Was the Transsyberia a factory Porsche?

Yes, in two forms. Porsche built rally cars for private teams. These were for the 2007 and 2008 events. Then they made a road-legal special edition. It was named Cayenne S Transsyberia. The road car was a limited run of 285.

Can I build the look on a 955?

Yes. The rally and road cars were based on the updated Cayenne. So, a 957 is the closest match. However, every part in this guide is made for the 955 as well. Just choose your generation when you order.

Does any of this fit the Cayenne 958?

Some of it does. The rock sliders and aluminum skid plate kit are available for the 958. There is a separate 958 aluminum roof rack. The front bumpers and modular steel rack in this guide are 955/957 only. Our 958 and Touareg 7P build guide covers that car.

Do I need to cut or drill the car?

No. The bumpers, skid plates, roof rack, and rock sliders bolt to factory mounting points. The light brackets also bolt to factory points. They are all fully reversible.

Do you sell decals, wheels or snorkels?

No. We make the steel and aluminium protection, racks and lift kits. Livery, wheels and snorkels are best sourced from specialists in your country.

Planning a tribute build? Email info@overlandtrek.com with your car's year and VIN and we will confirm the right parts for your generation. Everything is in stock and ships in 4–8 weeks, duties included.