SDR Motorsports transformed a 2015 Polaris RZR XP 4 1000 into Delilah, a 200-plus-horsepower four-seat dune build with hand-formed bodywork, HCR long-travel suspension and the polished detail work for which the Southern California shop became known.
Words by Cody Hooper. Photos by Cody Hooper and Jon Crowley.
SDR Motorsports of Corona, California, routinely produced some of the cleanest custom UTVs of the period. Its earlier Christine RZR XP 4 1000 established a high bar with extensive custom bodywork, turbocharged power and an interior built for display as much as driving.
SDR followed Christine with another ground-up creation called Delilah. We met SDR founder Tim Berendes and his son Austin at the 2015 UTV Industry Ride in Glamis for a closer look at the finished machine.
A Ground-Up RZR XP 4 1000 Build
Delilah started as a new 2015 Polaris RZR XP 4 1000. SDR quickly stripped the vehicle to its frame and began rebuilding it around a combination of custom fiberglass and aluminum bodywork.
The four-seat RZR XP 4 1000 platform provided considerably more room than a two-seat sport UTV while retaining the performance-oriented engine and trailing-arm suspension layout of the XP 1000. Unlike Christine, which was converted into a two-seater, Delilah retained its rear seats so owner Jeff Pont could bring passengers along for the ride.
Fiberglass and Hand-Formed Aluminum Body
Glazz Kraft supplied the wide-body fiberglass front and rear clips. Everything between those pieces—including the roof, doors, rear bed and C-pillars—had to be shaped from aluminum by SDR Motorsports and Next Level Aluminum Concepts.
Although Delilah followed the same hybrid-body concept as Christine, it was not simply a copy. The sculpted rear section, C-pillars and bed gave the newer RZR a distinct shape while retaining SDR’s recognizable design language.
The body was paired with an SDR Delilah cage, custom front bumper, grille and chassis gusset kit. A Glazz Kraft carbon-fiber dash completed the extensively reworked cockpit.
More Than 200 Horsepower
Delilah’s appearance attracted plenty of attention, but this RZR was also built to perform in the dunes. The PRO Shop prepared the stock-bore engine with Crower connecting rods, K&T-spec pistons, titanium valves and springs, a ported cylinder head and a Sparks Racing exhaust.
A K&T Performance turbo system supplied approximately 14 pounds of boost. The completed engine reportedly produced well over 200 horsepower—more than enough to turn the four-seat custom build into a serious Glamis machine.
An STM Rage 8 billet clutch managed the additional output and delivered power to the sand through Sand Tires Unlimited rear paddles and grooved front sand tires. The tires were mounted on 15-inch OMF Performance Type R beadlock wheels measuring 15×11 at the rear and 15×8 at the front.
HCR ELITE Long-Travel Suspension
SDR selected HCR Racing’s ELITE long-travel suspension to help the chassis cope with the engine’s additional speed. The kit was based on HCR’s boxed-arm design but removed material in areas where it was not needed for structural strength.
According to the original build information, HCR used a material approximately 25 percent stronger than conventional 4130 chromoly. The complete A-arm and trailing-arm package added only 22.5 pounds compared with the stock components, an important consideration for a sand-focused build.
King internal-bypass shocks provided more than 21 inches of suspension travel. Summers Brothers axles, Assault Industries tie rods and Assault radius rods completed the upgraded suspension and driveline package.
Custom Four-Seat Interior
Twisted Stitch TS-R seats, harnesses and matching blue-and-black suede inner door panels gave the cabin a coordinated appearance. A MOMO steering wheel and shift knob, Assault Industries Bomber mirrors and a Polaris digital gauge completed the driver controls.
The interior felt upscale without appearing excessively heavy or overbuilt. More importantly, SDR preserved all four seating positions, allowing Delilah to remain a true four-passenger dune car.
An SSV Works three-speaker Bluetooth audio system handled entertainment, while a Rugged Radios 660 intercom and car-to-car radio made it easier for the occupants to communicate inside the vehicle and with other drivers.
LED Lighting Inside and Out
SDR installed a Baja Designs roof-mounted LED light bar and a smaller bumper light for nighttime visibility. Heretic headlights supplemented the primary lighting, while blue Rigid Industries A-Series lights and SDR underglow components illuminated the interior and underside of the RZR.
The finished machine brought together turbocharged power, lightweight long-travel suspension, four usable seats and show-quality fabrication. Delilah demonstrated that an extensively customized RZR could still be built around the experience of driving hard in the dunes.
SDR Motorsports Delilah Specifications
Vehicle and Engine
- 2015 Polaris RZR XP 4 1000
- PRO Shop-built stock-bore engine
- K&T Performance turbo kit
- Approximately 14 pounds of boost
- Crower connecting rods
- K&T-spec pistons
- Titanium valves and valve springs
- Ported cylinder head
- STM Rage 8 billet clutch
- Sparks Racing dual exhaust
Body and Chassis
- SDR Motorsports Delilah cage
- SDR front bumper
- SDR front grille
- SDR and Next Level Aluminum Concepts custom aluminum bodywork
- Glazz Kraft fiberglass body panels
- Glazz Kraft carbon-fiber dash
- SDR custom gusset kit
Lighting
- Baja Designs 37-inch SDR-radius ONX6 roof light bar
- Baja Designs 10-inch ONX bumper light
- Heretic headlights
- Rigid Industries blue A-Series underglow lights
- SDR LED underglow add-on kit
- Rigid Industries blue A-Series dome lights
Interior, Audio and Communications
- Polaris digital gauge
- Twisted Stitch TS-R seats
- Twisted Stitch harnesses
- Custom matching inner door panels by Twisted Stitch
- MOMO steering wheel
- MOMO shift knob
- Assault Industries Bomber side mirrors
- SSV Works three-speaker Bluetooth audio system
- Rugged Radios 660 intercom
- Rugged Radios car-to-car radio
Suspension, Wheels and Tires
- HCR Racing ELITE long-travel suspension
- King internal-bypass front and rear shocks
- More than 21 inches of suspension travel
- Summers Brothers axles
- Assault Industries tie rods
- Assault Industries radius rods
- OMF Performance 15×11 Type R rear beadlock wheels
- OMF Performance 15×8 Type R front beadlock wheels
- Sand Tires Unlimited rear paddle tires
- Custom-grooved front sand tires
Designed, fabricated and assembled by the SDR Motorsports team.
About SDR Motorsports
SDR Motorsports opened in 2008 and built its reputation producing cages, body components, accessories and complete custom UTVs. The shop’s projects ranged from relatively simple bolt-on upgrades to extensively fabricated turnkey builds such as Delilah and Christine.
Learn more about the company in our SDR Motorsports company profile.
See more custom machines in the UTV of the Month Archive, or explore the development of the platform in our history of the Polaris RZR.
