 1987 959 |
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1988 Porsche Type 959 news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Coupe Chassis Num: WPOZZZ95ZJS900153 |
| Sold for $495,000 at 2012 Gooding & Company. | |||
Work began on developing the 959 Group B sports car for racing, which required a minimum of 200 cars to be produced. Group B regulations limited displacement to a turbocharged powerplant of 2.85 liters. Porsche fitted their 959 was two turbochargers of differing sizes and differing intentions The smaller turbo was used for quick and initial throttle manipulation, while the larger turbo was initiated at 4,300 RPM. Total output produced by the engine was 450 horsepower, with the 158 hp/liter capacity making the highest specific output ever realized in a production car.
The transmission had six forward speeds and there four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with hydraulic assist and ABS. Top speed was achieved at 196 mph. The transaxle tube included Porsche's PSK variable-center differential, which manages the torque divisions between the front and rear axle. A second PSK is fitted in the rear axle to work as a form of limited-slip differential. This setup allowed the driver to adapt to road conditions by selecting between 'traction,' 'ice and snow,' 'wet' and 'dry' settings.
Equally impressive as the mechanical aspects of the car, the exterior design brought many firsts and some one-offs for Porsche. The rear of the car, rocker panels, fenders, and roof were comprised of composite materials. The hood and doors were made from aluminum, and the front fascia was fiberglass. The end result was an aerodynamic and rigid bodyshell.
The Porsche 959 was offered for sale to the Public beginning in 1987. In just two years, 284 customer cars were built and sold.
This Porsche 959 is a low-mileage example with just 1,250 miles on the odometer. It is finished in silver over gray leather and includes the expensive, leather trim package, which includes many leather-finished details from gauges to knobs.
The car has benefitted from a Canepa Design Phase II upgrade making it a street-legal automobile with many performance benefits. The Phase II engine system included elimination of the factory-sequential turbo system and installation of a new twin-turbo system, including new Garrett 'Disco Potato' ball-bearing turbos, redesigned waste gate with TiAL diaphragms and titanium heat shields. Camshaft timing was optimized, in addition to blueprinting all intake and exhaust-valve springs. It was given an upgraded fuel system, a modern engine management system with ADL, F1-technology engine-wiring harnesses, a high-output ignition system and various other components. It has a new stainless-steel exhaust system with Porsche original-equipment dual stainless catalytic. The entire clutch system has been modified and upgraded to improve pedal feel and actuation. The suspension was upgraded to 959 S specifications incorporating titanium coil-over springs and Canepa Design's new gas strut.
The engine now produces around 640 horsepower and 570 lbs/ft of torque. Zero-to-sixty is achieved in around 3 seconds with a top speed in excess of 200 mph.
In 2012, this car was offered for sale at the Amelia Island sale presented by Gooding & Company. It was estimated to sell for $400,000 - $500,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $495,000 inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2012
 |  |  | Coupe Chassis Num: WPOZZZ 862JS90093 |
| Sold for $286,000 at 2006 RM Auctions. | |||
It is painted in charcoal grey with two-tone matching interior.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2011
In 1981, development of the 959 began. Helmut Bott, the head engineer at Porsche, wanted to create a sports car based on the 911 that would take their product to the next level in performance, technology and design. He began by collaborating with Peter Schutz, the Managing Director at Porsche, about his ideas. The ideas proposed were to continue with the rear engine configuration, examine the potential of all-wheel drive, and to put the prototypes through extensive testing and research in the form of racing competition.
Prior to 1999, the 959 was not street legal in the United States. The United States Department of Transportation required that all manufacturers supply four vehicles for crash testing - Porsche refused and thus, never certified by the NHTSA for use. In 1999, the 'Show and Display' crash test requirements were removed and importation of the 959 became legal. Emission regulations require the vehicle to be fitted with catalytic converters and other minor modifications to be made before it is street legal. Many owners refuse and their vehicles remain as show pieces rather than road-legal automobiles.
The 959 uses an aluminum and kevlar composite that keeps the vehicle low in weight while maintaing strength. The 2.8 liter engine is mounted in the rear while powering all 4-wheels. Instead of creating a new engine, Porsche used the twin-turbocharged Boxter six-cylidner power-plant. The air-cooled block, 4-valve heads, and water cooled cylinder heads, coupled with the turbochargers were capable of producing 450 horsepower. The engine had been used for multiple projects such as the Porsche Indy Car, 'Moby Dick' race car, and the 961. As a result of the lightweight car and extremely powerful engine, the car could propel from zero to sixty in just 3.6 seconds and had a top speed of nearly 200 miles-per-hour. When a car approaches 200 miles-per-hour, it becomes very unstable. To address these potential issues, Porsche engineered the aerodynamics, suspension, and automatic ride-height to keep the car stable at speeds.
The all-wheel drive system was very advanced. The Porsche-Steuer Kupplung (PSK) system was capable of changing the torque distrubtion between the front and rear wheels. This aided in slippery conditions, under hard acceleration, and other conditions that may cause a weight-distribution bias.
In 1983, the 961 version was introduced. This race-prepared version captured two wins at the 1984 and 1986 Paris-Dakar Rally. It was entered in the grueling 24 Hours of LeMans where it finished 7th place overall.
In 1987, the 959 street version of the 961 race car went on sale for a mere $225,000. Even at that hefty price tag, it was far less than what Porsche had paid to have it developed and produced. Production continued until 1990. During that time, 226 European street-legal examples were produced.
The Porsche 959 and 961, in all respects, were sports cars with super car status.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2006
For more information and related vehicles, click herePrior to 1999, the 959 was not street legal in the United States. The United States Department of Transportation required that all manufacturers supply four vehicles for crash testing - Porsche refused and thus, never certified by the NHTSA for use. In 1999, the 'Show and Display' crash test requirements were removed and importation of the 959 became legal. Emission regulations require the vehicle to be fitted with catalytic converters and other minor modifications to be made before it is street legal. Many owners refuse and their vehicles remain as show pieces rather than road-legal automobiles.
The 959 uses an aluminum and kevlar composite that keeps the vehicle low in weight while maintaing strength. The 2.8 liter engine is mounted in the rear while powering all 4-wheels. Instead of creating a new engine, Porsche used the twin-turbocharged Boxter six-cylidner power-plant. The air-cooled block, 4-valve heads, and water cooled cylinder heads, coupled with the turbochargers were capable of producing 450 horsepower. The engine had been used for multiple projects such as the Porsche Indy Car, 'Moby Dick' race car, and the 961. As a result of the lightweight car and extremely powerful engine, the car could propel from zero to sixty in just 3.6 seconds and had a top speed of nearly 200 miles-per-hour. When a car approaches 200 miles-per-hour, it becomes very unstable. To address these potential issues, Porsche engineered the aerodynamics, suspension, and automatic ride-height to keep the car stable at speeds.
The all-wheel drive system was very advanced. The Porsche-Steuer Kupplung (PSK) system was capable of changing the torque distrubtion between the front and rear wheels. This aided in slippery conditions, under hard acceleration, and other conditions that may cause a weight-distribution bias.
In 1983, the 961 version was introduced. This race-prepared version captured two wins at the 1984 and 1986 Paris-Dakar Rally. It was entered in the grueling 24 Hours of LeMans where it finished 7th place overall.
In 1987, the 959 street version of the 961 race car went on sale for a mere $225,000. Even at that hefty price tag, it was far less than what Porsche had paid to have it developed and produced. Production continued until 1990. During that time, 226 European street-legal examples were produced.
The Porsche 959 and 961, in all respects, were sports cars with super car status.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2006
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 1988
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| Gooding & Company, Amelia Island, Fl |
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| 1987 959 |
