1986 959 | 1988 Type 959 ![]() |
Image credits: © Porsche.
1987 Porsche 959 news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
![]() | Coupe Chassis Num: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900113 | |
| High bid of $300,000 at 2011 RM Auctions. (did not sell) | ||
Mounted mid-ship is a 2849cc flat-six engine that has water cooling for the six individual cylinder heads, and twin sequential turbochargers and intercooling. The engine develops 450 bhp which is sent to the all-wheel drive system giving the car a top speed of 198 mph, with a zero-to-sixty mph of just 3.6 seconds.
Porsche produced just 283 examples of the 959. They had a list price of approximately $300,000, though it is reported that Porsche spent more to build each car.
This example finished in India Red with tri-tone silver leather upholstery is a 'Komfort' version. It has had only two owners from new and shows just 37,000 kms on the odometer. It has an 85 horsepower factory upgrade ECU chip which remains as-new and uninstalled. It has the original tool kit, unused white leather gloves, hanging sales tags, radio instruction cassette, owner's manual, three service manuals, a diagnostic tester and a sterling key chain.
In 2011, this vehicle was offered for sale at the RM Auction sale in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was estimated to sell for $350,000 - $440,000. Bidding reached $300,000 but was not enough to satisfy the car's reserve. It would leave the auction unsold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2011
Developed as a customer racer, with an extreme price tag of $325,000, not a single customer was interested in the 961 when a privateer could purchase a cheaper 962 and enter in into the IMSA GTP category. It was better to seek an overall victory rather than settling for a class win, which is why this was the sole car Porsche built. Based on the modified Porsche 959 the Porsche 961 was a racing vehicle that was developed for Group B category to race alongside Group C in the World Endurance Championship races. The 961 did not have the electronic controlled suspension that the 959 had.
Introduced in 1982, Group B category was not successfully expanded outside rallying. The FIA had a ‘Group B evolution' regulation for endurance racing which allowed for a slight degree of modifications to the 200-off production model by only producing 30 such vehicles. Near the end of 1985, the FIA eliminated Group B for circuit vehicles due to the lack of interest from entries. At the time the 959 was redeveloped and designed into the 961 to race also in the IMSA GTX category which were then entered into the Le Mans 24 hours only in '86.
Sadly the IMSA GTX didn't attract as much attention from car makers as well as spectators, the 961 didn't really prove its superiority. Besides Le Mans, the only other race that the 961 competed in was the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1987. Unfortunately the sole class entrant was destroyed by fire on its third race during the 24 hours of Le Mans in the same year, short-living the 961's career. Had it been given suitable regulation the 961 would have been a successful racing vehicle.By Jessica Donaldson
Introduced in 1982, Group B category was not successfully expanded outside rallying. The FIA had a ‘Group B evolution' regulation for endurance racing which allowed for a slight degree of modifications to the 200-off production model by only producing 30 such vehicles. Near the end of 1985, the FIA eliminated Group B for circuit vehicles due to the lack of interest from entries. At the time the 959 was redeveloped and designed into the 961 to race also in the IMSA GTX category which were then entered into the Le Mans 24 hours only in '86.
Sadly the IMSA GTX didn't attract as much attention from car makers as well as spectators, the 961 didn't really prove its superiority. Besides Le Mans, the only other race that the 961 competed in was the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1987. Unfortunately the sole class entrant was destroyed by fire on its third race during the 24 hours of Le Mans in the same year, short-living the 961's career. Had it been given suitable regulation the 961 would have been a successful racing vehicle.By Jessica Donaldson
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
| More Than 500 Historic Race Cars Accepted for Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion | |
![]() | Largest Field of Corvettes Ever Entered The field for this year's Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is taking shape as 533 historic race cars have been initially accepted for the August 16-18 event. The Governing Committee has the option of accepting an additional 17 cars to complete the grid for the annual race at Mazda Raceway Laquna Seca. 'What a joyous moment it is to get the notification that my car and I have been accepted to the event,' said Pen Pendelton of Los Angeles, C...[Read more...] |
| DAN GURNEY JOINS 'THE AMELIA'S' FORD GT40 SEMINAR | |
![]() | Le Mans winner Dan Gurney, the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance's 2002 Honorary Chairman, returns to 'The Amelia' to join a panel of international racing celebrities and experts honoring the 50th anniversary of Ford's game-changing GT40 prototype. Gurney won just one race for the Carroll Shelby-led Ford GT40 team, but it was the race that mattered most: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Gurney's victory in the 1967 edition of the fabled Le Mans 24 Hour endurance classic has become the stuff of legen...[Read more...] |
| Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion : A Brilliant Finish | |
![]() | There are times to spectate and there are times to roll up one's sleeves and participate. At the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion this year, both options brought abundant joy, as more than 550 authentic and historic race cars from nearly every decade of motorsports history popped their clutches and shifted gears on the esteemed road course of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Over August 16-19, the cars--split into 17 groups according to age and engine size and chosen for their period-correct presen...[Read more...] |
| Sun Sets On Sensational Silverstone Classic | |
![]() | The world's biggest motor racing festival, the Silverstone Classic powered by the AA, yesterday drew to a close after delivering 24 exhilarating races on the sun-kissed Silverstone Grand Prix circuit as well as a feast of off-track entertainment for a record number of visitors. During the weekend more than 1000 race entries from GT, saloon, single-seater and sportscars covering the full spectrum of motor sport from the Thirties right through to the Nineties produced some of the most exciting...[Read more...] |
| 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans: Finally a Victory, Still 2nd | |
![]() | Thierry Boutsen's first encounter with the 24 Hours of Le Mans would come only after a few years of his being involved in racing. In 1981, Boutsen would partner with Serge Saulnier and Michel Pignard to drive the WM P81. It would prove to be an introductory experience as the race would last just 15 laps before it would all come to an end. This would be just the first of three early retirements in the 1980s. The 1990s, however, would be an entirely different story altogether. Boutsen's breakth...[Read more...] |
1987
Porsche
models |
| Porsche 911 Carrera |
| Porsche 911 Turbo |
| Porsche 924S |
| Porsche 928 S4 |
| Porsche 944 | 1987 Porsche Concepts |
| Porsche 962C |
| Similar Automakers | |
| Aston Martin | Bentley |
| Bugatti | Devon |
| Ferrari | GTA |
| Koenigsegg | Lamborghini |
| Lotus | Maserati |
| Maybach | McLaren |
| Rolls-Royce | Spyker |
| Tesla | |
| Porsche: 1981-1990 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Porsche History |
| Other models by Porsche |
| Manufacturer Website |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| Automobiles of Arizona by RM Auctions |
| Lingenfelter Collection |
| Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 356 550/718 Sports Racing Cars 597 904 | 906 907 908 911 | 912 914 917 924 | 928 934/935 944 956 and 962 | 968 Boxster Carrera GT Cayenne | Cayman GT3 Panamera Type 959 |
1986 959 | 1988 Type 959 ![]() |


1986 959














1987