Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
Throughout the 1950s and onwards, Porsche's lineup of small sports cars routinely battled against cars pushing much more power. The designs were revolutionary and set many new standards. In the early 1980s, the company would set about doing it all over again.
Audi would take the Group B rally world by storm with its four-wheel drive Quattro. Though challenging to drive, the car undoubtedly revealed the future of rallying. But, Audi wasn't alone.
Porsche's Chief Engineer Helmuth Bott saw the potential of a four-wheel drive system and sold the company's CEO, Peter Schultz, on the notion of developing their own system for Group B rallying.
The project would be assigned Type 961 and would be destined to explore the envelope of car performance. The only realistic hindrance to this quest for technology would be the 200 examples that had to be produced for the general public. The homologation type would provide the identifier that would become famous—the 959.
Porsche would use what it had available, at least as much as possible. Regulations made it clear the model had to be similar to the production model. Therefore, a Carrera passenger cabin would be used to provide the basic shape. Then came all of the changes. The use of aluminum, carbon-fiber, Kevlar and Nomex all combined to produce a car that weighed less than 3200 lbs. Performance figures boasted a top speed of nearly 200mph as a result of its .31 drag coefficient and 2.85-liter, turbocharged flat-six that produced 450 horsepower.
Porsche would do it again. The 959 would redefine and revolutionize. No longer was performance about sheer horsepower. Now, every single aspect of the car's design came into play.
Only a total of 288 examples of the 959 would ever be built. Far fewer, just 29, would be called the 'Sport', which would be produced with a lighter-weight chassis. Chassis 900125 would be one of those 29. But, while the Sport is already a rare machine, those intended for the U.S. market would be even more special.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's crashworthiness regulations would not be ready for the 959 either and of the very few that would make it to the country would end up seized. It wouldn't be until 1999, more than a decade later, would the regulations be changed enabling the 959 to make its way across the United States.
This particular example would be completed in December of 1987 and would actually head to Japan first having been purchased by the well-known collector Yoshiho Matsuda. Upon delivery, the Porsche would end up as part of the Porsche Museum in Hakone.
Finally, with its regulations relaxed, the Porsche would make its way to the United States having been purchased by collector Jamie Mazzotta based in Newport Coast, California.
Not long afterward, the Porsche would be purchased to become part of Tony Hart's impressive collection. Having less than 4,000 miles on the car, Hart would spend approaching $200,000 to modify the Porsche to U.S. standards. Some of those changes would include 'S'-spec gas struts and titanium springs. In addition, 993-type turbochargers would improve engine performance and a Motronic engine management system would help the car pass California's emission standards.
The modifications would be impressive. Power increased to 576hp, torque rose to 501 ft/lbs and the zero to 60 time would be an impressive 3.2 seconds. The top speed would also increase rather dramatically pushing 215mph. It the performance wasn't aggressive enough then the all black leather interior, one of only six examples with such an interior, would combine with black powder-coated alloy wheels to make for such a look that just screams 'fast'.
Fitted with wider Pirelli tires and a $10,000 Eclipse stereo system, this 959 is perhaps the best amalgamation of opulence, creative comforts and outright performance.
Made available for sale from the Tony Hart collection, the 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort would be one of the highlights of the 2015 Bonhams Quail Lodge auction. Given its upgrades, evolutions and other 'extras' the Porsche would achieve a final sale price of $1,457,500.By Jeremy McMullen
Audi would take the Group B rally world by storm with its four-wheel drive Quattro. Though challenging to drive, the car undoubtedly revealed the future of rallying. But, Audi wasn't alone.
Porsche's Chief Engineer Helmuth Bott saw the potential of a four-wheel drive system and sold the company's CEO, Peter Schultz, on the notion of developing their own system for Group B rallying.
The project would be assigned Type 961 and would be destined to explore the envelope of car performance. The only realistic hindrance to this quest for technology would be the 200 examples that had to be produced for the general public. The homologation type would provide the identifier that would become famous—the 959.
Porsche would use what it had available, at least as much as possible. Regulations made it clear the model had to be similar to the production model. Therefore, a Carrera passenger cabin would be used to provide the basic shape. Then came all of the changes. The use of aluminum, carbon-fiber, Kevlar and Nomex all combined to produce a car that weighed less than 3200 lbs. Performance figures boasted a top speed of nearly 200mph as a result of its .31 drag coefficient and 2.85-liter, turbocharged flat-six that produced 450 horsepower.
Porsche would do it again. The 959 would redefine and revolutionize. No longer was performance about sheer horsepower. Now, every single aspect of the car's design came into play.
Only a total of 288 examples of the 959 would ever be built. Far fewer, just 29, would be called the 'Sport', which would be produced with a lighter-weight chassis. Chassis 900125 would be one of those 29. But, while the Sport is already a rare machine, those intended for the U.S. market would be even more special.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's crashworthiness regulations would not be ready for the 959 either and of the very few that would make it to the country would end up seized. It wouldn't be until 1999, more than a decade later, would the regulations be changed enabling the 959 to make its way across the United States.
This particular example would be completed in December of 1987 and would actually head to Japan first having been purchased by the well-known collector Yoshiho Matsuda. Upon delivery, the Porsche would end up as part of the Porsche Museum in Hakone.
Finally, with its regulations relaxed, the Porsche would make its way to the United States having been purchased by collector Jamie Mazzotta based in Newport Coast, California.
Not long afterward, the Porsche would be purchased to become part of Tony Hart's impressive collection. Having less than 4,000 miles on the car, Hart would spend approaching $200,000 to modify the Porsche to U.S. standards. Some of those changes would include 'S'-spec gas struts and titanium springs. In addition, 993-type turbochargers would improve engine performance and a Motronic engine management system would help the car pass California's emission standards.
The modifications would be impressive. Power increased to 576hp, torque rose to 501 ft/lbs and the zero to 60 time would be an impressive 3.2 seconds. The top speed would also increase rather dramatically pushing 215mph. It the performance wasn't aggressive enough then the all black leather interior, one of only six examples with such an interior, would combine with black powder-coated alloy wheels to make for such a look that just screams 'fast'.
Fitted with wider Pirelli tires and a $10,000 Eclipse stereo system, this 959 is perhaps the best amalgamation of opulence, creative comforts and outright performance.
Made available for sale from the Tony Hart collection, the 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort would be one of the highlights of the 2015 Bonhams Quail Lodge auction. Given its upgrades, evolutions and other 'extras' the Porsche would achieve a final sale price of $1,457,500.By Jeremy McMullen
2015 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,000,000-USD $1,250,000
Sale Price :
USD $1,457,500
1987 Porsche 959 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Porsche 959
(Data based on Model Year 1987 sales)
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Sold for USD$1,870,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900051 Sold for USD$1,710,000 2023 Broad Arrow Group : Amelia Island | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#: WPOZZZ95ZHS900041 Sold for USD$1,123,081 2023 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900057 Sold for USD$1,682,500 2023 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900121 Sold for USD$1,875,000 2022 Broad Arrow Auctions : Monterey Jet Center Auction | |
1987 Porsche 959 'Komfort' Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900104 Sold for USD$1,600,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900057 Sold for USD$1,563,355 2021 RM Sothebys : London | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900081 Sold for USD$1,050,000 2020 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900075 Sold for USD$467,500 2018 Mecum : Monterey | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900083 Sold for USD$1,000,370 2018 RM Sothebys : Monaco | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900110 Sold for USD$1,100,000 2018 Gooding & Co. : Amelia Island | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900020 Sold for USD$1,160,000 2018 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#: WPOZZZ95ZJS900197 Sold for USD$1,204,478 2017 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1987 Porsche 959 'Komfort' Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900104 Sold for USD$935,000 2017 RM Sotheby's : Arizona Auction | |
1987 Porsche 959 Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZH5900015 Sold for USD$1,500,000 2015 Rick Cole Monterey | |
1987 PORSCHE 959 KOMFORT Chassis#: WPOZZZ95ZHS900125 Sold for USD$1,457,500 2015 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction | |
1987 Porsche 959 Sold for USD$219,850 2011 Coys Auctions - The Spirit of Motoring - Ascot | |
1987 Porsche 959 Chassis#: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900135 Sold for USD$279,258 2010 RM Auctions - Sporting Classics of Monaco |
Porsche 959s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1987 Porsche 959's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort | WP0ZZZ95ZHS900121 | 2024 RM Sothebys : Arizona | $1,700,000 | $1,850,000 | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort | WP0ZZZ95ZHS900037 | 2018 RM Sothebys : The Petersen Automotive Museum | $950,000 | $1,100,000 | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort | WP0ZZZ95ZHS900036 | 2016 Mecum : Monterey | $900,000 | ||
1987 Porsche 959 | WP0ZZZ95ZHS900113 | 2011 Automobiles of Arizona by RM Auctions | $300,000 | $350,000 | $440,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $1,210,994 range.
2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition Chassis#:2FAGP9CW3KH200230 Sold for $1,215,000 2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia | |
2019 McLaren Senna Chassis#:SBM15ACA7KW800284 Sold for $1,215,000 2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia | |
1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#:CSX 2044 Sold for $1,215,000 2024 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 'Outlaw' Chassis#:198.042.7500282 Sold for $1,199,880 2023 RM Sothebys : Munich | |
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Chassis#:198.042.7500115 Sold for $1,215,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Las Vegas | |
1929 Bugatti Type 37 Grand Prix Two-Seater Chassis Chassis#:37383 Sold for $1,215,521 2023 Bonhams : The Zoute Sale | |
1994 Bugatti EB110 GT Chassis Chassis#:ZA9AB01SORCD39071 Sold for $1,215,521 2023 Bonhams : The Zoute Sale | |
2011 FERRARI 599 SA APERTA Chassis#:ZFF72RHA1B0180054 Sold for $1,215,000 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1994 Porsche 911 Turbo S Flachbau Chassis#:WP0AC2960RS480444 Sold for $1,215,000 2023 Broad Arrow Group : Amelia Island | |
1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Chassis#:198.042.10.002840 Sold for $1,215,000 2023 Broad Arrow Group : Amelia Island | |
1964 MERCEDES-BENZ 230 SL COUPE SPECIALE Chassis#:113.042.10.001336 Sold for $1,215,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1993 PORSCHE 964 CARRERA RSR 3.8 Chassis#:WP0ZZZ96ZPS496090 Sold for $1,215,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Alloy Coupe Chassis#:0145 E Sold for $1,215,000 2022 Bonhams : The Quail Auction | |
1957 Bentley Continental S.1 H.J. Mulliner Fastback Sports Saloon Chassis#:BC96LBG Sold for $1,215,000 2022 Broad Arrow Auctions : Monterey Jet Center Auction | |
2020 Ford GT MkII Sold for $1,210,000 2022 Mecum Indy | |
2020 Ford GT Sold for $1,210,000 2022 Mecum Indy | |
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series Sold for $1,210,000 2022 Mecum Indy | |
1953 Cunningham C-3 Cabriolet by Vignale Chassis#:5441 Sold for $1,215,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1965 FERRARI 275 GTB Chassis#:07529 Sold for $1,215,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction | |
1967 SHELBY COBRA 427 CSX 3356 Chassis#:CSX3356 Sold for $1,210,000 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona |
1987 Porsche 959
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery
• Other Porsche 959 model years