1987 Porsche 959 Coupe

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