Fans of Autofluence already know the rarity and overpowered nature of vintage Porsche 911 turbos, but there exists a legend in Porsche’s lineup that defies all notion of civility and rarity: the 959. Group B racing killed more drivers and spectators than the Roman coliseum, and a history of that series is an article unto itself. Every manufacturer attempted to field rally cars with over 300 hp at a time that computer controlled stability did not exist. In order to homologate their racing fleet, engineers at Stuttgart build the world’s fastest production car. Arguably the first true supercar, the 959 was built from 1986 to 1989 and sported a body of Kevlar and aluminum with a floor of fire resistant Nomex. In addition to the high-tech DuPont composites, the 959 had all-new water-cooled cylinder heads with 4 valves per cylinder.
It featured the world’s first active AWD system,using the center differential to control how much torque was distributed front to rear. This helped to tame the 930’s tail-happy nature, which is why the 959 offers more grip than purpose built race cars. Due to the extreme cost in building the car, Porsche didn’t crash test the design, which made it illegal to import.
Due to the extreme cost in building the car, Porsche didn’t crash test the design, which made it illegal to import. Bill Gates and other celebrities were able to circumvent the regulation, and now that they are over 25 years old the time is right to enjoy them legally. Two versions of the 959 were produced: the Sport version was aimed at racers and was fitted with stiffer suspension; the Komfort model was built for better street manners.
Only 106 Komfort editions were built, and this one has spent five years at the hands of our friends at Canepa Designs, who have brought this supercar into the modern era. New Garret turbochargers along with the latest in engine management make this the only California-legal 959 we have ever seen. It has modern stainless converters for clean exhaust, and a new fuel system capable of withstanding ethanol abuse. Ordered with every option, this car has air conditioning, power seats, adjustable suspension, sound insulation and the obligatory Blankpunt tape deck.
Of the 337 Porsche 959 models built, only a handful made it to the US, and even less Komfort editions made it. With only 10,163 miles, this car belongs in a museum but it can be yours if you act fast, courtesy of Bespoke Motor Group. We enjoy bringing you the rarest and most powerful Porsches ever made, so stay tuned to Autofluence for more.
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