Another in our series of special automobiles being offered at RM Sotheby’s 19th annual Arizona taking place 18-19 January in Phoenix.
Invoiced by Porsche in September 1987, this 959 was delivered new to Germany finished in the iconic color scheme of Silver metallic over a Grey leather interior and powered by engine number 65H00087, just as it is presented today. At some point, the 959 was sold to a collector in Japan, where it remained for a number of years, before being purchased and subsequently imported to the U.S. by Bruce Canepa.
Upon its arrival stateside in 2001, the car was acquired by its current owner who immediately sought to have the car made road-legal and registered in his home state of California, a process not for the faint of heart or the impatient! This procedure took nearly six years to complete and today, it remains as one of the very few 959s to have been fully federalized and road-legal in the state of California.
Over the course of his ownership and especially during the federalization process, the owner became quite knowledgeable about the car and took the time to understand the 959 and all its systems as a feat of engineering. As a result, he collected an impressive assortment of parts and documents pertaining to the 959, including a very rare Wabco tester, making it possible to read the car’s diagnostics. Additionally, it comes with books and tools, as well as a service manual, shop manual, jack and wheel removal tool, air pump, and the rare medical kit.
Throughout its life, the car has always been well maintained in northern California and is ready to drive and enjoy at a moment’s notice. As such, there are several components that have been updated to increase the 959’s overall drivability. The variable suspension system was removed and spring updated to titanium units, while an upgraded alternator was installed. Importantly, many of the car’s original suspension components will accompany the sale. At the time the 959 arrived in the U.S., the original odometer had recorded 9,616 km, and over the course of its California ownership (after the odometer was changed to an MPH unit during federalization), the car was driven an additional 2,650 miles (4,265 km), bringing total mileage to 8,900 miles or 14,323 km from new.
An RM specialist recently had the opportunity to drive this 959 at speed and reported that he was very impressed, noting that the Porsche was exceptionally well sorted in every regard. Combining exceptional power, braking, and handling, it was said to feel fantastic both around town and at speed on the freeway. Furthermore, the car has received a recent service with invoices totaling to over $42,000. In addition to those invoices, the car is accompanied by service invoices dating back to 2001, purchase invoices, and import documentation from the Department of Transportation.
Nothing short of revolutionary to Porsche as well as the automotive industry, the 959 affirmed Porsche’s status as the most innovative sports car manufacturer on the planet. It introduced a dizzying array of features that had never been seen in an automobile before, many of which would become mainstays in production cars around the world in the years and decades to come.
Arguably the perfect enthusiast’s 959, this example is offered in fully road-legal and road-worthy condition, a rarity amongst 959s currently residing in the U.S. The next lucky owner will be afforded the opportunity to enjoy one of Porsche’s greatest road-going cars exactly as its creators intended, at speed and on the open road.
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