Lot 349: 1988 Porsche 959 - 5,300 Kilometres from New

Manufactured by Porsche from 1986 to 1989 as a homologation special for its 961 Group B rally car, in accordance with FIA regulations requiring that a minimum number of road legal cars be built, the 959 was hailed as the most technologically advanced road-going sports car ever built, and for being the harbinger of the future of sports cars; it was the world's first ultra high-performance vehicle to use an all-wheel-drive system, it provided the basis for Porsche's first all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 model, and it convinced Porsche executives of the system's viability so well that they chose to make all-wheel-drive standard on all versions of the 911 Turbo starting with the 993. During its lifetime, the 959 was all but completely unsurpassed in terms of its performance, with Ferrari's F40 being the only other road legal vehicle available with performance at this level. Porsche began with an existing engine and moved on with development from there: a twin turbocharged flat six engine, with an air cooled block and water cooled heads displacing 2.85 litres, about half a litre less than a contemporary 911 engine. The motor had originally been developed for the 935 'Moby Dick' race car, then was redeveloped slightly for the short-lived Porsche Indy Car and several other projects before being adapted a last time for use in the 961. Sequential twin turbochargers, rather than the more usual identical turbochargers for each of the two cylinder banks, allowed for a smooth, seamless delivery of power across the engine rpm band, in contrast to the abrupt on-off power characteristic that distinguished Porsche's other turbocharged motors. It has been speculated that the engine, which was used virtually unchanged in its 450bhp specification for the 959, was capable of over 600bhp in fully modified form. In an attempt to create a rugged, lightweight shell, Porsche adopted an aluminium and Kevlar construction for the body together with a Nomex floor as opposed to the traditional steel that was normally used on its production cars. The Stuttgart factory also developed the car's aerodynamics for increased stability, as well as the automatic ride height adjustment available on the road car, and its 'zero lift' dynamics were a big part of maintaining driveability across the speed range, essential for a car capable, via a six speed gearbox, of 0-60mph in a mere 3.7 seconds and a maximum speed exceeding 200mph. The 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show had been chosen for the unveiling of the Porsche Group B prototype. Even in the waning hours of October 9th finishing touches were being made on the car, and when the curtain was drawn the next morning the Group B 961 became an instant celebrity. After the first two prototypes, the bodywork was modified to include air vents in the front and rear wheel housings, as well as intake holes behind the doors. In total, only some 250 cars, of which 226 were 959 road models, were produced, including one 959 and one 961 which remain in the Porsche historic hall in Stuttgart. First registered in September 1988, this superb example has, we are informed by the original owner, never been raced or been involved in an accident and never even been driven in the rain or snow and the front passenger seat just twice occupied. Every component of the car is described as being original and authentic and all maintenance work has been carried out at the Porsche factory. Originally supplied with a speedometer recording in miles, this was changed by Porsche for one recording kilometres at 2,523 miles, and the original speedometer is boxed and stored in the luggage compartment; the replacement unit was preset to include the mileage covered and the current odometer reading is 5,300 kilometres. Finished in Kiln Red with sand-coloured carpets trimmed in chestnut leather including the forward luggage space, this 959 has an all-leather interior, including the doors, roof lining, dashboard, instrument bezels, control knobs and seats, the latter in three shades of cream and tan; the interior has a concealed fuel shut-off switch and is also internally wired for a telephone, negating the need for an exterior aerial. Offered in truly excellent and as new condition, this flawless example represents a rare opportunity for the serious collector to acquire both a high specification, limited edition Porsche and highly capable and much sought after supercar. Offered with German registration papers. Dieser hervorragende Porsche 959 prsentiert sich in neuwertigem Gesamtzustand - kein Wunder, wurde dieser Supersportwagen der spten 80er Jahre nur ber ca. 5.300 km bewegt, und, nach Angaben des Einlieferers, niemals im Regen oder Schnee eingesetzt oder aber in einen Unfall verwickelt. Selbst der Beifahrersitz wurde nur zwei Mal benutzt! Alle Wartungsarbeiten des Porsche wurden im Porsche-Werk in Stuttgart ausgefhrt. Eine einmalige Gelegenheit, einen der besten 959 auf dem Markt zu erwerben.