The Porsche 959 is 30: milestone in the supercar tree

Posted on 16-04-2015 at 19:56 by Dizono – 30 Comments”

The absolute top of what is technically feasible and still only one year in the hegemony. This happened to the Porsche 959. This supercar from the middle of the eighties, which this year celebrates its thirtieth anniversary. For Porsche reason for him to focus on the Techno-Classica.

Porsche is showing a special klantenversie of the 959. This goudoranje version with stripes, that hurts the eyes, was commissioned by a sheik from Qatar. He ordered a seven. For the first time in its history, processed, Porsche is not its logo, but the coat of arms of the man on the wheel and the wheel hub. We may say that a Porsche is also ugly? Yes, it is. But each his taste. Luckily, we at merchant Lukas Hüni, a fresher-looking silver-gray copy of the 959, which is new in Venezuela was delivered.

Advanced
The 2.8-litre six-cylinder boxer engine of the Porsche 959 got two turbo’s and picked out 440 hp and 500 Nm of torque. Together with the relatively low weight of 1450 kilos was the 959 thus the fastest production car of that time with a peak of 315 kilometers per hour. From 0 to 100 went in 3.9 seconds.

The 959 was cluttered with technical applications that had not been previously seen: sensors for tire pressure measurement, magnesium rims and a fully adjustable suspension that is hydraulic is to arrange with draaikoppen on the centre console. The four-wheel drive, put some weight in the scale, but by the body of aluminum, kevlar and even Nomex manufacture could it be weight restricted. As a result the Porsche 959 at that time, the supercar and most advanced sports car that was available.

The silhouette of the 959 reminiscent of the 911, but there is one part that is the same as a Neunelfer: the tail light. Even the doors and the windshield are different because the roof is lower than that of a 911.

Rally-car
Porsche developed the 959 – curiously enough – as a rally car. In 1983 he was unveiled as the prototype for a Group B rally car. Unfortunately, we soon discovered the canvas for this rallyklasse, so gave Porsche the car a second life in the woestijnrally Paris-Dakar. Who went in those years was really from Paris to Dakar.

On the car show of Frankfurt in 1985 showed Porsche until the street version of the 959. It was the intention that customers take their car in 1986 in reception could take. But all sorts of problems with production delayed until 1987. The production number is even for Porsche insiders is a mystery. Officially, there are 292 customer cars built, plus a few prototypes and testwagens, told a Porsche specialist at the Techno-Classica. But even that figure is according to him not all the way fixed.

The 959-kenner knew to tell us that there are still 29 special versions are made. That came, because the 959 the United States is not in allowed because of the strict emission requirements. Porsche then tried to the 959 as a racing car to sign. This was the engine to 535 hp brought to you by the turbo pressure to the screws and a cage – covered with leather, that is well – fitted. The adjustable base was properly omitted. But the Us authorities stepped in. The 959 got no type approval for the US. All of the 29 copies that are already on the advance to America were brought went again on the boat back to Europe. This is now the most sought after version of the 959. It would take until 1995 to take to the 959 in the US the way on if. After the end of production in 1988, there are, indeed, from remaining components are still seven 595’s assembled.

Ferrari F40
The Porsche 959 had two major problems that are iconic status fairly quickly shaded. He seemed a bit too much on the 911, because it was of course – fair is fair – an extreme evolution of the 911 concept. And shortly after his introduction on the road in 1987 appeared to be a rival on the asphalt that straightway wegvaagde: the Ferrari F40. The performance but especially the form of the Italian were breathtaking. The pure, raw experience was at odds with the technical sophistication that Porsche in his brainchild had stopped. With a 150 kilos lighter weight by the use of carbon fiber and 478 hp put the Ferrari F40, the Porsche 959 at a disadvantage. Top Gear had two cars with each other to duel.

Milestone
The Porsche 959 and the Ferrari F40 to mark a supercar era that marked a milestone for the development of subsequent sports cars. Porsche puts on the show floor, the 959 in one line of his descendants, Carrera GT and 918 Spyder. The rivalry between Porsche and Ferrari repeated itself. The Porsche Carrera GT was competing with the Ferrari Enzo. And now we are once again something similar with the rivalry between the hybrid supercars Porsche 918, Ritz and McLaren P1.

Gallery: Porsche 959 at Techno Classica

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With thanks to Robert van den Oever and Maarten van der Pas for this contribution!