Porsche 959 Coupé 1988 WPOZZZ95ZJS900191

Porsche 959 Coupé
The Spa Classic Sale
Year:
1988
Auction House:
Bonhams
Chassis number:
WPOZZZ95ZJS900191
Date
May 24 2015
Engine number:
Unknown
Registration number:
Unknown
Body number:
Unknown
Sold for:
€ 700.000
Conceived in the early 1980s as a four-wheel-drive Group B competitor, the Porsche 959 was first displayed in
'concept car' form at the 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show, and despite the subsequent abandonment of the events for
which it had been intended, entered limited production in 1987. Representing the ultimate in automobile design, the
959 successfully adapted state-of-the art racing technology for road use, and even today its specification remains
unparalleled. At the car's heart was a unique, 2,849cc version of the classic, six-cylinder, air-cooled 'boxer' engine
equipped with water-cooled, double-overhead-camshaft, four-valve cylinder heads. The latter had been developed
initially for the 1981 Le Mans-winning 936, and were further refined on the even more successful 956/962 that
triumphed at La Sarthe every year from 1982 to 1987. In 959 specification this formidable twin-turbo-charged unit
produced 450bhp, an output which, combined with the lightweight composite body's drag coefficient of just 0.32,
proved sufficient to propel the 959 past 195mph and on to the front rank of all-time supercars. The 959's
sophisticated four-wheel-drive six-speed transmission paved the way for that of the Carrera 4; computer controlled, it
provided variable torque split with alternative programmes for dry, wet, icy or off-road conditions. Ride height was
electrically controlled, the ABS brakes delivered race-car levels of retardation and the run-flat tyres were monitored
for pressure loss, all of which made for a car faster than just about anything else on the road yet, in the Porsche
tradition, was comfortable, practical and reliable. Indeed, with its electric windows and mirrors, climate control,
electric heated seats and superb stereo system, the 959 rivalled many a limousine for luxury. Although its Group B
raison d-tre had ceased to exist, the Porsche 959 did achieve one major competition victory, Ren Metge and
Dominique Lemoyne winning the gruelling Paris-Dakar Rally in 1986 in their works 959 with similar cars in second
and seventh places, while the race-developed variant finished seventh at Le Mans that year, winning the IMSA GT2
class. In total, fewer than 300 of these exclusive supercars were made - the official factory figure is 292. This
Porsche 959 was delivered from the factory to the Otto Glckler official Porsche dealership in Frankfurt, Germany and
first registered on 5th May 1988. The car was personalised by the addition of stripes, and was driven by Mr Otto
Glckner himself. The current vendor is the only owner after the Porsche Centre Glckler.In 1991 the vehicle came to
Switzerland as a duty-free admission when its owner moved there, this being the only way to register a Porsche 959
in that country. One of very few Porsche 959s currently resident in Switzerland, the car was registered in Ticino ('TI
169 450') and in 1997 relocated to Gstaad. A total of only 25,428 kilometres is recorded on the odometer and the car
is described by the private vendor as in generally very good condition, as one would expect given this modest usage.
The most recent major service was carried out in November 2014 at Porsche Service Center Gstaad, Pichler GFG
AG (see bill for CHF13,559 on file). Additional documentation consists of the original Vehicle Identity Card and
service booklet (with four stamps) and a Swiss Carte Grise.
Cette Porsche 959 fut livre par l'usine la concession Porsche Otto Glckler de Francfort (Allemagne) pour une premire
immatriculation le 5 mai 1988. Au dbut la voiture personnalise par ajout de bandes dcoratives fut conduite par M.
Otto Glckler lui-mme. Le vendeur actuel est le seul propritaire aprs le Centre Porsche Glckler.En 1991, la voiture
importe en Suisse fut admise en exemption pour le modle lorsque son propritaire s'y installa, seul moyen
d'immatriculer une Porsche 959 dans ce pays. Une des rares 959 suisses, la voiture fut immatricule dans le canton
de Ticino ( TI 169 450 ) puis transfre Gstaad en 1997.Un total de 25 458 km est enregistr au compteur et le vendeur
dcrit la voiture comme tant en trs bon tat gnral comme on peut s'en douter tant donn la modestie du kilomtrage
parcouru depuis l'origine. L'entretien complet le plus rcent a t effectu en novembre 2014 au Porsche Service Center
Gstaad, Pichler GFG AG (voir la facture d'un montant de CHF 13 559 dans le dossier). La documentation comprend
en outre la carte d'identit originale du vhicule, le carnet d'entretien (portant quatre tampons) et la carte grise suisse.
Une superbe occasion pour les amateurs de ce modle dans sa trentime anne suite sa prèsentation au Salon de
Frankfurt en 1985.