I'm kind of a Porsche fan and have been for a little while.... neat little cars. I've been reading up a bit on the history of the 959, and recently saw one go for sale for around $500,000. I've seen prices on the 959 all the way from $200,00 and even higher, these cars are only 450hp and are at 3197lbs from the specs i've read. Which is a .141 and .115 hp/weight percentage. I mean that's really high but compared to cars like the Murcielago at a .157/.128, the GT2 at .150/.150 and the amazinly heavy V8 Vantage Le Mans boasting a .138/.139 it seems as if the 959 is extremely expensive for the ratio, specs, etc... Obviously I've never driven one, and not by any means am I bashing on one, they look AWESOME but why are they so expensive? I know very few were made, but is it more because of the few numbers or is it because of the heritage of where and why the 959 came from? I know the "C 20" or "959" was one of their early designs for a mid engine supercar from porsche for competition and all, but is it because of the heritage of them pushing the design for the World Rally Championship event?

I've just been doing a little bit of reading up on this, if anyone has any more information it would be appreciated greatly.... I'm just curious and greatly bored at 2:00 a.m. so.... I think I'll go to bed now. By the way I'm working on all kinds of horsepower/weight ratio calculators in excel and what not, anyone wants a copy of it give me a holler, I made it in a few minutes, I was bored... haha... anyway once again thanks for taking the time to read and respond.

Derek.

I think the best way to describe the 959 is as the Enzo of its day. The car was so far ahead of its peers that you are able to quote its performance stats and they are close to supercars that are being made 20 years after the 959 was developed.

As far as collectibility, truly rare Porsches are almost worth their weight in gold.

I don’t know how accurate the stats below are but considering this was back in the mid 80s they look impressive. http://autozine.kyul.net/959/959_3.htm provides more information on the cars. An interesting note is that no 959 is street legal in the USA. plus they were 4 wheel drive and great for winter.

0-60mph: 3.6 seconds (US version: 3.5s)
0-100: 8.3
0-125: 12.7
0-140: 19.0
0-1/4 mile: 11.8s @119 mph
Top Speed: 198++ mph

When I was a teenager to me it was:

Countach
288 GTO
959

The 959 was then and still is on my list to have one day.

I agree with what everyone else has said. In addition, I'll add that production numbers and availability have a big impact on prices. Both of these numbers favor the Porsche 959 over similar cars of the era, and current production cars.

Number produced: 200
Last year of production: 1988

So if you decide you want a 959, you'll first have to convince one of 200 people in the world who have one to sell it to you, which may or may not be an easy task, given it's place in history. If you want a current production car, you can just go down to a dealership and order one, and they'll make one for you (eventually).

Valuing collector cars is hard work - I'm still learning myself!

Definately One of "THE CARS" of A Generation!!!

959s are fairly readily available- the factory made:
16 prototypes
21 preproduction cars
113 in 1987
179 in 1988
total run is 329 cars- 37 of these were the "Sport" version, the rest are "Comfort"

In 1988 29 cars were built for the USA. The first 8 cars arrived at port and the EPA would not let them into the country. Seven of those cars went back to Germany. Otis Chandler put the remaining one in his museum on the condition that it would not be driven. The rest of these cars were put up for sale as race cars for $336,300 including VAT. 16 of these cars found their way to the USA, but usually not legally. Perhaps you have heard the story of Bill Gates and PAul Allens 959s being seized by the EPA and held for years until they were finally able to get them back.

Porsche also made the 961 a full race version of the 959- only one example was produced.

Today it is fairly straightforward to import 959s into the USA under the show and display law which allows 2500 miles per year.

Bruce Canepa has been buying low mileage 959s overseas and bringing them into EPA compliance. He replaces the stock Motronic engine management with Motec engine management. In the process, horsepower goes from 450 to 600. All the cars have less than 3000km on them and they are finished to concours levels. The price is $425,000 for one of these cars. There are other outfits in the US that can help bring in a 959 too, but Canepa seems to have the best operation going.

I know of one real 1988 959 in my hometown-it is a red comfort version with about 29,000 km on it. It is serviced at the same independent shop I bring my Porsches to.

__________________
Ron
Current Sports Cars:
2004 Gallardo
2004 996 GT3
1999 Viper GTS
1997 993TT
1994 965 Turbo 3.6
1978 930
1972 916
1970 914-6