OVERVIEW
1988 Porsche 959S
VIN: WP0ZZZ95ZJS905017
Finished at the Porsche factory on October 6th 1988, this rare 959S was destined for it first owner, Jerry Conrad of Con-Am Racing Inc in Irvine, CA shortly after. Unfortunately Porsche’s ploy to import the 959S as a trackcar failed, and this 959 would be returned to Germany before it could be delivered.
The car’s real first owner would be Mr. Junichi Iwasaki of Japan. On 1/8/90 the car was shipped from Frankfurt Airport to Tokyo International Airport. At the time it would have only 609 miles documented miles. There the 959S would remain, undriven, in Mr. Iwasaki private collection until was acquired by Canepa and imported into the US this year.
This car represents essentially a brand new 959S. Available with its original wheels still shod with their original Dunlop tires, or as an option it can be delivered with Canepa updated 959 wheels with modern Michelin tires. This is a extremely rare opportunity to own one of 29 super versions of Porsche’s first supercar in factory delivered condition.
About the 959
The Porsche 959 was by far the most technologically advanced sportscar when it was introduced in 1985. Their timeless design, state-of-the-art systems, and superior driving characteristics make them one of the greatest sports cars of all time.
In the early 1980s, to the joy of race fans worldwide, FISA introduced its new Group B road regulations. To qualify for homologation, manufacturers would have to produce and sell 200 road versions of their cars. Only two stepped up to the challenge: Porsche with its 959, and Ferrari with its 288 GTO.
Porsche developed the ultimate powerplant; a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder boxer engine with an air-cooled block and water-cooled heads, displaced 2.85 liters, about half a liter less than a contemporary 911 engine.. The motor had originally been developed for the "Moby Dick" race car and then been redeveloped slightly for the short-lived Porsche Indy Car before being "tweaked" a last time for use in the 961, the 959's racing counterpart. The water-cooled cylinder heads combined with the air-cooled block, 4-valve heads and sequential turbochargers allowed Porsche to extract 450 hp from the compact, efficient and rugged power unit. The engine was coupled to a unique manual gearbox, which was the first 6-speed manual transmission sold in a streetcar.
In an attempt to create a lightweight shell, Porsche adopted an aluminum and Aramid (Kevlar) composite for body use along with a Nomex floor, instead of the steel normally used on their production cars. The vehicle's weight of 3,190 pounds (1,450 kg) helped to achieve its high performance level.
Porsche also developed the car's aerodynamics, with automatic ride-height adjustment and "zero lift" aerodynamics. The 959 also featured the most advanced all-wheel-drive system available in a production car. Capable of dynamically changing the torque distribution between the rear and front wheels, the PSK system gave the 959 the adaptability it needed both as a race car and as a "super" street car. Under hard acceleration, PSK could send as much as 80% of available power to the rear wheels. It could also vary the power bias depending on road surface and grip changes, helping maintain traction at all times. The magnesium alloy wheels were unique, being hollow inside to form a sealed chamber contiguous with the tire and equipped with a built-in tire pressure monitoring system.
The 959S was created as US car for the close friends of Porsche racer, Al Holbert. The idea was to bring in 959S as a track day / race car, thereby side stepping all of the DOT and EPA regulations that were never met by Porsche. They took out the A/C, installed a roll cage, put in a traditional coil over suspension, installed 4-point seat belts and special seats, and boosted power by about 30hp in an effort to pass the car off as track car. When the first 10 arrived in the US the US government agencies inspected the cars, and after a trip to the Nazareth Speedway, they determined that the 959S was not a track car. They were all shipped back to Porsche to be sold to different regions outside North America.
