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View Full Version : hokey smokeys! Rare treat for the porsche fan in me today!


formula
08-24-2009, 07:29 PM
So I went by the local porsche dealership to get some new hood struts for my dad's 993 for him (rather ungraceful to hop out of a badass car and hit yourself in the head with the hood every time), and as I strolled through the service department over to parts, this happened to catch the corner of my eye...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/082409121000-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/082409121001-1.jpg

I couldn't help but yell "HOLY ****!" in the middle of the dealership. For those who don't know, this is a 959--porsche's answer to the ferrari f40. Even though it is a child of the 80s, it came stock with 450 hp (from a six cylinder!), a kevlar composite body, all wheel drive, and was capable of just a nosehair shy of 200 mph. As far as I know, none of them ever came from the factory legal for US sale, so I have no idea what it was doing in the middle of nowhere, south carolina! Even when I lived in europe, I never dreamed of running into one of these!
Restomod
08-25-2009, 03:34 AM
Is that one still new?!?!?!
There are a few running around the US that have been legalized. The guy that owns Pelican has one, the parts for it are even more rare than the car and $$$$$$$.
formula
08-25-2009, 05:11 AM
didn't think to check to see what the mileage was--but I've never seen it up there before, so if it is new it's not something they've been holding on to at the dealership. Couple towns around here have a very high german immigration rate, so I'm guessing somebody brought it with them when they came over.

I may try to sneak back over today and get a peek at the interior. I feel like a stalker, though.
CraigMorrison
08-25-2009, 05:28 AM
Nice find! One hell of a car!


You mention F40 - My one and only run with an F40 was on a B road over in England. It was December and raining hard, and this guy came tearing by. It was great.
thetoystore
08-25-2009, 05:55 AM
wow i remember reading about those cars in an acticle in hotrod mag a few years ago titled cars to go for the us
Shiro666
08-25-2009, 06:02 AM
Yup, If I saw a 959 I would of dropped a duce on the show room floor. This was a "poster car" of mine along with the F40, Diablo and Greenwood Corvette.

I have seen pic's of this car on the road in other forums. I would assume that it is proably this one. I can spot the 959 kit cars a mile away.
formula
08-25-2009, 06:22 AM
Yup, If I saw a 959 I would of dropped a duce on the show room floor. This was a "poster car" of mine along with the F40, Diablo and Greenwood Corvette.

I have seen pic's of this car on the road in other forums. I would assume that it is proably this one. I can spot the 959 kit cars a mile away.

Wait, so do you think it was a kit?
Shiro666
08-25-2009, 06:55 AM
No. I had seen pictures of this car on other forums and there was some debate that it was a kit. It is NOT as far as I can tell. The proportions are correct in the rear quarters and it has original wheels.
TitoJones
08-25-2009, 08:27 AM
As a former Porsche service tech, I can tell you that looks like a kit car and not an original 959.

They are cool as hell though.

Tyler
redhead
08-25-2009, 08:29 AM
a 959 sighting is a definite jackpot. I remember when it first came out and the late Bob Holbert was on the cover of autoweek with the sole of his shoe resting on the bumper. outraged letters came into the mag for months about how the great 959 has been desicrated and that none but the foot of god was worthy of such disrespect. even in the context of that time when v12 ferraris and cobras were selling for around $1million (and climbing) it was too much for me to tolerate. I began pulling out of the exotics and began my quest for american iron (although the brutish f40 still gets me revved up).
NOPANTS-68
08-25-2009, 08:34 AM
The wife an I were at the Rolex Monterey Historics two weeks ago. While we were walking the aisles there was a legit 959 sitting between two 917s. It certainly stopped me in my tracks. They also has the 959 offroad rally car there to check out. Pretty cool.
Shiro666
08-25-2009, 09:30 AM
As a former Porsche service tech, I can tell you that looks like a kit car and not an original 959.

They are cool as hell though.

Tyler

Nuts. I was sure it looked real. How can you tell? It looks like a really good kit.

Shiro
Steve Chryssos
08-25-2009, 11:37 AM
You can have your 959 converted to US specs at Bruce Canepa Design in California. There are a coupla other outlets as well.

http://www.canepa.com

If you can't bear to wait, Canepa Design has one or more for sale.

http://www.canepa.com/inventory/collect_1/959_red/index.html
LateNight72
08-25-2009, 12:43 PM
Nuts. I was sure it looked real. How can you tell? It looks like a really good kit.

Shiro
The main thing I am seeing is that the entire nose (bumper, grilles, fenders, etc) is a single piece on the one pictured above. Versus the originals which, for obvious reasons, have many seams and are seperate panels.
formula
08-25-2009, 12:57 PM
awwwww, piss. looking closely at the front end of a legit one, I think you guys are right.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/Porsche_959_silver_at_Auto_Salon_Singen-1.jpg
monza
08-25-2009, 01:41 PM
I guess this guy just sold one... impressive amounts of cars, check it.

http://www.sloancars.com/
Rocco
08-25-2009, 01:53 PM
Nice !!
Steve Chryssos
08-25-2009, 02:37 PM
Check this place out. No 959 replica stuff, but lots of 911 RSR type replica parts. And tons of streetfighter ideas and inspiration for our cars.

http://www.gt-racing.com/
Restomod
08-25-2009, 03:01 PM
Yep I think it is just a 911 with a body kit, not really a "kit car" its still a Porsche.
vsefiream
08-27-2009, 05:23 AM
The ducts above the rear wheels of the kit are closed or at least appear to be closed on the red car. The real car has open ducts. Looks like the kit has lug nuts and the real car has center bolt wheels. I agree, kit car
406 Q-ship
08-27-2009, 07:28 AM
If you closely look between the silver 959 and red car there is quite a few differences. The quarter windows frames are completely different. The 959 has a door on the trunk lid (brake fluid access?) and a fuel door behind the left quarter window, the red imposter has a billet thing in the trunk lid (who would put a billet add on to a car like a 959?) and the fuel door does not appear to be in the left rear quarter. The wheel on the imposter car do not seem to be wide enough for the body work. I'll take the Silver 959, or even a nice GT2.........:smoke:

I take back the fuel door comment.......I missed it to the glare on the red 911.
formula
08-27-2009, 09:46 PM
went back by the dealer today to pick some parts up and, now properly educated and with the initial shock gone, the car is definitely not a true 959.

If I had to throw a guess out, I'd say it probably started life as an earlier 964. It is very well-maintained and obviously loved, though.

I'll take my pop's narrowbody 993c2 cab over it any day, though.