Porsche has built numerous iconic cars over the years, but many would argue that the 959 stands out as one of the finest of them all. Now, a meticulously restored and enhanced example is poised to hit the auction block, potentially fetching one of the highest prices ever recorded for a 959.
This particular 959 is even more special for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it has undergone a thorough transformation by Canepa through its ‘959 SC Reimagined by Canepa’ program. It is chassis number 022 and one of just 266 units of the 959 Komfort series ever produced. When Canepa got its hands on it, had fewer than 1,000 original miles under its belt. The car has a very interesting history, too.
Original documentation reveals it was purchased by Nissan Motor Company through a Belgian distributor and dealer. Upon arrival in Japan, the automaker dismantled the car, utilizing it extensively for research and development, with a special emphasis on studying its sophisticated all-wheel drive system.
The lessons it learned from the 959 informed the all-wheel drive system that would later be fitted to the R32-generation Skyline GT-R. After Nissan was done with the car, it was sold to one of its engineers who retained it until it was exported to the United States.
Read: Priceless Porsche 959 S Prototype Left Open With Keys On The Seat And Windows Down In San Fransisco!
Canepa got their hands on the Porsche in 2019 and over the following four years, spent more than 4,000 hours restoring it at a cost of $950,000. The original Polar Silver paint has been replaced with a shade of Oak Green and like all other 959s from Canepa, every single bolt, clamp, and fitting has been stripped and related.
Additionally, the supercar boasts new Penske shock absorbers with titanium springs, upgraded brakes, custom 18-inch wheels, and an enhanced version of the original 2.8-liter twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine. Through meticulous modifications, Canepa has managed to extract over 800 hp and 650 lb-ft (881 Nm) of torque from the boxer powerplant.
This was achieved with the use of titanium connecting rods, an upgraded valvetrain assembly, enhanced camshafts, tungsten ceramic-coated headers, and a two-stage stainless/titanium exhaust system. As a result, the car can now accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in a staggering 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed exceeding 230 mph (370 km/h).
Broad Arrow Auctions is set to sell the car and anticipates it could command a price ranging between $3.25 million and $3.75 million at the auction scheduled for March 1-2. You can check out the listing here.
