1986 was a pivotal year for the super car industry, because it was in this year that Porsche 959 was born. When it came out, the first thing the 959 did was take the rule book on how to make a super car and tore it to pieces. This thing established a whole new level of sophistication which other manufacturers have been striving to ever since.
Conceived first as a Group B rally car, Porsche 959 launched with a 2.85 liters twin-turbo engine featuring an air-cooled block and water-cooled heads. It developed 444 hp which isn’t much by today’s standard, but was considered toruser-troubling back in the 80s.
What’s more, the 959 was a fairly light weight car, at least considering how much tech it was packing. Thanks to a blend of aluminium and Aramid (Kevlar) composite for the body and Nomex floor, the car weighed in at just 1,450 kg, not bad for the first four-wheel-drive super car.
These days Porsche 959 commands huge prices in private auctions. But then again, that has always been the case. When it was new only people like Bill Gates could afford a 959. You may not be able to buy one of these, but you can still enjoy an up close and personal look at the car thanks to these photos from the 30 Years of Porsche 959 Exhibition Porsche is hosting these days at their museum to celebrate the car:
