Porsche 959

The 959 was a pioneer of production-car tyre-pressure monitoring.

The 959 chassis offered adjustable damping and ride height, unusually sophisticated for the mid-1980s.

The 959’s advanced all-wheel-drive system could electronically vary torque distribution between the axles according to conditions.

The 959 used sequentially controlled twin turbochargers to reduce lag across the rev range.

The 959’s twin-turbo flat-six produced 450 PS.

Porsche quoted 317 km/h; at launch the 959 was among the world’s fastest production cars and set a record in that category.

Porsche states that 292 series-production 959s were built in 1987–1988.

The production Porsche 959 was shown at the Frankfurt IAA in 1985.

In 1986 rally-prepared 959s finished first and second in the Paris–Dakar Rally, with a third works car finishing sixth.

The 959 was developed as an advanced technology platform with Group B rally regulations among its original targets.