RE: Spotted: Porsche 959... delivery miles only
Discussion
I love seeing these "as new" cars 
I was thinking about whether it should now be driven or not, and I just couldn't help thinking of all the people who lovingly built it in Stuttgart all those years ago. The guy that balanced the crank surely intended it to be turned at 7000rpm didn't he? Why would he bother otherwise? The same goes for the guy who made the seats well enough to last, or the guy that fixed the bonnet on securely so it wouldn't lift at 190mph. Whilst I can see the appeal of leaving it untouched for another 20 years, I just think it's disrespectful to all those people that made the car to leave it untouched and unused.
As much as I'd love a spin in a 959, I don't envy the guy on the 7 mile test drive though. That's a huge amount of profit for the company he had in his hands there
I was thinking about whether it should now be driven or not, and I just couldn't help thinking of all the people who lovingly built it in Stuttgart all those years ago. The guy that balanced the crank surely intended it to be turned at 7000rpm didn't he? Why would he bother otherwise? The same goes for the guy who made the seats well enough to last, or the guy that fixed the bonnet on securely so it wouldn't lift at 190mph. Whilst I can see the appeal of leaving it untouched for another 20 years, I just think it's disrespectful to all those people that made the car to leave it untouched and unused.As much as I'd love a spin in a 959, I don't envy the guy on the 7 mile test drive though. That's a huge amount of profit for the company he had in his hands there
"Does the fact that it's been around for so long and with such low mileage make it sacrilegious to take it out and use it as Porsche intended, or should it be used and displayed whenever possible despite the mileage and that chassis number?"
Drive it. It's a car. But it won't be driven. So much more affordable to park it and retain un-driven value for those who like it as such, personally I think doing that to any decent car is a travesty. It may well have been freshened up but so many other parts will need changing to make it 'like new' and really drivable.
The best thing that can happen to any car is that it is driven very regularly, all nicely warmed up. One of the worst is to let it sit as this one has.
The sultan’s warehouse’s of rotting exotica is a prime example. Want a few super low millage 288 GTO’s converted to RHD in period by PF? But basically needing a mechanical rebuild... I guess these are viable now as they’d be worth £500K plus but if i got my hands on one it wouldn’t be a garage queen, it would be street king.
Drive it. It's a car. But it won't be driven. So much more affordable to park it and retain un-driven value for those who like it as such, personally I think doing that to any decent car is a travesty. It may well have been freshened up but so many other parts will need changing to make it 'like new' and really drivable.
The best thing that can happen to any car is that it is driven very regularly, all nicely warmed up. One of the worst is to let it sit as this one has.
The sultan’s warehouse’s of rotting exotica is a prime example. Want a few super low millage 288 GTO’s converted to RHD in period by PF? But basically needing a mechanical rebuild... I guess these are viable now as they’d be worth £500K plus but if i got my hands on one it wouldn’t be a garage queen, it would be street king.
SWoll said:
TBH I think it all depends on how the whole production run is used. If the majority of them were used and abused then keeping the odd one in this kind of condition can be a good thing, otherwise they might all end up crashed/thrashed/rusted away.
Nah, you'll be crashed, thrashed and rusted away one day. Use it and abuse it.
brilliant find!
just makes me sad that such a car has never been used. i hope (yet doubt) its new owner will do such a great car some justice.
prediction: will move from 1 collector 2 another, and in say 15 years - it'll surface again with double the price tag and will move from collector to collector again. and so on and so forth.
just makes me sad that such a car has never been used. i hope (yet doubt) its new owner will do such a great car some justice.
prediction: will move from 1 collector 2 another, and in say 15 years - it'll surface again with double the price tag and will move from collector to collector again. and so on and so forth.
AndyCzech said:
959 originally sold for $250,000, according to Porsche it cost twice as much to produce.
Nevertheless sales generated around $84 million to add to their racing budget.
I'm struggling to figure out how Porsche sold 337 of these at a $250k *loss* per car and managed to *generate* $84 million profit. Nevertheless sales generated around $84 million to add to their racing budget.
Edited by AndyCzech on Thursday 20th October 14:46
I guess that's why their accountants thought that buying VW would be a quick, easy and profitable endeavor.
Although I am a Porsche fan(atic) the 959 doesn't do it for me. I've never liked the looks and always prefer my 911s to be NA and rear-wheel drive. Based purely on what I've read (as I've not had a chance to drive one) it may be quick but not a whole lot different from (say) a 996tt in pace and ability and probably feel. Unlike the F40, which seems a very different driving experience from any modern Ferrari. Or a 288 GTO, which is just gorgeous to look at.
And there is definitely something wrong with cars being bought and not used. It doesn't and shouldn't be that way. Let Porsche keep one in their museum (if one should remain undriven) but the rest should be used and maintained/repaired.
And there is definitely something wrong with cars being bought and not used. It doesn't and shouldn't be that way. Let Porsche keep one in their museum (if one should remain undriven) but the rest should be used and maintained/repaired.
Don't drive it. I'd accept that driving it would be the done thing if there were only a handful left in the world. But seriously, it's a 959, buy another and drive that to your hearts content. They don't ALL need to be driven.
Anyway, sounds like the Mexican was probably crapping himself at the thought of being seen out in a car like that. They would have kidnapped him and trashed the car. So be thankful it exists.
Jameslist proves these ultra low mileage cars aren't that unique.
Anyway, sounds like the Mexican was probably crapping himself at the thought of being seen out in a car like that. They would have kidnapped him and trashed the car. So be thankful it exists.
Jameslist proves these ultra low mileage cars aren't that unique.
foxhounduk said:
Give us an official price! I am dying to know!
I still find it amazing that this thing, back in 1986, could do 0-60mph in 3.6s and top out at 197mph+
You also get a sofa in the bonnet for some reason...
Haha! Excellent. I still find it amazing that this thing, back in 1986, could do 0-60mph in 3.6s and top out at 197mph+
You also get a sofa in the bonnet for some reason...
I would love one of these. As above, it's incredible seeing something that's 25 years old is still so unbelievably fast & accomplished next to today's supercars.
ZesPak said:
k-ink said:
You'd have one as well an an F40. They are totally opposite cars which sums up the two ways to approach a supercar.
In an ironic twist I'd say that the modern-day equivalent of the 959 isn't a porsche but a Ferrari.
I'd much rather have one of these than an F40, its just a matter of personal taste. Sport, in black please.
On another note, remember what Faldo's ex did to his wih a golf club....ouch!
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