Conceived in the early 1980’s as a four-wheel-drive Group B competitor that would showcase Porsche’s advanced automotive technology, the 959 was first displayed in ‘concept car’ form at the 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show, and despite the subsequent abandonment of the events for which it had been intended, entered limited production a couple of years later.

Two versions were offered: ‘Sport’ and ‘Komfort’, their names reflecting each model’s level of interior trim.

Representing the ultimate in automobile design, the 959 successfully adapted state-of-the art racing technology for road use, and even today its specification remains unparalleled.

At the car’s heart was a unique, 2,849cc version of the classic, six-cylinder, air-cooled ‘boxer’ engine equipped with water-cooled, double-overhead-camshaft, four-valve cylinder heads.

The latter had been developed initially for the 1981 Le Mans-winning 936 and were further refined on the even more successful 956/962 that triumphed at La Sarthe eve...