Conceived under the direction of Porsche chief engineer Helmuth Bott, the 959 began life as an attempt to explore the ultimate potential of the 911 platform while simultaneously creating a car capable of competing under the formidable Group B regulations.

The resulting Gruppe B concept was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1983, introducing a shape that remained unmistakably Porsche while concealing an extraordinary concentration of new technology beneath its composite bodywork.