There have been few cars in history that have inspired envy from competitors; one such car is the Porsche 959.

30 years ago, this car made headlines both laudatory and critical alike when it first arrived on the scene. Equipped with a 2.85-litre flat six engine that generates 450hp, its light body and aerodynamic features help transmit that power efficiently.

Power

The Porsche 959 was a rear-engine supercar powered by a twin-turbocharged, 2.9L (2,849cc) flat-6 engine capable of producing 444hp (331kW). Its rear wheel drive chassis was derived from that found on the 911. For aerodynamic efficiency, its body was created with aluminum, aramid and Kevlar materials shaped using wind tunnel technology.

Due to its combination of high performance materials and innovative engineering, this car was both heavy yet agile. Both front and rear suspension systems utilized double wishbones with electronically controlled dampers; this allowed Porsche to tailor it both for racing as well as road use.

In addition to having a lightweight body and chassis, the 959 was equipped with a powerful engine, advanced suspension, and race-spec tires - enabling it to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in under four seconds - and reach top speeds of 195 mph.

The engine in the Porsche 959 was originally taken from Moby Dick racing car and modified slightly for use in short-lived Porsche Indy Car project as well as other projects before being customized specifically to be tuned for its use in 959. Water-cooled four-valve cylinder heads and sequential turbocharging were instrumental in extracting massive power from this compact yet rugged engine.

The Porsche 959's engine wasn't without flaws either; it required close monitoring to stay within its power band in real-world driving conditions. Unlike the Ferrari F40 with its parallel twin-turbo system that provided mind-boggling acceleration at any speed, which required you to stay on top of its operation without risking unexpected rushes of power at corner exit or an uncontrollable tail wag when climbing undulations.

Porsche engineered its parallel turbo system to reduce lag, but driving it precisely was essential in taking full advantage of it. When the second turbo kicked in at 4500rpm, a surge forward came as if an afterburner had been engaged - like an afterburner being fired off!

Porsche decided to make its 959 available to American audiences by producing 25 "Race Versions," selling each for $295,000 each. These cars had red exteriors and dark gray cloth interiors; unlike its comfort versions, these had no air conditioning or radio but did feature four-point belts, rollover cages, and racing brake pads for added performance.

Performance

With an acceleration time of just 3.9 seconds and top speeds up to 196mph, the Porsche 959 easily outclassed other supercars at its time such as Lamborghini and Ferrari. A technological marvel thanks to its Porsche-Steur-Kupplung (PSK) four-wheel drive system that allowed drivers to vary the ratio between front and rear axle torque delivery; during acceleration up to 80% of its 370-pound-feet could be sent directly backward for maximum grip and maximum acceleration power.

State-of-the-art suspension was engineered for maximum flexibility to enable the 959 to excel at Group B racing, featuring double wishbones at each corner with coil springs and double shocks, all adjustable via knob from within the cockpit. A computer controlled adaptive system allowed riders to set ride height anywhere between 4.7 inches and 7.1 inches.

At present, few other sports cars can match the Porsche 959 for its ability to fulfill any automotive task with such ease and agility. You must experience its brilliance for yourself to truly grasp it!

As soon as you step inside the cockpit, it becomes apparent that this 911 is different. A larger steering wheel and various switches appear on the dashboard for torque-split function control and ride and shock damping settings. Even so, an experienced 911 driver should feel immediately comfortable behind the wheel of their 959 due to familiar layout and instruments which allow quick adjustments.

The Porsche 959 is an extremely forgiving car to drive, making it simple and enjoyable. On racetracks however, finesse must be used as oversteer can become an issue under extreme pressure; brute effort often results in oversteer issues.

Csaba Csere of Car and Driver described the Porsche 959 as an intoxicating experience in his 1987 review, noting its combination of race-car performance with luxury sedan comfort. Furthermore, he stated it could easily navigate rush hour traffic, jet set locations or mountain passes while remaining comfortable during a ride. Today it remains highly collectible among enthusiasts due to such few examples being produced over its history.

Technology

Although Porsche never saw his original vision for a Group B race car come to fruition, his 959 boasts plenty of innovative technology that would impress any automotive enthusiast - all-terrain tyres, hydraulically actuated suspension and anti-lock braking system to name just some examples.

Porsche developed its own proprietary software to manage the 959's all-wheel drive and electrohydraulic centre differential, which distributes power between its front and rear axles depending on conditions, enabling it to grip slippery surfaces, climb mountains and navigate steep inclines without issue.

The Porsche 959's all-terrain performance is made possible by its massive front air dam, massive rear spoiler and wide skirts crafted in a wind tunnel - features that help achieve its low drag coefficient of 0.31 which even beats out McLaren F1 or Lamborghini Diablo!

Contrary to modern rear-engined supercars, Porsche's 959 employs an unconventional naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine equipped with four-valve cylinder heads and twin sequential turbochargers - an approach which enables them to extract an astounding 444 hp out of its compact yet efficient and rugged powerplant.

As a result, the 959 can reach 60mph in less than four seconds and offers comparable acceleration compared to many contemporary hypercars and sports cars - yet with an added luxury cabin.

At the time, Porsche offered drivers of its 959 racecar an array of creature comforts - air conditioning, radio, electric windows - not usually seen on similar rival racing machines. Furthermore, Porsche offered an even lighter track-focused Sport version which stripped away luxuries like air conditioning in order to increase performance by 220lbs.

Recommissioning of the 959 is underway at Porsche Heritage and Museum. Stay tuned here for updates on how its revolutionary technology is put through its paces.

Design

Porsche designed its 959 to be both street legal and track focused, unlike many Group B cars that were non-production cars. Karosserie Baur was hired to craft its body using advanced materials like PUR RRIM polyurethane and Kevlaramid composite, before finally mounting it all onto a hot-dip galvanised steel unibody chassis.

For weight reduction, the 959 used a large rear spoiler and fiberglass-Kevlar flat undertray to lower air resistance and achieve an outstanding drag coefficient of 0.31; at that time it was considered among the best among supercars. This was particularly important when driving at speeds over 300 km/h as any aerodynamic lift may lead to instability and control issues.

The 959 was powered by a 3.3 L, flat six engine that was based on that used in Porsche's racing 911s and produced 444 hp (331 kW). Unlike most turbocharged engines of its time, Porsche's sequential twin-turbo system allowed for smooth power delivery throughout the engine speed range - unlike most turbocharged engines of that era with their abrupt on/off power characteristics.

A unique all-wheel drive system was also developed for the 959, featuring an electrohydraulic center differential to distribute power between front and rear axles depending on driving conditions. This allows full torque delivery to either axle at once, as well as locking either wheel completely if desired.

Porsche's decision to employ an aft-mounted engine and all-wheel drive was significant not only technically, but also because it set the pace for future generations of 911 models such as the 964 model introduced in 1989. This groundbreaking decision has had an indelible impact on each subsequent 911 model produced since.

Though the 959 was never designed to win Group B rallying, it remains one of Porsche's most inventive and innovative creations. Its ground-breaking technology and curvaceous body shape paved the way for future 911s as well as other sports cars like McLaren F1s. For all its shortcomings it remains an engineering marvel and an icon of German engineering.