What: 1989 Porsche 959 ‘Speedster’ Color: Porsche Grand Prix White(grandprixweiß; non-metallic Uni; 908 / P5 / 9A5; Porsche) VIN: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900142 Mileage: 8,304 km, 5,160 miles Price Estimate: €1,100,000 – €1,500,000 EUR CarFax: N/A Location: RM Sotheby’s Milan Sale, May 22, 2025 Auction listing:Link
Imagine, in period, being one of the few who can afford and even attain a car as exclusive as the Porsche 959. Now, imagine you take said 959 and have it converted to a roadster. Well, it happened, and that fascinating car is headed to RM Sotheby’s upcoming Milan sale.
The conversion was performed by Karl-Heinz Feustel in 1989 to a car reportedly sold new to Jürgen Lässig, a racecar driver with a 24 Hours of Daytona victory under his belt along with a runner-up at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Upon completion, the 959 was displayed at the 1989 Essen Motor Show. Think of it as Germany’s SEMA (but with some public and press days thrown in) and you’ve got the idea. No doubt the car, built in Grand Prix White with blue interior and matching soft top, left an impression amongst those who came out for the show.
The car’s called a ‘Speedster’ and perhaps that applies. The painted A-pillar and windshield frame appear to be more 911 Cabriolet than Speedster, but it’s still incredibly unique. The exclusivity of the configuration goes up even further when you consider that the car came with a color-matched removable hardtop in a transport case, a tonneau top and spare ‘Speedster’ windscreen that makes one wonder if the conversion utilized a windshield incompatible with either the 911 Cabriolet or the Speedster of its time.
Whatever the case, it’s a very special car, one you can find more information on via the RM Sotheby’s link above.
Alright, this one’s a bit of a mystery. A semi-thorough Googling searching this car doesn’t reveal any details while the Lamborghini dealership that has it in inventory also offers no online description. Perhaps by the time you read this they will have provided us some details. If you’re reading this and no further details are offered though, that means we were unable to learn more about this highly unusual Porsche 959 as of this time.
Here’s what we can glean from the photos. The car appears to be red and may be Guards Red based on other known 959s. If it’s Guards Red, that would definitely make it rare given Porsche’s most ubiquitous red wasn’t the standard red offering, which would have bene Ruby Red.
There’s a whole lot more going on here though than red paint. Given there were so few 959s, color-matched wheels and red interior also would have been special wishes.
The seats are also worth a mention, color-matched Recaro Pole Positions. Porsche wasn’t installing Pole Positions in their cars until the 964 era, though the earliest 964s were leaving the factory at about the same time and it all would have been interchangeable. Based on the leather fitment around the harness holes on the bolsters though, it’s probably more likely this car was redone and that interior reupholstered at some point.
The car has no roll cage, so it appears to be based on a 959 Komfort.
Given it’s a 959, we reached out to Bruce Canepa at Canepa Design. Bruce is literally the author of the Show and Display rule that he got passed when importing cars for Paul Allen and Bill Gates. Today, his firm in Scotts Valley is responsible for the incredible 959 SC commissioned reimagined cars. The world of Porsche 959s isn’t that big, so we figured Bruce would know the car.
What we learned is that we’re nearly certain the car didn’t leave the factory this way, especially with the later 964-era Recaro seats. Bruce also confirmed that this car is not one of the 123 959s to date that have gone through his shop, so he’d never actually seen it in person even though several clients had approached him about the car. Whether or not the changes were done by Porsche themselves at Werk 1 Bruce wasn’t able to confirm, nor whether or not the changes were done in period.
Thanks to Bruce Canepa for further insight into the car.
Do you know more about this car? If so, please share it below in the comments or drop us a line.
What: 1988 Porsche 959 Sport Color: Porsche Grand Prix White(grandprixweiß; non-metallic Uni; 908 / P5 / 9A5; Porsche) VIN: WP0ZZZ95ZJS905016 Mileage: 3,757 miles Price Estimate: $5,500,000 – $6,500,000 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Coral Gables, FL Link: RM Sotheby’s
Rare car. Rare spec. Not tailored.
Besides silver, a white 959 isn’t especially rare. Yes, this still a Porsche 959 road car built for Group B homologation we’re talking about, so it’d be worthy in these pages anyway. However, we give it extra points for having rare specification within that space.
The color is Grand Prix White, so in the lexicon of Porsche paint colors that’s G-body vanilla. In fact, Grand Prix White and Guards Red were the only colors made available on the 959 Sport.
Notably, we love the look of the incredible 959 center lock Cup-looking magnesium 5-spokes also color-matched to Grand Prix White. The latter is why we call it “white on white” in the title, a styling cue that is oh-so-quintessentially 80s and arguably consistent with the Porsche’s 1983 Gruppe B prototype concept car. So, while vanilla, it’s still a great look.
Also, this is a 959 Sport, is a whole lot more rare than the 959 Komfort. Of the 292 production 959s constructed, only 29 of them were built to Sport specification. Differences for the Sport included full leather-wrapped roll cage with four-point racing harnesses and cloth upholstery. As weight savings measures, the Sport also saw the deletion the Komfort’s adaptive suspension that was replaced with conventional coilovers. Air conditioning and stereo were also deleted. All told, these deletions shaved some 220 lbs. off the weight of the Komfort.
A detail worth calling out is the car’s seats. In this pre-964 era, Porsche wasn’t yet fitting Recaro Pole Position shell seats from the factory as they would in the Carrera RS and many, many more. Thus, the 959 Sport uses Porsche’s familiar folding bucket in big bolster configuration. Where it differs is pass-throughs for racing harnesses. It’s also got unique Sport-specification fabric seating surfaces stitched with the same unique gradient striping one would see in a 959 Komfort’s leather seats.
The car you see here is the 16th 959 Sport built. Briefly sold directly to an American associated with a privateer Porsche racing team, the car’s first owner quickly sold it off once he learned he’d have no luck importing the car to America. Even still, he didn’t do it before renting out a track for a day and having some fun with it.
The car would spend most of the rest of its life thus far in Switzerland, before going to Italy in 2015 then America after that.
What: 1988 Porsche 959 SC Reimagined by Canepa Color:Emerald Green Metallic (smaragdgrünmetallic; metallic Uni; 264 / 249; Porsche) VIN: WP0ZZZ95ZJS900214 Mileage: 38,500 kilometers (~23,923 miles) at restoration, shows 7,503 km now Price Estimate: $400,000 to $600,000 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: RM Sotheby’s 2025 Miami Auction, Coral Gables, FL Listing: Link
Reimagining any car to the exacting specification is an impressive thing, though beginning with one of 292 legendary Porsche 959s is a whole other level of commitment. That’s where Canepa comes in, with their reimagining of these Group B homologation specials into what they call a 959 SC (SC standing for Super Carrera).
Worth noting, Bruce Canepa and his firm aren’t just incredibly talented fans of the brand or model. It was none other than Bruce Canepa who was contracted by Paul Allen and later Bill Gates to get the first 959s imported legally into the USA. That effort would result into the legendary “Show and Display” exemption rule. During that time, Canepa taught himself capabilities and familiarity with the 959 that may have been second only to Porsche themselves. Bruce was the go-to for the 959, and his learnings over decades brought him to his 2015 launching of the 959 SC program where a client could bring a 959 for a recommissioning and reengineering that would raise performance as well as luxury.
RM goes into great detail in their listing:
“Whereas the original 959 left the factory with 444 horsepower from its 2.85-liter sequential-turbo flat-six, the 959 SC Reimagined by Canepa uses upgraded BorgWarner turbos (with internal wastegate) in a parallel twin-turbo system and new engine management based around MoTec hardware to nearly double that figure to 825 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque.
“Standard 959 engine internals give way to forged pistons, Pankl titanium connecting rods, and other upgraded componentry. The camshafts have been revised to offer improved low-end torque and mid-range power, and the valve train has been entirely redesigned for better responses. Individual coil packs supplant the original ignition distributor, while completely revised intake systems, equal-length, tungsten-ceramic-coated exhaust headers, and a two-stage exhaust system of stainless steel and titanium give the new engine sufficient bark to match its bite.
“As for the suspension, by upgrading the original 959 Sport coilover system with custom valved shocks from Penske and titanium springs, the 959 SC’s handling is greatly improved at all speeds, along with the ride quality on all types of surfaces. Canepa also produced new cast-magnesium 18-inch hollow-spoke wheels that take full advantage of the latest advancements in production and materials technology while staying true to Porsche’s original 959 design.
“More than 4,000 hours go into each build and over 3,000 individual pieces get restored, rebuilt, or upgraded. Nothing is left unchecked or untouched on every 959 that Canepa reimagines; they are completely disassembled, and entirely rebuilt as better-than-new machines. Color combinations and final touches are tailor-made to each client’s specifications in close collaboration with Bruce Canepa. Those fortunate enough to secure a 959 SC order slot can choose from over 200 Porsche factory and “paint-to-sample” colors. Each example is one of one, with production set at just 50 in total.“
959 SC 003
This particular 959, 959 SC 003, began life as one of 207 959 “Komfort” models, was originally finished in Silver Metallic over grey leather and delivered to its first owner in Monaco. It was later sold to Japan where it was displayed in a private Tokyo museum, remaining there until it was imported into the U.S.A. in 2016.
At that point, it was completely disassembled in order to begin its restoration and 959 SC augmentation.
The car is was painted paint-to-sample Emerald Green Metallic, matched tastefully with Dark Green leather. It features 18-inch variants of the stock 959 wheel design , these featured in Canepa’s proprietary graphite finish that matches the appearance of oxidized magnesium.
Since the completion of its conversion, 003 has been displayed at Luftgekühlt 4 in 2017, Rennsport Reunion VI in 2018, and the 2022 Velocity Invitational. It returned to Canepa in December 2024 for an engine-out service and other work totaling $70,000.
What: 1988 Porsche 959 SC Reimagined by Canepa Color: Irish Green (irischgrün; Y78; Porsche) VIN: WPOZZZ95ZHS900053 Mileage: 2,130 miles Price at Time of this Writing: Available Upon Request CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Undisclosed Dealer listing:Link
Why we love it: There’s remastered, and then there’s a Porsche 959 SC reimagined by Canepa. The Group B homologated Porsche 959 is already the most forbidden of fruit and the most exotic of the exotic from the so-called “Rad” era. Now throw in a tailored rebuild that Bruce Canepa’s Northern California firm has been building over recent years and you have the makings of a perfect thing. And, did we mention Irish Green over Tobacco brown leather?
This car is so good, we’re going to include the full Broad Arrow description below. However, you should definitely check out more photos and, of course, call for the price if you are interested. It is a rare thing indeed when these cars come available in the market in any form, but particularly rare and exclusive when such a beautiful build as this from Canepa also makes a showing.
BEGIN DESCRIPTION [Source: Broad Arrow]
In the early 1980s, Porsche was keen to prove its technological superiority learned throughout the previous decade’s racing efforts. The “Gruppe B” Study was created to display these advancements with development underway as soon as 1981. Turbocharging, first used on the 917/10 Can-Am racing car in 1972, made its way three years later to the first turbocharged road-going Porsche – the 1975 911 Turbo – and from it, to the 959. It was a similar story with engine cooling. Through its racing program, Porsche had reached a thermal limit with the air-cooled flat-six. Water-cooled heads appeared on the all-conquering Porsche 956 endurance racing prototype in 1982 and, just a few years later, the 959 was the beneficiary of these successful experiments. Height-adjustable suspension, “intelligent” all-wheel drive, tire pressure monitoring, ABS, composite body construction – all commonplace in today’s supercars – were decades ahead of their time when applied to the 959.
Fewer than 300 of these halo supercars were built by the end of the decade, with each example estimated to cost Porsche double its 420,000 DM price tag to produce. Faced with these substantial losses, Porsche did not see fit to modify and test the 959 to comply with NHTSA safety standards, and as a result, it was not road-legal in the United States. While a number of 959s slowly trickled into the U.S., the model was the prime example of the type of car petitioned by Canepa and others to include in the “Show or Display” rule, passed in August 1999. The rule allowed for the private importation and limited road use of certain vehicles deemed to meet a standard of “historical or technological significance,” famously enabling Bill Gates to drive his 959 after it was stored by the Customs Service for 13 years. In the decades since the rule was passed, Canepa’s ceaseless obsession with extracting as much performance as possible out of the 959 has culminated in a series of refinements and performance upgrades developed by Canepa for the standard Porsche 959, officially launched in 2015 as the “959 SC Reimagined by Canepa” program.
Drawing on his many years and thousands of miles driving the 959, Canepa developed a ground-up approach to reconditioning, and in some areas outright re-engineering, every element of Porsche’s already superb creation. Starting with only the most original examples, the talented team at Canepa’s Scotts Valley, California headquarters begin by carefully disassembling the entire car to the bare steel unibody. At this stage, all of the body panels are stripped, primed, and block sanded to perfection in preparation for paintwork. Canepa’s unrelenting attention to detail can be observed on the driver’s side quarter panel, where the auxiliary door for the hydraulic suspension oil on 959 Komfort models is deleted by molding a new composite body panel. Clients are able to choose from Porsche’s own factory Paint-to-Sample palette of over 150 unique shades, or to create a custom color of their choice. The virtually limitless personalization offered by Canepa’s service extends to the cabin, where over 400 hours are spent hand stitching an entirely new leather interior with countless colors and stitching options from Porsche’s own factory offerings. Swaths of leather trim every element of the interior – including components that were not originally upholstered from the factory – while numerous upgrades ensure a 21st century driving experience. These include Porsche’s Classic Radio Navigation system connected to an upgraded six-speaker system, LED cabin and gauge lighting, and a switch located on the center console to control the two-stage sport exhaust system.
While a one-of-a-kind appearance is being crafted by Canepa’s in-house paint and upholstery departments, over 4,000 individual mechanical components are inspected, refinished, rebuilt, or upgraded by technicians with over two decades of experience working with the Porsche 959. Quite literally nothing goes untouched, with every bolt, clamp, and fitting being stripped and replated in a variety of coatings such as zinc, anodizing, powder coating, and Teflon. Starting with the suspension, the 959 SC opts for the weight savings and simplicity of the coil-over spring and shock assembly found on the factory 959 Sport specification – thus eliminating the adjustable ride height and its related hydraulic system on Komfort models. In its place, the Canepa suspension upgrade employs custom-valved Penske shock absorbers with titanium coil-over springs for a one-inch lower ride height while still providing ample ground clearance for real world driving. All four corners also feature specially developed cryo-treated semi-floating brake rotors with upgraded brake pads for improved stopping power. Housing these improved brakes are 18-inch wheels custom-designed by Canepa in conjunction with Michelin to mirror the 18-inch wheels originally featured on the Gruppe B concept car. While radial tire technology in the 1980s forced Porsche to revert to a 17 inch wheel for production 959s, Canepa’s wheel upgrade allows 959 SC owners to take advantage of the grip and comfort offered by the modern tire technology while retaining the timeless look of the original 959.
Initially developed for Group B class homologation and tracing its lineage back to the powerplants in the 936, 956, and 962 sports prototypes, the 959’s 2.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six was designed to handle significantly more power than the 444 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque it left the factory with. After three decades spent optimizing the existing engine components as well as engineering new ones, the 959 SC’s flat-six now develops a staggering 800+ horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque with Canepa’s Stage III upgrades. These encompass Pankl titanium connecting rods, a blueprinted and upgraded valvetrain assembly, upgraded camshafts and camshaft housings, tungsten ceramic coated headers and two-stage stainless/titanium exhaust system, a MoTec engine management system and wiring harnesses, and two state-of-the-art BorgWarner turbochargers. The robust six-speed manual transmission is also treated to a full rebuild as well as REM isotropic super finishing on gears and shafts and an upgraded clutch assembly to ensure a reliable and extremely capable package. The result is otherworldly, modern-supercar performance, including zero to 60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds and a top speed in excess of 230 miles per hour.
Limited to a mere 50 examples in total, only the most original, low-mileage candidates are considered for recommissioning to 959 SC specification. Chassis number 053, one of just 266 959 Komforts built, was ideal then, with less than 8,302 kilometers at the time of its disassembly. Originally finished in Polar Silver Metallic with a Dark Grey Metallic leather interior, this highly original, low-mileage 959 was submitted to Canepa in 2019 for its comprehensive transformation to 959 SC specification. After over 4,000 restoration hours it was completed four years later in 2022 and was given Canepa 959 SC serial number “009.” Invoices and photos of the comprehensive Canepa work are on file. Today, the Porsche is resplendent in the lightly modified version of the Porsche factory shade of Irish Green, noted by the consignor as “Irish Green Plus,” containing less yellow than the standard shade. The paint to sample exterior color is protected with full ceramic coated paint protection file (PPF). The exceptional exterior color choice is accentuated by the proprietary gun-metal grey finish of its 18 inch wheels. Inside, the cabin is trimmed wall-to-wall in exquisite bespoke tobacco brown leather and matching cut-pile velour carpeting, further complemented by matching, custom-embossed tool pouches and owner’s books covers. Now fitted with instrumentation in miles, the odometer displays just 2,130 total miles since reimagining at the time of cataloging.
This Porsche 959 SC Reimagined by Canepa presents the rare opportunity to acquire one of the most exclusive and earth-shattering supercars of the 1980s – so advanced that other manufacturers continue to view it as the benchmark for technology, engineering, and performance decades after production ceased. Rarer still is the chance to experience the full potential of the 959 platform achieved through decades of research and development to bring the legendary model into the 21st century.
