THE PORSCHE 959: THE FUTURE, BUILT EARLY

1986 · Porsche · 6 min

A 450 hp all-wheel-drive supercar with technology so advanced it was years ahead of its time.

THE TECHNOLOGY

The 959 was a rolling laboratory: a twin-turbo flat-six, computer-controlled all-wheel drive, adjustable ride height, and a sequential turbo setup that predated modern active systems.

THE MACHINE

With 450 hp and a top speed near 317 km/h, the 959 was briefly the fastest road car in the world — and later dominated the Paris-Dakar rally in modified form.

Timeline

  • 1983 — THE IDEA: 959 concept shown.
  • 1986 — THE MACHINE: Series production begins.
  • 1993 — THE LEGACY: Tech lives on in the 911.