Fastest Super Sports Car in 1985: Porsche 959
The Porsche 959, a groundbreaking sports car, first made its world debut in September 1985, setting the stage as the fastest series sports car for the road. This iconic vehicle was unveiled at the Frankfurt IAA, breaking several sound barriers, most notably the seemingly insurmountable 300 km/h mark.
In 1983, the Porsche 959 made its world premiere as a "Group B" prototype at the Frankfurt IAA, with 200 customer orders for the road version of the 959 required for Group B homologation. The series version of the Porsche 959 made its world premiere at the IAA in Frankfurt in September 1985, boasting a top speed of "over 315 km/h" and an acceleration time of 3.9 seconds for the sprint to 100 km/h.
The Porsche 959 was not just a fast car; it was a technology carrier that the sports car world had not seen before. It was an all-wheel-drive car with electronic all-wheel drive and plenty of motorsport technology. One of its most notable features was a novel tire pressure monitoring system on magnesium wheels, a milestone in safety technology.
In 1982, Porsche launched the development project 959 for the rally Group B, while the Lamborghini Countach LP 500 S went into series production with a 4.8-liter engine, claimed to reach a top speed of 300 km/h. However, it was the Porsche 959 that truly dominated the racing scene. In 1984, Porsche started the Paris-Dakar rally with three 911 4x4 vehicles, which finished in 1st, 2nd, and 26th place. In 1986, Porsche 959s took the top three spots at the Paris-Dakar Rally, now with the 959's engine but detuned for African fuel quality.
The Porsche 959 was a limited edition of 292 units, all of which were sold out before production started. Used ones were traded at a premium. The Porsche 959 was popular among famous personalities like Herbert von Karajan, Justus Franz, Falco, Spanish King Juan Carlos, and a sheikh from Qatar.
In 1992, eight Porsche 959s were produced from remaining parts with improved suspension and modified shock absorbers. In 1988, Porsche introduced the 959 Sport, a 29-unit series with up to 379 kW/515 PS and a top speed of 339 km/h.
In 1971, Lamborghini targeted the 300 km/h mark with the prototype of the Lamborghini Countach, LP 500, at the Geneva Motor Show. However, it was the Porsche 959 that eventually became the fastest series car in the world in its "Sport" version with a speed of 339 km/h.
In 1998, the US "Show & Display" law allowed the import and limited use (up to 2500 miles per year) of significant vehicles like the Porsche 959, which previously lacked North American homologation.
The Porsche 959, built from a crashed car and shown by Düsseldorf firm Auto Becker at the Frankfurt IAA in 1989, is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of its creators. It was feared by Ferrari and Lamborghini drivers due to its performance, and its legacy continues to inspire sports car enthusiasts to this day.
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