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I have been wanting to write about this car for a while. My dad mentioned that top gear included it in an episode with the Ferrari f40. That spurred me to do a little research and here is what I came up with.
The 959 originally started as Porsche's way to get into the rally car scene. It was built as a light weight, twin turbo, all wheel drive car with a total of 444hp. Here are more stats.
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The car was revolutionary because it was one of the first refined super cars. Impractical, uncomfortable, extremely fragile, and flamboyant had been the theme of super cars of the past. Just look at the Lamborghini Countach .
The 959 changed things though. I brought a new level of technological refinement to the table which allowed it to do things many super cars never could, like hit a top speed of 196mph. (Although that was quickly surpassed by Ferrari). It also had abs, adjustable suspension, and tire pressure sensors.
But Porsche did more than just play in the mud. Porsche decided to sell it to the public and by decide I mean they picked lucky millionaires/billionaires to buy the car from them. I say billionaires because one of the first people in the U.S. to buy a 959 was Bill Gates, although he may not have been in the 10 digits then. The issue was that Porsche refused to crash the 959 for U.S. safety standards because of the low production and high value of the car.
This article outlines the battle that enthusiasts like Gates had to undertake to get the 959 legally on U.S. soil. Loop holes opened up after lobbying and millionaire funded legal disputes. Eventually the government allowed the 959 to land on U.S. soil as long each was cleared by the EPA before being driven. Also U.S. import laws exempt cars over certain ages from having to go through all of the modern regulations so the 959 probably has an even easier route into the country now. Again this car can only be registered as a show car though and can be driven only a few thousand miles a year. But at a price tag of a $225 million who really drives these cars anyways. Let me get a ride if you d0!!!
