The Porsche 959 is among the most vital fashions for the German sports activities automotive maker. However this explicit instance builds upon that legacy with an enchanting story. Rigorously reimagined, this 1987 Porsche 959 ‘Speedster’ was born from the imaginative and prescient of grasp craftsman Karl-Heinz Feustel and is now headed for public sale at RM Sotheby’s Milan sale in Might.
Initially, a ‘Komfort’ mannequin was completed in silver metallic, CHASSIS NO.WP0ZZZ95ZHS900142 rolled off the manufacturing line in Stuttgart, again in November 1987, and was reportedly delivered to racing driver Jürgen Lässig, who has victories on the 24 Hours of Daytona and a podium end at Le Mans to his identify. After an accident on the autobahn in 1988, the unique automotive was left broken, however fortunately, this wasn’t the top for this 959. It was then acquired by Feustel, who determined to show tragedy into alternative by remodeling this 959 into one thing really bespoke.
After 4,000 painstaking hours at a small workshop close to Cologne in Germany, the transformation was full, and the Porsche 959 ‘Speedster’ was born. First proven on the 1989 Frankfurt Worldwide Motor Present after which on the Essen Motor Present, the 959 Speedster now featured a Grand Prix White exterior, set in opposition to a vibrant blue leather-based inside, full with an electronically operated blue delicate high, and a hardtop for extra inclement climate. Moreover, the automotive additionally got here with a tonneau cowl, spare door mirrors, homeowners’ guides, and a spare ‘speedster’ windscreen. Feustel wished $1.2 million for this distinctive construct, and it was acquired by a German collector in 1990.
However right here’s why a ‘959 Speedster’ is so particular. Porsche itself by no means made one, making Fuestel’s creation an outlier. The 959 and Speedster each carry numerous weight within the Porsche world, and their coming collectively is a giant deal. Developed for the sun-kissed skies of California, Speedsters are light-weight, low-slung sports activities automobiles and command a premium over commonplace Porsche convertibles. These fashions embody the spirit of purist open-top driving and may hint their roots to the 356 and subsequently the 911 Speedster with their distinctive double-bubble humps.
As for the 959, it was born as a homologation particular developed within the early Eighties to compete in Group B rallying. A groundbreaking automotive that was properly forward of its time, it launched applied sciences by no means seen in a manufacturing automotive earlier than: assume all-wheel drive, lively suspension, and an electronically managed chassis system. 1986 was a monumental yr for the Porsche 959, because it not solely gained the gruelling Paris-Dakar rally however, on the pavement, it additionally turned the quickest street-legal automotive on the planet, with a high pace of 197 mph. The 959 laid the inspiration for the German model’s custom of halo automobiles and future flagships just like the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder.
Porsche solely constructed 292 examples of the 959, cementing its exclusivity and desirability. Properly-maintained automobiles routinely command costs within the seven figures on the collector automotive market. The Porsche 959 Speedster, seen right here, has been in personal possession since 2008 and was lately serviced by ADR Motorsport in March 2025. Whereas each Porsche 959 is a collectible, this one-off creation takes it a step additional. Anticipated to fetch €1,100,000 – €1,500,000 EUR ($1.2-1.7 million), the 959 Speedster is a real unicorn, bringing two distinctive components from the Porsche world collectively.
Picture Supply: RM Sotheby’s
