When Porsche 959 first showed up at the 1983 Frankfurt auto show, it changed everything. By the time it hit production in 1985, it had already set a new standard. It was fast, sure, but it was also reliable, comfortable, and packed with technology no one had seen before. This wasn’t about beating Ferrari or Lamborghini to the title of the fastest car. Porsche had a different mission. Helmuth Bott, the man behind the 911, led a team with no budget limits. Their job? To build the most advanced supercar ever. And they did just that. The 959 was full of surprises. It came with adjustable suspension, intelligent four-wheel drive, and a body made from Kevlar composite and aluminum. It even had hollow-spoke magnesium wheels to keep the weight down. Today, these features are common, but back then, they were revolutionary. Pushing the limits of technology wasn’t cheap. Porsche poured so much money into the 959 that it nearly went broke. Even with a price tag of 420,000 DM (around $300,000 USD), the company lost half its cost on every car. Only 292 were sold, but they were enough to secure its legacy. Bruce Canepa knows more about the 959 than just about anyone else in North America. In 1987, Microsoft’s Paul Allen bought one from him. After seeing Allen’s car, Bill Gates wanted one too. Canepa made it happen. Now, his 1988 Porsche 959 SC is up for auction at RM Sotheby's. Read More BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 Honors Valentino Rossi with 92 Cars at $155k Bringing the Porsche 959 to America The Porsche 959 was off-limits. When it launched in the 1980s, strict US safety and emissions rules kept it out of the country. American enthusiasts could only admire it from afar, knowing they might never get the chance to own one. That changed in 1999, thanks to Bruce Canepa. He fought to change US laws, playing a key role in passing the “Show or Display” exemption rule. This law allowed historically significant cars, like the 959, to be imported and driven on American roads under specific conditions. It was a big win, but it was only the beginning. Getting the car into the country was one thing. Making it street-legal was another. The original 959 didn’t meet US emissions standards. So, Canepa went back to the drawing board. He developed the “Gen 1” upgrade—a 580-horsepower engine that not only met federal and state emissions requirements but also kept the car’s legendary performance intact. It was no small feat, but Canepa knew what he was doing. Over the next 20 years, Canepa drove the 959 himself, learned from every mile, and kept refining his upgrades. It was about perfecting every detail to make the 959 even better. In 2015, his hard work paid off with the launch of the 959 SC program. This was a complete reengineering, designed to outperform anything Porsche had built back in the 80s. The result was stunning. The 959 SC Reimagined by Canepa packed 825 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque, nearly double the original. He swapped the sequential turbo setup for a more powerful parallel twin-turbo system with upgraded BorgWarner turbos and MoTec engine management. It wasn’t just about speed; it was about control and precision. The Life of Porsche 959 SC “003” This 1988 Porsche 959 started its journey as one of just 207 “Komfort” models ever made. It was first delivered to Monte Carlo, finished in Silver Metallic with gray leather inside. After some time in Monte Carlo, it moved to Japan, where it became a display piece in a private museum in Tokyo. It sat there for years, untouched and preserved, before making its way to the United States in September 2016. By then, it had fewer than 38,500 kilometers on the clock, or about 23,923 miles. That’s when Bruce Canepa got involved. He discreetly offered the car to one of his clients as “003” before starting its transformation. Canepa completely disassembled the 959, piece by piece, and rebuilt it into something special—the 959 SC “003.” Read More Triple Eight Ditching Chevy for Ford in 2026 Supercars Season The car was repainted in a custom shade of Emerald Green, the only 959 SC to wear this colour. Inside, it was fitted with plush Dark Green leather, creating a look as unique as the car itself. The 18-inch wheels were given Canepa’s own graphite finish, inspired by the oxidized magnesium wheels on old Porsche racecars. Canepa’s goal wasn’t just to make it look good. Every change was designed to appear as if it came straight from the Porsche factory. Only the most die-hard Porsche fans would spot the differences, and that’s exactly how Canepa wanted it. Since its rebirth, “003” has been shown at some of the most prestigious Porsche events, including Luftgekühlt 4 in 2017, Rennsport Reunion VI in 2018, and the 2022 Velocity Invitational. But Canepa doesn’t just build cars and walk away. About 18 months before December 2024, “003” received $172,000 worth of upgrades to bring it up to the latest 959 SC specification. Then, in December 2024, it went back to Canepa for a full engine-out service and other maintenance, costing nearly $70,000. The list was long: engine refurbishments, new oxygen sensors, ignition coils, hydraulic valve lifters, fluid replacements, suspension adjustments, and a fully upgraded air-conditioning system. Invoices for all this work are on file, proof of the meticulous care and attention Canepa puts into his builds. And with its one-of-a-kind Emerald Green paint and custom interior, this 959 SC is truly one of one. This time capsule is set to hit the auction block at RM Sotheby’s in Miami on February 28. It’s expected to sell for $3,000,000 to $3,500,000 at auction, and it’s easy to see why. Source: RM Sotheby's
