Known as the F9, the car has rough edges and is lighter than most 959s, giving it the performance of a modern supercar.
April 16, 2023 at 12:05 a.m. ET
In the late 1980s, an epic supercar battle raged between the Ferrari F40 and the Porsche 959. With analogue rawness, the F40 squared off against the computer-controlled 959 on the road, the track, and in games like The Duel: Test Drive II. The Ferrari was considered more performance-oriented than the Porsche. However, that equation changed with the 959 Sport.
Henry Catchpole recently had the opportunity to drive a Porsche 959 Sport for an episode of The Driver’s Seat. Known as the F9, it is one of the first prototypes of the 959 and arguably one of the fastest 959s ever built. Most 959 Sports are around 100 kilograms, or about 220 pounds, lighter than the 959 Comforts, but it is speculated that the F9 is 200 kilograms lighter, equivalent to 440 pounds.
In addition to the lighter curb weight, the 959 Sport received a more powerful version of the twin-turbo flat-six that saw a power increase from 450 hp to 508 hp. Equipped with all-wheel drive, the performance was amazing even by today’s standards, including a 0 to 60 mph time in 3.6 seconds and acceleration to 100 mph in just 8.3 seconds.
As a prototype, F9 is a bit rough around the edges. It has been used to test transmissions in climates as diverse as Sweden and Algeria. It lacks the stock tailpipes of the 959 and uses standard downpipes that look like the twin exhausts of a classic muscle car. And there are about a dozen other minor differences, including a differently shaped fender, missing headlight washers, and some obviously hand-made parts.
Overall, the rough edges add character. Still, it’s a complete car that can easily be taken for granted given its good performance when driving. What is amazing, however, is that the 959 has competed in a variety of events including the Paris Dakar Rally and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
F9 was recently put up for sale at Girardo & Co at an undisclosed price. Regular Porsche 959s rarely come for sale, and when they do, they fetch between $1.5 million and $2.0 million. Special designs such as surviving prototypes bring significantly more money. And since the car is said to be the fastest 959 to leave the factory, the F9 is very special indeed.
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