Rare Air: 1985 Porsche 959 Sport Prototype Up for Sale

Only F-series Porsche 959 Sport prototype in private hands is available for sale but if you have to ask how much you can’t afford it.

The Porsche 959 was one of the most technologically advanced cars the world had ever seen when it was first released. It set the tone for supercars for decades to come. Some technology we take for granted today such as a tire pressure monitoring system was debuted in the 959. Even a ‘run of the mill’ Porsche 959 is a valuable and iconic car today. But what we have here is not a run of the mill 959. This is an extremely rare F-series sport prototype car. Only three were ever made. This one is believed to be the only one on earth to remain in private hands. And now those hands can be yours. Girardo & Co. have it listed for sale. So, assuming your income matches the GDP of a small nation you may be able to buy this piece of history.

The Porsche 959 may have been advanced for its day. But it still used the much loved air-cooled flat six. And the twin turbochargers helped bump output up to about 450 horsepower which 35 years ago was a massive number. Another massive number was the 200-mph top speed. That is a number that few cars even today can match. At one time the Porsche 959 was the fastest production car in the world. A car with that kind of history is obviously quite valuable. But the car here is not only a one-of-one example. But it is also one of the quickest thanks to reduced weight courtesy of ditching the heavy and complicated adjustable suspension.

F-Series

There were three series of pre-production Porsche 959 cars. The earliest of these was the F-series that is for sale here. These were basically 930 Turbo chassis cars that were transformed into the 959. Of this series only three served as prototypes for the 959 ‘Sport’ version of the car. The sport version ditched the standard car’s adjustable suspension, air-conditioning, central-locking system and rear seats, and other items. It was the quickest of the 959s. These were tested extensively and pushed hard during development. When done they were either destroyed or went back to the factory.

Porsche 959 Sport Prototype Escape

So how did this car escape the clutches of the factory? Legend has it that the car was gifted to Vasek Polak in exchange for his help in developing the car. But the gift came with a stipulation. It was never to be driven, just displayed. Porsche was so serious about this that they delivered the car without keys. After Polak passed away in 1997 the car was offered for sale in Europe. The car was restored and traded hands a couple times among collectors.

For Sale

The car is currently located in England and offered for sale at a cost of the ominous sounding ‘Price Upon Application.’ It is not uncommon for a top condition 959 production car to sell for over $2 million. How much will a one-of-one 959 Sport Prototype go for? Well, it is not going to be cheap. But if you have the means and are a fan of the Porsche 959 this might be your only chance to acquire the rarest one of all.

Photos: Girardo & Co.

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.