Beschreibung:

Ex-Patrick Collection and only 5,300 miles from new 1988 PORSCHE 959 COMFORT Registration No. TBA Chassis No. WPOZZZ95ZJS900172 Engine No. 65H00240 Metallic silver with burgundy and grey leather interior Engine: flat-six cylinder, double overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder, twin KKK turbochargers, 2,849cc, 450bhp at 6,500 rpm: Gearbox: six speed manual, permanent four-wheel drive; Suspension: unequal length upper and lower A-arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar with electronically controlled height adjustment. Brakes: power-assisted self-ventilated discs with ABS. Left hand drive. The 959 is already regarded as one of the ultimate 'Supercars' ever produced and made available to the public. With only 250 having been built they are assured of their place in motoring history. First created in 1983 for the now abandoned Group B racing series, then entered in the Paris-Dakar off-road rally, which it won, the 959 was based upon the 911 Carrera, with a similar steel tub and same wheelbase, similar cockpit, but little else in common. The muscular bodywork was an all-new design intended to make maximum use of surface aerodynamics, with a rear wing incorporated into the external ducts and a number of shapes to allow controlled air through the body. Porsche managed to achieve a 0.31 drag coefficient with zero lift. Materials used include doors and lid of magnesium alloy, a nose cap of polyurethane and the remainder a combination of a fibreglass/Kevlar composite. The power comes from a highly developed version of the 911 flat-six engine with twin KKK turbochargers, twin intercoolers, four valves per cylinder and titanium con rods. The turbo operation is two stage, one permanently adding boost while the other phases in power as the revs rise above 4,000rpm. The air/water cooling system is as derived from the Le Mans-winning Group C cars having air-cooled cylinders and water-cooled heads. The four-wheel drive system is a unique and highly sophisticated arrangement providing the ultimate combination of speed and driver safety. The rear wheels are driven conventionally through a six-speed gearbox and the rear differential while the front wheels operate through a Porsche multi-plate control clutch in an oil filled chamber situated between the gearbox and the front transverse differential and the rear differential is locking. With aid of computers and wheel-mounted speed sensors the 959 can be programmed to four different driving conditions, which will alter the torque between front and rear wheels. At all times the system is able to adjust to the conditions even during cornering. Hazards such as ice during rear wheel slip will be compensated by front wheel drive. Other high-tech features include computer-controlled shock absorber suspension control; one set stiffens as speed rises whilst another lowers the car over 95mph to improve the aerodynamics. A manual over-ride is also provided. There is hydraulically assisted rack and pinion steering, ABS braking, special safety tyres with run flat capability and pressure loss sensors. With a manufacturer's quoted top speed of about 190mph and the brilliance of the Porsche technology providing supreme road-holding and safety together with comfort and style, the 959 brings the qualities of a racing car to a road driver. The car we offer here is one of just twelve 959s that were originally destined for the UK market. It was purchased new via Porsche Cars GB in Reading by the Birmingham-based 'Patrick Collection' and was subsequently collected at the Porsche factory in Stuttgart by the then curator of the museum John Ward upon return to the UK it was registered 'DOL 1'. Despite the list price of £155,000 at the time they were commanding 'black market' prices in excess of £350,000 and thus it can be regarded as somewhat surprising that they no doubt refused countless offers to prize their latest star away. The museum used the car to good effect though and its addition to the collection caused