PORSCHE

Nick Heidfeld ex-Formula 1 happy with his exclusive restored Porsche 959 S

Porsche Classic carried out a factory restoration on a very unusual model: a Porsche 959 S of which only 29 examples were made. In addition, the car that appears in the images belongs to former Formula 1 driver Nick Heidfeld.

Whether for its high power, acceleration, top speed or original price, car enthusiasts of the 80s and 90s will undoubtedly remember the Porsche 959 as one of the most important models of that era. A super sports car with a top speed of 315 km/h, of which Porsche made just 292 examples. Former racing driver Nick Heidfeld owns the even more exclusive Sport version, of which only 29 were built. It is more powerful, delivers 515 hp and reaches a top speed of 339 km/h. And this collector's piece has another record breaking figure: its low mileage. Heidfeld's 959 S had only driven 4,183 kilometers when it was brought to the Porsche Classic in the summer of 2017.

Although it was barely used, this 959 was already in need of a major technical overhaul: “If such a technologically innovative car is not driven regularly, damage from being stopped is inevitable”, says Uwe Makrutzki, Director of Factory Restoration at Porsche Classic. “It is necessary to completely overhaul the propulsion system and chassis. Experience has shown that any attempt to save work ends up causing problems in the end.”

Like all owners of a classic Porsche, those who own a 959 can benefit from the unique experience and tools of this department, fully integrated into the company. When production of the super sports car came to an end, Porsche Classic took over the maintenance and diagnostics tools for all areas of the factory. Added to this is a great experience with this very exclusive model: “Almost all 959s have been with us at least once in their lives”, comments Makrutzki. “So we have a lot of practice. However, due to the sheer complexity of the technology, a review of a 959 is always a very special and wonderful mission.” In the case of Heidfeld's 959 S, the diagnosis revealed, among other things, that the engine management system had been modified. After consulting the owner, Porsche Classic personnel restored the Motronic unit to its original state.

A high-tech legend...In December 2021, the former Formula 1 driver's 959 S was ready to hit the road again. Heidfeld said: “I've had the privilege of driving many high-performance cars, but this high-tech legend is something special to me. In the late 1980s, I was a teenage car aficionado and for me this Porsche was always extraordinary. At that time, the 959 was the fastest production car in the world, and by far the most advanced. That is why, even today, it is not driven like a car from 30 years ago, but like a much more modern vehicle.”

In order for the repair to be a long-term success, Makrutzki advises carrying out regular departures: “Roading around 100 kilometers on different types of roads at least once a month protects you from damage due to immobility. This was also borne out by our customer feedback.” The now restored 959 S was manufactured in 1987 to the following specifications:

Porsche 959 S

Length/width/height (mm) 4,260/1,840/1,240

Distance between axles (mm) 2,272

Weight in running order (kg DIN) 1,350

6 cylinder boxer engine

Transmission All-wheel drive

6-speed manual gearbox

Engine capacity (c.c.) 2,848

Maximum power (CV - kW / rpm) 515 - 379 / 6,900

Maximum torque (Nm / rpm) 561 / 6,500

Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h (s) 3.7

Maximum speed (km/h) 339

Base price in 1987 (German marks / euros approx.) 420,000 / 210,000

About the Porsche 959...For many car connoisseurs, the 959 is one of the most fascinating sports cars of the last century. In 1983, Porsche presented the 'Gruppe B' prototype at the Frankfurt Motor Show, designed to be homologated in that spectacular rally category. At the 1986 Paris-Dakar, all three 959s finished the race in first, second and sixth place. The circuit version, the 961, finished seventh at the 1986 edition of Le Mans, winning the IMSA/GTX class.

The production model was presented at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show. Among its innovations were adjustable and speed-sensitive dampers, self-levelling suspension, electronically controlled variable all-wheel drive with program selection, anti-lock brakes, a control system tire pressure and an aerodynamically optimized bodywork (Cx 0.31). This bodywork had elements from competition and aeronautics: some external panels were made of material composed of epoxy resin reinforced with Kevlar and fiberglass, the front spoiler was made of integral polyurethane foam, the doors and the hood were made of an alloy aluminum special.

The 959 was the first production car with a boxer engine equipped with two turbochargers working in sequence, which reduced the response delay. Titanium connecting rods made the oscillating masses lighter. The cylinders were air-cooled, as was customary at Porsche at that time, but the four-valve-per-cylinder cylinder heads were water-cooled. For better heat dissipation, the exhaust valves were filled with sodium.

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