One to Buy: 1 of 1 ex-Peter Lovett 570bhp 1989 Porsche 959 Sport
For those customers that wanted something even more formidable than the regular Comfort-spec. 959, Porsche offered a rarely seen Sport variant.
At the heart of the 959 Sport was a 2.85-litre Flat 6 uprated with modified turbos that took the horsepower rating from 450bhp to 508bhp at an unchanged 6500rpm. Peak torque was also improved with 414lb-ft on tap at 6450rpm compared to 369lb-ft at 5000rpm for the Comfort version.
In addition, conventional suspension replaced the variable dampers and electronic ride height system normally fitted, leather seat upholstery was switched to fabric and the air-con, electric windows, electric mirrors, central locking and rear seats were deleted. A leather-covered roll cage was an option.
Thanks to these weight-saving measures, 100kg was removed and the Sport tipped the scales at just 1250kg. Top speed rose from 197mph to 211mph and the 0-62mph time dropped from 3.9 to 3.7 seconds.
Just 29 examples of the 959 Sport were completed by Porsche, the last of which (chassis WPOZZZ95ZJS905029) is currently on offer at the L’Art de l’Automobile showroom in Paris.
Completed on July 3rd 1989 and dispatched to the UK a day later, ‘905029’ was configured by its first owner, Peter Lovett of the Dick Lovett car dealing family, with Indian Red paint, white wheels, a roll cage and electric windows. Uniquely, it was also equipped with a trick Bosch Motronic engine management system that took the power output to 570bhp!
Today, this one-of-one 959 Sport is presented in superb original condition throughout having covered just 20,500km from new.
Reprinted below is L’Art de l’Automobile’s description:
Options:
Indian red
Fabric interior in three shades of gray
White rims
Autoflug harness
Electric windows
Dark gray roll cage
Upgraded turbochargers
Special Bosch Motronic engine management system
Information:
Completed 03/07/89
20,500 km
Competition condition
Never damaged
Low mileage
Clear and complete history
Matching colors, matching numbers
The last of 29 Porsche 959 Sport
Service logbook, user manual, original accessories
Special and unique order with engine pushed to 570 horsepower by the factory
Monitoring and maintenance:
04/07/1989 - delivery by Porsche Stuttgart
02/10/1992 at 1,474 miles by Porsche GB
18/11/1993 at 1,630 miles by Porsche GB
05/04/1995 at 1,727 miles by Porsche GB
04/29/1999 at 3,807 miles by Porsche GB
02/17/2004 at 4,340 miles by Porsche GB
03/06/2013 at 10,498 miles by Porsche Stuttgart
Change of odometer at 10,529 miles (16,945 kms )
02/13/2015 - appraisal at 1,624 kms
10/19/2015 at 2,393 kms by Porsche Stuttgart
09/01/2017 at 2,659 kms by Porsche Stuttgart
Owner history:
1989-1990: Peter Lovett
1990-1993: Chester Wedgewood
1993-1995: Goran Strok
1995-1997: Paul Howlett
1997-1999: Bilmo Corporation
1999-2003: David Barber
2003-2011: Mr. Williams
2011-2014: Detlef Hübner
2014 -2024: Parisian collector
This Porsche 959 has the particularity of being one of the 29 models whose Sport designation confirms the direct construction of this car by the Motorsport department at Porsche. But above all, the chassis number of this car ends with 029, thus confirming that it is the last of the 29 959 Sport built.
Its Guards Red livery distinguishes it from the white or silver examples more common in the 959 production. This sublime car obviously has grayscale fabric upholstery, specific to the 959 Sport. Other options for the 029 chassis included power windows, Autoflug harnesses and roll bar.
Official documents as well as the FIVA ID card dated 03/12/2018 indicate that the car was delivered with improved power directly from the Porsche factory in Germany and without warranty coverage at the time. Indeed, chassis 029 was equipped by Porsche AG in Germany in July 1990 with a special Bosch Motronic engine management system and improved turbochargers, allowing the car to release more than 570.5 hp (instead of 450 ch), which makes chassis 029 the only 959 Sport in the world thus equipped.
It is also a record car (German TUV), holding at the time the world speed record for a production car on the road.
Initially intended for the United States, this car was finally acquired in 1989 by Peter Lovett, director of the Dick Lovett Porsche dealership in Great Britain. The car is then registered F100 YRU. He sold it the following year to Chester Wedgewood, a London Porsche collector, who registered the car F959 CDW. The car changed its registration to the 35 FLY plate in 1999.
From 1993 to 2011, this 959 passed through the hands of five English collectors. It then arrived in Germany where it was registered F IX 959. It was acquired in 2014 by the current owner, a major Parisian collector.
The odometer was replaced during the German registration, taking care to keep the original one which displays 10,529 miles (16,945 km). The car has since covered 3,510 km, for a total of 20,455 km.
The car is presented today in absolutely impeccable condition, which can be described as competition condition. It has never been in an accident and has benefited from complete and clear monitoring since new. Matching colors and matching numbers, the car comes with its service book, its user manual, several hundred thousand euros of maintenance invoices, and all its original accessories.
Developed as part of Group B, 292 examples of the Porsche 959 Komfort were produced between 1986 and 1988, making it much rarer than its Maranello rival, the Ferrari F40.
To this must be added 29 examples of the 959 Sport, a more advanced version. The Sport weighs around 100 kg less than the Komfort version thanks to a weight saving including a fixed and stiffer suspension, the deletion of the stereo system, air conditioning and rear seats, a roll bar and fabric upholstery with Safety harness.
The 959 Sport's 2,850 cc twin-turbo flat-6 cylinder maintains the same power as the Komfort model, i.e. 450 hp. The 959 has a four-wheel transmission system and does without a central differential, the latter being replaced by an active clutch, from which Porsche will continue to draw inspiration 20 years later on the 997 Turbo.
