1985 Porsche 959 Vorserie Coupe
The Porsche 959 wasn't introduced to the public until the 1986 model year, so how could RM Sotheby's be auctioning off a 1985 959? The answer is that this 959 is one of five surviving Vorserie prototypes and the only one thoroughly photographed and documented by its factory test driver, Dieter Röscheisen. Ferdinand Porsche's grandson and eventual head of Volkswagen Group Ferdinand Piëch convinced Helmuth Bott, a leader of Porsche's engineering team, to give this 959 when the program was completed. The car was finished in white over a grey cloth interior to Komfort specs, and sported unique features like a single exterior mirror and a fuel filler cap sealed by the hood. Piëch had the car until 1987 when he sold it to chef Hasi Unterberger. Unterberger sold the car famous automotive photographer Rene Staud in 1992, with Staud having Porsche covert the interior to its current leather upholstery. This important piece of Porsche's history goes to auction on August 16th, 2024.
