If Ferrari went for brawn over brains with their F40 in the late 1980s to achieve cutting-edge performance figures, Porsche went the opposite direction entirely with the 959. Showcasing to the world what was possible in terms of automotive technology, the 959 was instantly recognizable as being related to the 911, but it offered so much more. Adjustable suspension, an intelligent four-wheel-drive system, tire pressure sensors, and super-lightweight hollow-spoke magnesium wheels made it nothing short of a game-changer. Even with a price tag of over $300,000, it is said that Porsche lost money on every single one as a result of the extraordinary costs of construction, research, and development.

Far rarer than the competitor from Maranello, only 292 production 959s were built from 1986 through 1988. Most of these were built to “Komfort” specification, with only 29 built to Sport specifications—including the example offered here. Instantly discernable from their Komfort brethren, the 959 Sport boasts a full, leather-wrapped roll cage with four-point racing harnesses and cloth upholstery. In an effort to save weight (and mechanical complexity), the 959 Komfort’s adaptive suspension was replaced with a more conventional coilover setup, and the air conditioning and stereo were removed as well. Thus, the 959 Sport was a full 220 pounds lighter than the 959 Komfort. All 959 Sports were built to identical specification, with the only choice the buyer had to make being choosing between Grand Prix White and Guards Red paintwork.

The 16th 959 Sport built, a copy of this car’s original sales invoice from Porsche dated June of 1989 shows it was purchased new by Mr. Werner Funk of La Jolla, California as a “Direktverkauf” or factory direct sale, rather than being sold through an authorized Porsche dealership. The car was outfitted just as you see it today, finished in Grand Prix White with Grey upholstery. Funk was well-connected to Porsche as he had previously worked as a crew chief of a Porsche factory-sponsored racing team. Born in Germany, he had moved to the US in 1978 and started a handful of successful companies that operated in the automotive industry.

Of course, Porsche aficionados will know that 959s were never delivered new to the United States, as they were not compliant with United States Department of Transportation importation laws or emissions standards. As such, Funk took delivery of the car directly at the Porsche factory in Stuttgart.

In a recent conversation with RM Sotheby’s, Funk confirmed that he only kept the car for two to three weeks, as it could not be brought to the US and he could not enjoy the car regularly in Europe. He sold the car via Graber Ferrari in Switzerland in 1989. However, before parting with the car, he rented a track in France and enjoyed his 959 Sport in its element, also taking turns behind the wheels of a Ferrari F40 and 288 GTO. Photos on file document this remarkable day out with three of the era’s finest supercars, each with a very different approach to high performance. Funk estimates he put roughly 100 miles on the car on track, recalling, “what fun it was.” What fun, indeed!

It is believed that the car remained in Switzerland for the vast majority of its life, and documentation on file from Porsche Zentrum Schinznach Bad in Switzerland shows that the car received some mechanical work to the engine and gearbox, as well as repairs to the ABS and limited-slip differential in 2008. Further invoices on file document the careful, no-expenses-spared maintenance regimen lavished on the car through 2015. The car remained in Switzerland until 2015 when it was exported to Italy. Later exported to Sweden, the 959 Sport would return to Italy, remaining there until it was exported to the United States, where it remains today.

The 959 Sport has occupied a place of honor within the current owner’s collection of Porsches, having been exceptionally well-kept since his purchase, with the odometer currently showing 3,757 miles at time of cataloguing. Needless to say, it presents beautifully throughout, and its rarity and stunning condition would make it a crowing addition to any collection.

It is the ultimate iteration of Porsche’s innovative 1980s supercar, seldom seen and even more rarely available for acquisition.