Only 1 out of 1 Porsche 959 Speedster is a rare supercar | Carscoops

      What began as a silver 959 coupe transformed into a unique convertible following an accident on the Autobahn and 4,000 hours of metalwork.

      Currently, a remarkably rare Porsche 959 Speedster is up for auction through RM Sotheby’s. The 1987 Komfort model underwent modifications after an Autobahn incident in 1988, which included a complete repaint and the addition of a removable hard top during the extensive rebuild.

      In today's market, it’s common for a hardtop supercar or hypercar to be followed by a convertible version a year or two later, as manufacturers capitalize on both profits and publicity. However, in the 1980s, the situation was different. Porsche never produced a convertible variant of the 959, but Karl-Heinz Feustel did.

      Feustel, a Porsche racer with his own workshop, invested over 4,000 hours into converting a silver 1987 959 coupe into the white Speedster currently being auctioned. The opportunity for this project arose due to an unfortunate accident.

      The Komfort-spec 959 is thought to have originally been delivered to another racing driver, Jürgen Lässig, who won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1995 and was the runner-up at Le Mans in 1987. Lässig received the all-wheel-drive supercar in late 1987 but was involved in an Autobahn crash the following year and decided to sell it.

      Feustel’s team meticulously rebuilt the body, removing the coupe's roof, fitting an electrically-operated soft top, and creating a removable hard top that comes with the car in its own case as part of the auction. An additional case contains a low-cut windshield that aligns with the ‘Speedster’ branding associated with the 356 and 911 Speedsters, yet the car still calls for a hard-shell tonneau cover.

      The finished 959 was showcased at the 1989 Frankfurt International Motor Show in September. At the Essen Motor Show the following December, Feustel reportedly sought an astonishing $1.2 million for it.

      Nearly four decades later, the odometer shows 8,304 km (5,160 miles), indicating that the 444 hp (450 PS) 2.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine is hardly broken in, and the Grand Prix white exterior along with the blue leather interior appears almost pristine. RM Sotheby’s estimates the open-top 959 will sell for between €1.1-1.5 million ($1.25-1.71 million), which might seem low for a coupe with such mileage, but the conversion may deter purists who prioritize Porsche originality. However, for those who already possess a “regular” 959, this one-of-a-kind Speedster could serve as an excellent addition to their collection.