Porsche Classic restores 959 S owned by former F1 driver Nick Heidfeld

MANILA: Car enthusiasts of the 1980s and '90s will certainly remember the Porsche 959 for the car's many qualities, whether its sheer horsepower, acceleration, top speed or original list price. Porsche only made 292 examples of the 959, and each car packs a top speed of 315kph. 

Former F1 driver Nick Heidfeld owns the even rarer Porsche 959 Sport version, of which only 29 units were built. The 959 Sport is more powerful with 515ps and a top speed of 339kph.

For Heidfeld's collector’s item, it has low mileage to add to the list of record figures. Heidfeld’s 959 S had just 4,183 kilometers on the odometer when he took it to Porsche Classic in the summer of 2017.

Although barely broken-in, the 959 S was already in need of an extensive technical overhaul. “If such a technologically innovative car is not driven regularly, storage damage is, unfortunately, unavoidable," Porsche Classic Head of Factory Restoration Uwe Makrutzi said.

“The powertrain and chassis have to be overhauled in their entirety; experience has shown that any reduction to the scope of work leads to problems down the road.”

Like all owners of a classic Porsche, those with a 959 in their garage benefit from the unique expertise and equipment of Porsche Classic. When production of the super sports car came to an end, Porsche Classic took ownership of all the testing and restoration tools from all areas of the factory. 

“Almost all 959s have been with us at least once in their life,” said Makrutzki. “So we have had a lot of practice. Thanks to the highly complex technology, however, a 959 overhaul 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. In consultation with the owner, Porsche Classic staff restored the Motronic unit to its original condition.

The former Formula One driver’s 959 S was then ready to hit the road again in December 2021. Heidfeld expressed: “I’ve had the privilege of driving many high-performance cars, but driving this high-tech legend is something special for me. I was a teenage car fan in the late 1980s, and to me this Porsche was always extraordinary. At the time, the 959 was the fastest production car in the world and by far the most advanced. So even today, it doesn’t drive like a 30-year-old car, but like a much more modern vehicle.”

To ensure the repair is a long-term success, Makrutzki advises regular outings: “Covering around 100 kilometers in mixed operation at least once a month provides protection from damage due to standing still. That’s also what the feedback from our customers has shown.” 

Heidfeld's 959 S now follows the stock specification from 1987. The F1 driver's 959 S is powered by a 2.8-liter, twin turbocharged, six-cylinder boxer engine that generates 515ps and 561Nm of torque, which is mated a six-speed gearbox and all-wheel drive. 

At a lightweight 1,350kg, the 959 S sprints from zero to 100kph in 3.7 seconds and runs to a top speed of 339kph. 

In 1983, Porsche presented the 959 "Group B" study to meet the regulations for this spectacular rally class. In the 1986 Paris Dakar Rally, all three 959s finished the race, taking first, second, and sixth place. The modified 961 track version also finished seventh in the 1986 endurance race at Le Mans and took the class victory in the IMSA/GTX class.

The 959 production model made its debut in 1985. Its innovations included speed-sensitive and adjustable shock absorbers, self-levelling suspension, electronically controlled variable all-wheel drive with driving program selection and ABS, a tire pressure monitoring system, and an aerodynamically optimized body (Cd 0.31).

The body design incorporated technology from racing car and aircraft design. Outside the car, the skin was made of Kevlar and glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy resin in a hybrid construction, while the front spoiler was made from polyurethane integral foam. The doors and bonnet were made from a special aluminum alloy.

As for the 959 S, this variant had larger turbochargers that operated with higher boost pressure. It generates 515ps compared to 450ps in the base model. The 959 S does not have self-leveling suspension, automatic air-conditioning, a central locking system, electric windows, and right-hand side mirror and rear seats to help save weight.

With 183 Grand Prix starts in Formula One, Nick Heidfeld is one of the best-known German racing drivers. For 12 years, the Mönchengladbach native drove in F1 for top teams including BMW, Lotus-Renault, Sauber and Williams. "Quick Nick," as he was nicknamed, finished on the podium 13 times. He finished fifth in the F1 standings in 2007. 

Photos from Porsche

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