1988 Porsche 959

Porsche 959 values are suffering from a simple problem: The cars are just not old enough to ascend to that high platform of market adulation

Before the Ferrari F40, before the McLaren F1, almost before the term “supercar” was invented, there was the Porsche 959, an expression of extensive development, technical competence, and competitiveness that brought a new excitement to road-going automotive pursuits.

The Porsche 959 odyssey started in 1983 and involved many pioneering techniques, most notably molded composite bodywork. It was the first automotive production use of DuPont’s Kevlar aramid fibers. The suspension has three ride height settings, as well as three dampening settings for the shocks. Its sophisticated antilock braking system is controlled by high-speed microprocessors augmented by run-flat Bridgestone tires.

The 2,849-cc, twin sequential turbocharged and intercooled flat-six engine runs a maximum boost of one atmosphere and uses water cooling for the six individual cylinder heads. The result is a maximum horsepower of 450 at 6,500 rpm. This power is...