One-of-Two Porsche 959 Prototype Surfaces for Sale in the UK

By Brett Foote - September 16, 2021

Porsche 959 prototype – car number F7 – is one of just a handful left in existence, and may be the only running example.

Even today, a full 35 years after it first appeared on this earth, the mighty Porsche 959 is still one of the most amazing automobiles ever produced. Its scintillating performance – 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and top speed of 197 mph – is impressive even by modern standards, so one can imagine how mind-blowing it was back in the mid-1980s. It goes without saying that these qualities, along with the 959’s rarity, make it a celebrated and pricey collectible. But this one-of-two Porsche 959 prototype, currently up for sale at PistonHeads in the UK, isn’t just any old 959.

A mere 345 959 examples were produced in total, including eight that were pieced together using spare parts. Of that total, 37 units were pre-production models or prototypes, the latter of which consisted of 12 vehicles. The Porsche 959 prototype you see here is one of that dozen, an early development F-Series car that is one of just two painted Rub Red. It is officially known as “F7,” as it was the seventh prototype produced.

Unlike earlier prototypes, this example is much closer to production, as it sports features like the 959’s signature air intakes located in the rear arches. However, it is lacking quite a few features present in production models, including a passenger-side mirror, power steering, white magnesium wheels, and adjustable ride height control. F7 cars were used mainly to test the car’s electrical systems in warm climates, as well as various interior configurations.

This particular car remained in Porsche’s possession until it was purchased by collector and race car driver Vasek Polak, who brought it to the U.S. in 1988. Polak agreed to leave the car in its original state and wound up displaying it at his headquarters. The 959 was later displayed as part of the Matsuda collection in Japan before it was sold at Polak’s estate sale in 1997, which sent it back to Europe where it all began.

The seller had this special prototype treated to an extensive service at Porsche Center Reading in the UK recently, and it remains in amazing original condition. Only around a third of Porsche’s F7 prototypes are believed to still be around today, and this is the only one that’s still in running condition, as far as anyone knows. Considering the fact that regular, production 959s routinely sell in the $1-$2 million dollar range these days, that makes this special prototype’s asking price of $1.5 million seem rather reasonable.