Cars| A Nissan Owned Custom 1988 Porsche 959 SC Is Up For Auction

February 20, 2024

Underway, is very significant auction for a very unique car which is the 1988 Porsche 959 SC that was reimagined with delicate detailing by Canepa. The selection recently surfaced and made available for auction as it played a notable role in Nissan’s development of the popular Nissan Skyline GT-R.

Historically, the U.S banned vehicle was a technological and design feat that only allowed Porsche to create fewer then 300 units due to extreme expense that went into the creation. Features like turbocharging, water-cooled heads, a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system and several additional features made this creation one of Porsche’s supercars and what ultimately made the U.S place a ban on the vehicle. This ban was later removed with the help of Canepa and others, who pursued the now adopted “Show or Display” rule which was passed in 1999.

Dubbed ‘chassis number 022‘, this is the Porsche 959 that is going up for auction but also holds a unique story. Uniquely, Nissan Motor Company was the official purchaser of number 022 for the purpose of reverse engineering the Porsche’s outstanding all-wheel drive system which led to the creation of Nissan’s ATTESA ET-S system. The new system would be added to Nissan’s collection of cars like the popular R32 GT-R. Chassis Number 022 was never registered or titled but instead kept as a piece of car history in Japan until it’s recent arrival in the US. With carefully design notes, Canepa transformed the Porsche 959 into a Porsche 959 SC (Sports Canepa). This transition took around 4,000 hours of restoration labor and over $950,000 USD invested. The entire car was re-constructed and remodeled, from the paintwork to the interior materials. This modern developed version still pays homage to the original design but gives it a modern touch with 800 hp and a top speed exceeding 230 mph.

Now available for bidding via Broad Arrow Auctions, the 1988 Porsche 959 SC has an estimated closing price of $3,750,000 USD. You can learn more about this rare piece of automotive history by visiting the official lot here.