Starting work on the 959 Project Car...

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by Scott at Pelican Parts

You missed a decimal place. The body in white is $201,610.40

I would bet it is really No Longer Available, as are most of the parts in that section.

Actually, there are a bunch that appear to still have stock...

-Wayne

[jester911]

Maybe someday they will be worth that much so they can sell them.

[stout]

Hey Wayne,

Have spent a lot of time in the PET enjoying 959 parts availability and pricing...

Congratulations on buying a really cool car! Normally, I'm not a fan of color changes, but I really dig the black -- it really makes the stock wheels "pop" in a way they just don't on the silver cars (which is most of them).

I always have fun watching project cars come together on Pelican as a result of passion, ingenuity, and drive, but this one will be especially fun to watch!

Best wishes,

pete

[MattKellett]

Wayne - I think this will become a great thread for all of us to follow, it's like you'll be taking us all on this adventure with you.

Do you think you will start a new thread with each update, so that the treads for this project don't become huge!!!!

Look forward to seeing how your project developes.

Matt

[DW SD]

Originally Posted by Editor@Excellence

Hey Wayne,

Have spent a lot of time in the PET enjoying 959 parts availability and pricing...

Congratulations on buying a really cool car! Normally, I'm not a fan of color changes, but I really dig the black -- it really makes the stock wheels "pop" in a way they just don't on the silver cars (which is most of them).

I always have fun watching project cars come together on Pelican as a result of passion, ingenuity, and drive, but this one will be especially fun to watch!

Best wishes,

pete

Pete,
Wayne is claiming his research suggests no color change. We'll all find out when the Certificate of Authenticity arrives or maybe it will be quietly brushed under the rug.
Either way, cool project and am glad the head Pelican is forging new ground and leading by example.

Doug

[Ouzo12]

Originally Posted by Scott at Pelican Parts

The 959 Section is here!
http://www.pelicanparts.com/PartsLookup/HTML/SubCat/E_959_KATALOG.htm

Yes, Wayne has driven the car. I got a ride last Friday. When the first of the sequential turbos is working alone (below about 5000 revs) it isn't anything spectacular. But when both turbos are making boost -- wow! It's probably similar to the 993 and 996 twin turbos when they are making max power.

That is awesome, i think everybody and their mother had a poster of this car hanging in their room. Now you get to park one in your garage! How is the exhaust sound, is it similiar to a 930? im sure with the full 2.0 bars it will hold its own against anything this side of a tuner special.

[stout]

Originally Posted by DW SD

Pete,
Wayne is claiming his research suggests no color change. We'll all find out when the Certificate of Authenticity arrives or maybe it will be quietly brushed under the rug.
Either way, cool project and am glad the head Pelican is forging new ground and leading by example.

Doug

Hey Doug,

Am leaving an open mind there, believe me. Bottom line is I don't really care one way or another. This car looks amazing, and something tells me Wayne will make it show and drive amazing with time.

However, I am VERY curious to see what the COA (though these are sadly suspect these days) says, as Canepa told me he has the only non-metallic black 959 ever made. I must say I always take such "gems" with a grain of salt, but I have to admit I've never seen another non-metallic black *production* 959 besides Bruce's.

BTW, it's been fun to read some of the ride-along reports. Very similar to my own take when I drove my first 959 and how I've felt in every one I've driven since, with the exception of Canepa's heavily modified cars: Didn't I read as a kid that sequential-turbo 959s were "lag-free?" But, man, when the second turbo spools, that car moves out. Especially with the factory powerkit...

I will say that while Canepa's "kit" removes originality, it makes the 959 much more fun to drive and quite a bit quicker in real-world use. But I respect those who want to maintain the 959 as Porsche built it. My time with Canepa also revealed that only the 959S (with the sport-tuned, non-air/adjustable suspension) handles the way we all thought the 959 should/would after reading about these cars back in the 1980s -- and surprisingly a LOT like a 993 RS. The Comfort model is suprisingly soft, wallowy, and, well, comfy. Like an ultimate touring version of the 911...

Which is what the 959 was. And I think it's pretty cool that one more of them seems to have found a home where it will actually be used as such.

Have fun with it Wayne, but if you're gonna track it, may I suggest installing the Sport suspension instead of fixing the height-adjustable setup? It still rides FINE on the street but completely transforms the 959. Of course, such a move would render your car's "extra" oil-flap-like door useless...

pete

[silverc4s]

A little late, but congratulations on the acquisition, Wayne! Probably the perfect car for you at this time. With the right accountant, I bet you can write off the whole experience as a business cost.

How about a book while you are at it? (a la Steve W's work...)

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by Ouzo12

That is awesome, i think everybody and their mother had a poster of this car hanging in their room...

Still do... in a nice metal black frame in my home office... one of those dream cars...

[Garen]

Wayne...

You promissed some pics!


Pete, I sent you a PM.

[gerry100]

"959" and 'project car" in the same sentence.

Has to be the first one and lilkely the last for a long time.

[the]

I don't think Wayne will be sweeping anything under the rug regarding the color. The answer to that is what it is, and is part of the history of the car, and Wayne doesn't strike me as the type to be anything other than forthright about it.

Anyways, I just did a quick google, and it does seem like this same person (Vick Kuelian) in late 2002 had a Silver 959. But he has had lots of exotics, and it could be a totally different car than the one Wayne bought.

See this Road & Track article where they tested the Silver 959:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=392

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by wachuko

Still do... in a nice metal black frame in my home office... one of those dream cars...

So this could be Wayne's car? Just kidding... that color dilema will continue until the doc from Porsche arrives, lol. People just love gossip.

[EarlyPorsche]

Wayne tell us the whole story like we enjoy hearing about any Pelicans new purchase. Who had it, whats the history, mileage, is it US registered? What else is wrong with it? Did this replace the Ferrari? If you don't mind what does a 959 in need of love go for these days? Hope you enjoy it my friend.

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by EarlyPorsche

Wayne tell us the whole story like we enjoy hearing about any Pelicans new purchase. Who had it, whats the history, mileage, is it US registered? What else is wrong with it? Did this replace the Ferrari? If you don't mind what does a 959 in need of love go for these days? Hope you enjoy it my friend.

He did:

Pelican Board - Please Forgive My Past Sins and Accept my Penance!!!

Project Car: 959 - The PPI...

959 PPI Update, RE: Color Change...

[CarreraDan]

Wayne,
We cannot wait for the pictures from todays work. Congratulations again on getting a 959 and having the guts to take on these projects yourself. Hopefully in 15-20 years I will have the resources and time to do something similar with a 962 or GT1 which are my ultimate dream Porsche's (I wouldn't turn down a 959). Keep up the good work.

[Lorenfb]

"Canepa's heavily modified cars"

Total Mickey Mouse (actually kinda of a "butcher job") of very classic Porsche.
The emission mods required were very simple, i.e. Porsche provided all the
necessities within the DME ECM & externally for those that had some knowledge.
Nor did it require the G&K "brute-force" approach. And then we have the
so-called Giac mod ($2000+) which just forced the engine to run much too lean,
i.e. another Mickey Mouse effort.

Bottom line: A valueable Porsche classic????????

[Scott at Pelican Parts]

This will have to tide you over for now. Here's Wayne working on the hood shock a few minutes ago. That's a VERY tight space down there.

[jmshepard]

Wayne,
I am looking forward to the 101 Projects for a 959.
How long before it's available?
Jim S.

[stout]

Man, looking at that poster, why would you want to change the wheels again?

Oh, and have you gotten around to looking at the wheel locks yet?

pete