959 replica

[mdmiller911]

So there are alot of RS and RSR replicas out there... Why aren't there more 959 replicas? Is there no company that makes a good kit? I bring this up because while surfing on ebay, I found this....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/88-911-930-Turbo-Coupe-959-Body-Conversion-Low-Miles_W0QQitemZ150194020367QQihZ005QQcategoryZ6058 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm no expert on the 959 but it doesn't look half bad, although not for $65,000.
So other than my previous 2 questions,(and here is the tech question), how hard would it be to build a good 959 replica?

[mdmiller911]

After reading some of the other threads about other 959 replicas, it seems that the general concensus is that it is wrong to destroy a 911 for this modification. But still.... is there no market for 959 replicas?

[Axiom]

Actually, I am in the midst of making one of those kits a little better, If you check my website tomorrow I will try to post more pictures.

[Pete000]

Yikes !

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Could be because it's perhaps the ugliest Porsche ever sold.

[Danny_Ocean]

This is what makes it worth the asking price (the "Porsche Turbo" badge from the engraving kiosk at the mall)...:



The leg from a walker as a lid prop most likely reveals the age range of the seller:



And, you gotta love the "high speed" tires:

[don911]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

Could be because it's perhaps the ugliest Porsche ever sold.

+1

[boxster03]

at least the idle is right on

[Hoffmanmotors]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

Could be because it's perhaps the ugliest Porsche ever sold.

oooooh! Waynes gunna be maaad! lol J/K

[berettafan]

RS and RSR replicas, for example, can be made to be essentially identical in form and FUNCTION to the real thing and make sense. in some cases it might take some serious bucks to duplicate the motor/induction system but it is certainly doable.

note that this is NOT the case with the 959.

i happen to agree with the others that the 959 is somewhat homely for a 911 but the reason most folks wouldn't pass up a ride in one is the mechanicals.

[tctnd]

The RS and RSR were in essence factory hotrods, built for racing but based on the production 911. It is a reasonable proposition for a sufficiently dedicated individual to replicate one to an agreeable standard (or even perfectly). While the 959 used some production parts, it was the factory's technical tour de force at the time and was crammed with bits that cannot be replicated by anyone with less than an industrial budget. You can assemble one of these pathetic poseurs, but you will never capture the essence so why bother?
regards,
Phil

[the]

The 959 isn't a "traditional" beautiful car. It was of course the most technologically advanced car of its time, and a performance standout. Its body has a certain functional beauty to it. As you can see from Wayne's pics of disassembled parts of his car, and shots from underneath, there is a lot of "stuff" tucked in a 959, and the body is actually pulled as tightly as possible over everything. It has vents where it needs it, and none where it does not. It bulges where it needs to bulge, but stays slim where it can.

But all of the functionality, and thus beauty, is lost when you stick a replica body on a regular 911.

Plus, the "replicas" never look right. People rarely get the details even close (headlights, shaved gutters, mirrors, wheels, etc.). An "85% accurate" 959 replica looks terrible.

[jwetering]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

This is what makes it worth the asking price (the "Porsche Turbo" badge from the engraving kiosk at the mall)...:

I thought it was a genuine 959 until I saw this - everybody knows that a real 959 has that badge centred on the horn button. The font isn't quite right either. Still the fakes are getting better and better aren't they.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I'm also not of fan of the looks of the 959. But, much of it looks like form follows function and a real 959 is a very unique piece of history and engineering. A replica is just body panels.

The well done RS and RSR replicas I've seen on the board have both form and function and seem not just to be body mods but also mods made to make the car perform better. You can make a "normal" 911 go, handle and stop much like the RS and RSR's people are trying to emulate with available parts that are not beyond most enthusiasts budget. I dare say it would be tough for anyone to build a 959 replica that would have the same or similar engine, suspension, tranny and braking parts/function of the original.

[jwetering]

Actually I have to admit it does look pretty sexy from this angle...



Says in the ad the owner has $200K into it......I'd hate to be the one that tells him he could have had a real one.

[berettafan]

no worries jasper, he's no doubt ass deep in a corvette forum right now asking questions about Daytona replicas.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by jwetering

Says in the ad the owner has $200K into it......I'd hate to be the one that tells him he could have had a real one.

Not quite. The last two (US) I inquired about were both selling for $450k.

That being said, I'd be very surprised the "$200k" claim in this auction is authentic. There's no way someone spent that much on this turd-bomb.

[Paul K]

Are those Mini Cooper headlights?

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Paul K

Are those Mini Cooper headlights?

"In the past year the headlights were upgraded with Flush mounted Mini Cooper S Lamps."

Musta been part of the $200k conversion cost...

[Dutchie]

it seems that the general concensus is that it is wrong to destroy a 911 for this modification

It depends what you use as a base, it,s wrong to destroy an early E or S. An SC or Carrera would be best as a base i think.
If you like a 959 Replica go for it ! it,s your car and you pay for the conversion.

I would like to see a 959 Backdated in a 73 RSR