
Bill Gates and Paul Allen each bought a 959 in 1988 but could not legally register them for US road use, a saga that helped prompt Congress to pass the 'Show or Display' law in 1999.
Median 153 hp across 97 similar cars
Lead trim: 959
Porsche 9591986–1988
- 0spots by members
- Unclaimednobody has spotted one yet
- 0sets it belongs to
Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Porsche 959 yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactBill Gates and Paul Allen each bought a 959 in 1988 but could not legally register them for US road use, a saga that helped prompt Congress to pass the 'Show or Display' law in 1999.
Technology-showcase all-wheel-drive supercar, never federalized for normal US sale — famously the car whose decade-long import fight (Bill Gates bought one in 1988 and could not register it for over a decade) drove Congress to create the 25-year 'Show or Display' exemption, effective 1999.
Collectors Spotted in the Porsche 959 Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Porsche 959 yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 959 | 1986–1988 | 2.8 L Flat-6 | 444 hp | 369 lb-ft | 3.6 s | AWD | manual | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.

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