“You did what to a Porsche 959?” The words likely uttered with increasing volume as the demand for an answer began to build. That’s how we’d imagine the conversation went in 1989 between Porsche executives and Karl-Heinz ‘Charlie’ Feustel after he’d successfully turned the brand’s first supercar and Group B rally contender into the ultimate St Tropez cruiser. Now a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes courtesy of RM Sotheby’s, where this Porsche 959 ‘Speedster’ will go under the hammer in Milan on May 22nd. 

The 959’s journey from motorsport dream to road-going icon is well-documented, we’ve been lucky enough to see a number pass through the Classic Driver Market, all of which were promptly snapped up by collectors ready to revel in the knowledge they will likely continue to rocket in value as each year passes. However, this customised variant has a unique story to tell. Rolling off the assembly line in 1987, proudly marketed as one of Porsche’s bold visions for the future of performance driving, this 959 was delivered new to endurance racer Jürgen Lässig. After a brief stint with the German driver, which would sadly involve an autobahn accident for the Porsche, Lässig sold it to Porsche racer and master craftsman Karl-Heinz ‘Charlie’ Feustel.

Running a small workshop on the east of Cologne, Feustel was no stranger to customising his and his client’s cars, but with the 959, he wanted to create something that had never been seen before. It was known as the 959 ‘Speedster’, and would require over 4,000 hours of careful craftsmanship by Feustel and his small team to bring this crazy idea to life. There was immense focus on the fit and finish, with the team making sure that all modifications were as refined as possible. The result spoke for itself, with the 959 ‘Speedster’ sporting glossy Grand Prix White paintwork and a blue leather interior. Feustel wanted to give the new owner multiple options, so the car came fitted with an electrically operated soft-top in addition to a removable hard top.

As the sole example on the planet, this unique iteration of what is one of Porsche’s greatest creations would certainly let the new custodian stand out from the crowd. The car is heading to RM Sotheby’s upcoming sale in Milan on May 22nd, with an estimate of  between 1,100,000 and 1,500,000 euros.

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