Rare Porsche 959 Sport Eyes $6 Million at Monterey Auction

The number grabs attention. A 1989 Porsche 959 Sport, one of only 29 examples ever built, is heading to the auction block in Monterey, California, this August 2026, with estimates suggesting the final price could reach $6 million.

Auction Details

RM Sotheby's will offer the car at its auction scheduled for August 13–15, surrounded by a collection of classic and rare supercars. The $6 million figure isn't a fixed price—it's the high estimate set by the auction house before bidding begins.

The car carries chassis number 5013, one of just 29 units Porsche built of the 959 Sport, the lightest and most performance-focused version of the technologically advanced 959.

A Wilder Take on the 959

Porsche introduced the 959 in the 1980s as a project born from Group B racing, before it evolved into one of the most advanced cars of its era.

The car packed technologies unheard of in sports cars at the time, including an intelligent all-wheel-drive system, tire pressure monitoring, and adjustable suspension, along with composite materials and lightweight magnesium wheels. The Sport version took things further; Porsche stripped out comfort features to cut weight, swapped the adaptive suspension for a sportier setup, and added a leather-wrapped roll cage, four-point harnesses, and cloth-covered seats.

These changes made the 959 Sport roughly 100 kilograms lighter than the more comfort-oriented Komfort version, which translated into sharper acceleration, better response, and improved overall performance.

508 HP from a Small Engine

Under the hood sits a 2.85-liter flat-six engine with twin turbochargers, producing 508 horsepower in Sport trim.

Power flows to all four wheels through an advanced drivetrain that distributes torque between axles based on driving conditions—a technology that was cutting-edge by mid-1980s standards. This system let the 959 combine high performance with stability in varying conditions, while rival supercars of the era mostly relied on rear-wheel drive and larger engines.

Exceptional Rarity

The car's rarity is amplified by its color: it's one of just 11 959 Sport examples finished in Grand Prix White, a detail that boosts its appeal among collectors. With this rare configuration, all eyes are now on the upcoming auction, where experts expect fierce bidding to push the final price well beyond initial estimates for this engineering masterpiece.