International auction house RM Sotheby’s recently sold a one-off Porsche 959 Speedster for an eye-watering $2.29 million.
Built by craftsman Karl-Heinz Feustel in 1989 and sold new to Daytona 24 Hour winner and Le Mans runner-up, Jürgen Lässig, the ‘Speedster’ conversion made its debut at the 1989 Frankfurt International Motor Show, then the 1989 Essen Motor Show.
Rolling off the Stuttgart production line on 6 November 1987, this Porsche 959 ‘Komfort’ sported Silver Metallic paintwork and a two-tone Cashmere Beige and Black leather interior. It’s believed the car was delivered new to racing driver Jürgen Lässig, winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1995 and runner-up at Le Mans in 1987.
Having registered the car on 23 November 1987, he reportedly covered a few thousand kilometres in it before being involved in an autobahn accident sometime in 1988. Lässig sold the car and it was acquired by Porsche racer and master craftsman Karl-Heinz ‘Charlie’ Feustel.
Feustel ran a specialised workshop in a village east of Cologne. With a passion for performance machines, he set about creating something that hadn’t been done before, as the 959 ‘Speedster’ was born. This was no rushed conversion, with the process requiring over 4000 hours.
According to a comprehensive February 1990 article published in Sports Car International magazine, “the whole package…reflects the ideas and true German craftsmanship of three people who have a deep-seated interest in, and love for, fine cars”.
Focus was on the fit and finish with the team ensuring 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.
Displayed on the Auto Becker stand at the 1989 Frankfurt International Motor Show in September and then at the Essen Motor Show in December, the 959 ‘Speedster’ was available to buy, with Feustel asking approximately US$1.2 million to part ways with his masterpiece — a princely sum for 1989. Photographs of the ‘Speedster’ at both motor shows were available to view on file.
A German collector acquired it from Feustal, before parting with it in 2008.
The latest vendor had owned it since that date. The 959 still wears Grand Prix White paintwork over a striking blue leather interior and sold with its hardtop in a transport case, plus tonneau top, interchangeable ‘Speedster’ windscreen, spare door mirrors, and owner’s guides.