Canepa and his 800-horsepower Porsche 959 SC

The Porsche 959 was the greatest supercar the world had seen when it was first put on sale in the mid-1980s. Yet here in America, it wasn't possible to buy one - at first. Enter Bruce Canepa.
With help from a friend, Canepa was able to purchase one and drive it in the states on a tourist Visa, and the rest is history. Following that fateful year, he embarked on a journey to federalize the 959 with customers including Bill Gates, and since then has worked tirelessly to make 959s legal here for whoever can purchase one - and also modify them to be the best that they can be.
In the video above, Canepa talks about what he did to bring the 959 onto our streets plus what he is currently doing to boost the power output while keeping them street legal. Watch what it's like to be the forerunner on the Porsche 959.
If you're a PCA member, be sure to check out our in-depth look at the 959 SC in Porsche Panorama: www.pca.org/pa...

[@jamo5468]

The 959 was a dream when I was young and now in my mid fifties it’s still a dream Car.!!

[@donjuan150]

I am 55 and just saw one at the Saratoga Automobile Museum....that dream has been reignited!

[@adaptordieai]

you should meet the owners

[@sullyjag]

The 959 looks just as spectacular today as it did when I first saw pictures of one. Truly an incredible car.

[@jacktripper9336]

This was my absolute dream car when I was a kid. It did 0-60 mph in 3.6 sec, stock...in 1986! A car ahead of it's time.

[@julianjh5526]

I was lucky enough to manage Porsche Centre Reading in the UK. It was the only centre authorized to maintain the 959’s in the UK. I was very lucky to drive the car and it was incredible. The technology with the magnesium wheels and two stage twin turbo’s was so far ahead of its time. Still the most memorable car I have ever driven. We were also the centre for the Carrera GT which was yet another very special Porsche. We had a 550, 356, GT1, 962 and 917 in the showroom which were Porsche museum cars and leant by customers. Wonderful cars, wonderful company!

[@theroteengineer8346]

When I was a young boy my mum stopped outside the Reading Porsche center so I could look through the gates. One of the employees saw this and gave us an invite to have a tour, the 959 was around then and I remember getting to look around it, even got that iconic poster with the red lines and the black pebbles. Thank you for giving a young lad some great motivation.

[@primokona]

I remember when Bill Gates bought the 959 as his first super car back in the 80s and it made headlines because it cost $500,000...

[@thomasr3805]

I have a beat-up metallic blue hot wheels 959. Still sits on my shelf. Such a revolutionary automobile.

[@999NINE99]

These cars are one of the most visually harmonic ever designed. The functionality is also well balanced. It's a rare combination that Porsche has mastered many times.

[@brarautorepairs]

When I was a child, I had a book about supercars of the day and they had the 959 as one of those cars. Pretty much have loved this car since.

[@vaughnandrako6862]

Bruce, I have watched this video more than a few times, your convincing passion ranks right with the 959's capabilities.

[@donjuan150]

So well said....I just saw one in real life at the Saratoga Automobile Museum yesterday! It looks like a new car...it just looks so planted on the ground. A true automotive sculpture...

[@wprann]

One of the greatest cars ever built! My dream car!

[@jamesgarner4127]

I remember when I was a kid and had a trapper keeper with a 959 on the front. I always dreamed of that car. So cool to see one in America.

[@jamescrozier2806]

I grew up with Porsche’s as a kid. My dad had over a dozen 911’s. 930’s. I have a rsamerica that I will never sell. And when the conversation comes up as what would your dream car be if you had unlimited funds. The 959 will always be the car that is top on my list. Just something about that car for me that trumps pretty much anything ever made. I can’t explain it.

[@basithph8958]

The 959 is my favorite Porsche I just love the looks and how advanced the car is

[@ontarget4076]

The original unmolested versions are gaining in value! Not many originals left! Thanks Bruce?

[@brandons9138]

In two weeks I'm going to see his museum/showroom in Scott's Valley. I can't wait.

[@runningdummy1]

Here because of the VinWiki video. Such an awesome story. Thank you for sharing.

[@Pstaines439]

My love for the 959 just got bigger. Great work Bruce!

[@DJBobbyChicago]

wow... these things are a dream come true. i think if i walked into that garage, i would faint lol I had a radio controlled 959 Rally Car as a kid and i took that thing everywhere. what a dream.

[@kenxiong6830]

Bruce Canepa is one of the greatest things to happen to Porsche in the US. Guy is a diehard Porsche guy

[@starflyr57]

I remember the car and driver issue"pulky porsches" that had the 959 and the 911.. I was 10.. jus lusted over the 959.. same today

[@sohchx]

I still have my massive poster that was in my room as a kid from 1987 along with my 959 models, Matchbox, and Hotwheels LoL

[@markgreene7930]

Having seen these in person, they are killer! Bravo Bruce Canepa, bravo!

[@coreydunn3038]

Stunning, positively stunning. Diligence in attention to detail wins again...

[@wafflesnfalafel1]

man... I was a 959 kid. If I win the lottery I will give you a call.

[@christianslupina6916]

The Porsche 959 was intrduced in 1983, since 1950 the first Porsche with an all-wheel-drive. Only 300 had been produced until the late 80's. Beside the Ferarri F40 the first supersportscar ever built. Unique in history thus my favorite sportscar. A shame i can't afford it for at least 1.000.000 dollars.

[@robertphillips3078]

❤ed the way u talked about ur 959 & all ur upgrades. Porsche Germany would be super proud of ur development work over the yrs . Xcellent 😀👏

[@Fourthirteen82]

I want nothing more in this world than a 959. Now that I know this exists, I especially want a 959sc.

[@jmalenko]

Bruce Canepa; living the car guys’ dream.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Agreed!

[@193322009]

The 959 is like a beautiful woman. All the different parts are in perfect harmony. It'a an engineering symphony that still lets me enjoy the Porsche dna that I have today. I started with Porsches in SCCA roadracing, and years later ended with a RSK Spyder.

[@seancrowley1065]

I was there when AL Holbert took delivery of the first 7 that came to the US Bruce. It was AL, John Crowley, Bill O'Connell and myself that witnessed the offload of the vehicles STILL with the import papers on them saying that they were cleared by customs.

[@yousefbhoyroo6960]

The master of engineering

[@TheTkrum]

Bruce, my dad has one of your older vettes If it could ever be done, contact Grant at Funco in the IE. Build a F9 Funco with a CGT power plant. Oh that sound. It would be amazing to use all that power on the sand. Said to be The world of Motorsports best kept secrets. Glamis sand dunes with a CGT powered Funco F9 🙌

[@johnmontag]

You guys need to do an indepth garage tour each week. You just do a short walk through now, but it could b so much better. You did an in-depth one for the Peterson, and it was great! You just need to do something similar, but half the time, each week. It would really help your YT channel 😎

[@skanda1832]

Absolutely brilliant. Thank you

[@aspenyukon6845]

11sec flat quarter mile is only about 550hp. Small T3 turbos are good for a max 300hp each so enough air for 600hp max.

[@82_930]

@@thedynoshed4390 it’s legit. I watched one dyno, 807.4whp 760.9 Torque. Makes just over 830 at the crank. The sound is insane also, got to drive it and make some pulls in it a week later. From a roll it would put Tesla plaid to shame.

[@82_930]

@@thedynoshed4390 I don’t know the manifold pressure they were running or the dyno, I do know they were running 93 octane and 2.6 bar of boost though, and about 8300rpm max.

[@82_930]

@@thedynoshed4390 nope torque kept rising until 6700 rpm. But yes I think it was bored out to 3.6 liters. I don’t know everything they were running this took place 6 years ago. And no this AWD system is super efficient. They said 90 something percent of the engine power gets to the wheels

[@82_930]

@@thedynoshed4390 Yeah I drove the 959 I was talking about 2 weeks after it ran on the dyno, they didn’t pick the car up from me for another 5 months. Dude said he’d take it back in a week. I took it to 4 car meets, decimated a 1000whp R35 from a 40 roll, and went to an abandoned runway with it. Hit 226mph. Best 5 months of my life. What motor you got in your S4? The inline 5 variants are stupid quick and if it is an inline 5 you probably need a new trannie if your gonna build it past 600whp

[@82_930]

@@thedynoshed4390 ohh I don’t know the Porsche 928 variants, I thought you was talking about an Audi S4 😂

[@jeffbecker8716]

I wonder how many millions we're talking? ... and dreaming of hitting the lottery and getting on this list.

[@trance9158]

Love these rare 959. Screw the F40 and Countach....Porsche excellence.

[@superchickensoup]

I have to say, I never liked the 959, I was always a F40 guy and I still am, but if I had a choice now between the F40 and one of Brian's 959's I would take the 959 in a blink of a eye

[@christinefury7839]

One is has perfectly assessable performance for the owner as can be driven daily. The other is a racing car with a license plate and is only usable by professional racing drivers as it's too racy and edgy in its set up to be remotely accessible for your average owner. You know which is which. Here's the truth: While bona fide racing drivers love the F40 most of them will also admit that it's a challenge to drive fast and demands a lot from the driver, and also that it's basically a road legal race car which *shouldn't* be offered to people who lack the skills of racing drivers.

[@kristene2372]

​@@christinefury7839959 is faster

[@7spower998]

2:55 Fixed brakes system not floating

[@stingray120]

That 959 would look gorgeous on white wheels

[@facetiousmonkey5322]

Timeless

[@franciscotorres3460]

what good taste this man has!

[@Nicrobeeld]

Great video, thx!

[@LatifTayour]

Love it. Need to drive this one day.

[@thebentley71]

You need to put a titanium roll cage in it for safety & it will still be lightweight & strong. In another video you stated it's only a 2.8 liter. I'm sure you could bore & stroke the engine to at least a 4.0 liter flat 6.

[@82_930]

No maximum 3.6 liters

[@hammmodjabeer7278]

The best sport car in the world

[@jasonandrews457]

what a beautiful michine

[@larrybean379]

It's been said before. There is no substitute.

[@Tj930]

Oh, I do love 959s

[@user-uz4wk3np1j]

Моя мечта!!!!

[@onkouth]

What Canepa do with the 959 is incredible, I have watched so many videos of them developing and rebuilding them and I am a little torn between loving the upgrades and being someone who loves originality, I personally would prefer a totally original 959 sport but some of the cars they have built are amazing particularly the Irish Green car!

[@petrolheads6328]

living the dream

[@williamcafuski4060]

WOW!!! What a car.....

[@bernardthefourth]

Beautiful car. 996 Turbo with a few mods is kind of the same thing but 12 years later.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

👍

[@markh3279]

Beautiful

[@sibunit38]

Wow, what hell🔝Beast of a machine and engineering point right on 🔝Notch level🖤 Much love for that dream car and huge congrats to the owner for having letting as see what he built & uses as it it’s meant to be 😃 👊🏼🤘🏼

[@alextaylor8776]

Does anyone know if they remove the original hydraulic suspension system when they do the modifications? That was one of the coolest features on the 959.

[@challacustica9049]

They upgraded them with more modernized versions

[@boogboog8097]

Amazing, living the dream...

[@93455Driver]

Great video, good editing. Should have more views. Less music more engine noise please.

[@joaoportesantava1412]

It’s incredible the 959

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Agreed. Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@despizedicon]

one of the dream car on my wall as a ki

[@lacoolhand1017]

Epic car 😎

[@neiltitmus9744]

Such a practical supercar

[@geemanbmw]

Legendary

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Thanks for watching and be sure to subscribe.

[@lwwells]

I hate to say, I think it's too much power for me! If I could afford something this amazing, I'd prefer to have 650hp.

[@jstoli996c4s]

Agreed. It weighs only 3,000 pounds, so it’s still a missile even at that hp!

[@lwwells]

@@jstoli996c4s Absolutely weapon.

[@yt0500323022]

Amazing machine; but you’d have an uphill battle convincing me that it’s faster and more capable than a 991 GT2 RS.

[@Archangel54]

A 959 updated w/ 800+ HP and it is hard to believe it is faster than the GT2 rs ??

[@82_930]

Dude a 959’s AWD system gets 94 percent to the wheels when STOCK, it would probably destroy an R35 GTR with 400 more horsepower.

[@jeffv103]

Bruce Canepa has raced and owns a 917, a pristine 935 and his own GT2RS. I've seen the work he's done on the 959SC. If Bruce says it's faster than his GT2RS trust the statement cuz it's true.

[@type1krush205]

ITS AN ALLTIME BEDROOM POSTER HALL OF FAMER

[@joshfoley8862]

Are the new 18" wheels hollow spoked?

[@michaelschneider-]

@Josh Foley .. Yes. . Hollow spoked as the original wheels.

[@daviejay5326]

What the hell are we doing to do when automakers stop building gas cars

[@toniwonkanobi]

Seems like a super nice guy. Great car too ;)

[@DuckWhale]

Great video!

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Thanks for watching and supporting our channel!

[@paulv22]

This is my lottery win car.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Yes! Be sure to subscribe.

[@koollee]

So much better with taller wheels on this one, id go even a lil taller, and bet in would stretch the gears and speed even more. If i had it id spend a mil on this.. the SC only tho, not regular 959

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@gianniskrouskas8786]

good

[@Eltalstro]

Wow!

[@PatreonPreviewsofVictorTanzig]

Strip all the emissions crap off, straight pipe it, and remap it to run off 100 octane and it should pump out over 1000 horsepower

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

That would be wild!

[@danielesalvati4332]

When iT came out I love it only I like .Acura nsx love it

[@jon89tsupra]

The 959 wasn't ahead of the curve. It set the curbe.

[@DonatasPetrus]

Wow

[@rsjones9303]

Amen🙌

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Thanks for watching. Be sure to subscribe!

[@commasNculture]

I want so bad

[@johnmontag]

Too bad they cost a new 911 turbo every few years in upkeep

[@svens.5139]

Scalpel.

[@clifflee5404]

He's got a gt2rs yet he prefers the 959....awesome

[@crissignori7482]

makes me love my 993 turbo even more

[@jostrander71]

11.0 with 800hp seems a little off

[@stevefowler2112]

Faster then a stock GT2 RS...that says quite a bit, I own a '19 GT2 RS WP/Mags car and it will scare you white if you ask her to dance.

[@frznrrfan.frznrrfan102]

The 959 has 120 more horse power and all wheel drive, plus he said the entire car has been updated to modern 2020 specs including the twin turbo chargers, wiring harness and all suspension components, you couldn't buy a better car from the factory, even if they still produced them. As with your car, you better have some idea of what your doing if you plan on dancing as you say, but I believe the 959 will be a little more forgiving and willing to educate you over time.

[@MohammadHussainIRP]

I need

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

We all do right?

[@GarthLovesTRAVEL]

💥💥💥💥💥🤙

[@keithwhittygmail]

A Nissan GTR with Alpha 7 upgrade.for 30K will be faster.,.more room and less money. Why bother with some old platform that costs soooo much more to maintain and run. It's kinda like hoarding but you've got the space and money it doesn't look freaky and.wierd.

[@jstoli996c4s]

It still won’t be a 959.

[@jammycathcart]

£2 million car these days ,

[@davejoe2592]

Isn't it fun y how a guy so associated with the Porsche name, can't pronounce Porsche correctly?

[@NoName-dn8nv]

the only thing wrong with the 959 is the steering wheel

[@82_930]

Agreed

[@datura_boof]

I guess he doesn't like the 944

[@Terre328]

I could watch 30 mins or more of bruce telling the 959 story. Hope to meet that guy someday.

[@jdoesmath2065]

Just stop by his shop in Scotts Valley, CA. Better than even chance he'll be there. He's a cool guy.