Rare Porsche 959 Cabriolet: The Only One of Its Kind Ever Made

Mechanical Unicorn - Sometimes, the automotive world surprises us with machines so rare and so full of character that they feel less like cars and more like mechanical legends. In the world of high-performance convertibles, one particular creation stands out not only for its jaw-dropping specifications but also for its incredible backstory—a machine that never officially existed in the Porsche catalog, yet is very much real: the one-of-a-kind Porsche 959 Cabriolet.

The Porsche 959 Cabriolet began as a Silver Metallic 959 ‘Komfort’ with a Cashmere Beige and Black leather interior, originally owned by German race driver Jürgen Lässig until an Autobahn crash led him to sell it to visionary craftsman Karl-Heinz Feustel, who transformed it into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. (Picture from: TopGear)

To understand the significance of this remarkable car, it helps to appreciate where it all began. The Porsche 959 was never meant to be ordinary. Conceived during the 1980s as a Group B rally monster, it was Porsche’s technological leap into the future. The production version came out of necessity due to homologation rules requiring a road-going counterpart. What emerged was a vehicle that defied the norm—a street-legal supercar with a 2.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine, all-wheel drive, and innovations that would echo through Porsche’s future lineups. At launch, it was the fastest street-legal production car in the world, a masterstroke of engineering wrapped in a sleek, futuristic shell.

The Porsche 959 Cabriolet finished in Grand Prix White with a blue soft-top roof over a blue leather interior. (Picture from: TopGear)

But the story takes a rare twist in 1988, when one of these marvels—a 959 “Komfort” variant painted in Silver Metallic and a two-tone Cashmere Beige and Black leather interior—was delivered to Jürgen Lässig, a seasoned race car driver with serious credentials, including a podium finish at Le Mans. Not long after taking ownership, Lässig was involved in a major autobahn accident, leaving the once-pristine supercar badly damaged. Rather than consigning it to the scrapyard, he sold the remains to someone with both the vision and the skill to transform tragedy into triumph: Karl-Heinz Feustel.

The Porsche 959 ‘Speedster’ conversion exhibited at the 1989 Frankfurt International Motor Show and 1989 Essen Motor Show. (Picture from: TopGear)

Feustel wasn’t just a Porsche enthusiast—he was a respected racer and the owner of a Porsche tuning and repair shop near Cologne. Over the course of 4,000 meticulous hours, he not only restored the broken 959 but did something no one had ever attempted: he turned it into a convertible. What resulted is nothing short of extraordinary—a fully roadworthy Porsche 959 Cabriolet, finished in striking Grand Prix White with a reimagined interior in elegant blue leather accented by streaks of grey and cream.

The Porsche 959 Cabriolet was fitted with a meticulously crafted custom interior, elegantly trimmed in rich blue leather for a truly distinctive look. (Picture from: TopGear)

Feustel’s custom craftsmanship didn’t stop at removing the roof. The car also received a removable hardtop, a soft tonneau cover, and even an interchangeable “Speedster” windscreen with extra side mirrors—details that reflect both aesthetic flair and thoughtful functionality. Displayed at prestigious auto shows in Frankfurt and Essen in 1989, the cabriolet immediately drew attention for looking as if it had rolled straight out of Porsche’s own design studio.

The Porsche 959 Cabriolet powered by a blistering 444 horsepower twin-turbo engine, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. (Picture from: TopGear)

Mechanically, the soul of the 959 remains intact. That means the blistering 444 horsepower twin-turbo engine is still at the heart of the car, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and the original lightweight chassis. With a 0–62 mph time under four seconds and a top speed approaching 197 mph, this cabriolet is not just a looker—it’s a legitimate performance machine that rivals many of today’s elite supercars.

The Porsche 959 Cabriolet features a blue soft top and matching tonneau cover, and also includes a removable white hard top for added versatility. (Picture from: TopGear)

Having covered only around 5,150 miles over the past 30-plus years, the car remains in pristine condition. Now, it’s reappearing in the spotlight with RM Sotheby’s, set to be auctioned in Milan. With an estimated value between £1.27 million and £1.7 million, this one-off Porsche 959 Cabriolet isn’t just a collector’s item—it’s a piece of automotive history, a symbol of innovation, resilience, and passion. | X8U4bmivS94 |

For those fortunate enough to be in the market for something truly unique, this isn't just a rare convertible—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a car that embodies everything Porsche stands for, yet dares to be something entirely its own.*** [EKA [09022014] | FROM VARIOSUS SOURCES | RMSOTHEBYS | TOPGEAR | ROBBREPORT | AUTOS.YAHOO | ROADANDTRACK ]

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