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If you pass 14.000 kilometers through the deserts and savannas of Africa, you can compete anywhere in the world. The Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar mastered the tough rally from France to West Africa in 1986. The 959, with which Jacky Ickx and Claude Brasseur finished second behind the Frenchmen René Metge and Dominique Lemoyne in the identical winning vehicle, is once again ready to drive. The Porsche Heritage and Museum team, together with colleagues from Porsche Classic, have been working on the reopening for the past few months. The multi-part documentary “959 Paris-Dakar” on the Porsche YouTube channel offers exciting insights into the process of putting the vehicle back into operation.
The racing history 959 Paris Dakar
The starting field at the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1986 was dominated by trucks and off-road vehicles. The three Porsche 959 from Zuffenhausen catch the eye, the third occupies sixth place as a service car with project manager Roland Kussmaul and Wolf-Hendrik Unger. The Porsche Heritage and Museum still houses the complete trio in its collection today. “The winning vehicle remains untouched, we keep it in a time capsule, so to speak, and let the traces of the rally stick to it for as long as possible,” explains Kuno Werner, head of the museum workshop.
The team needed two years in the 959s to transform the 210 into a rally car. The specialists reinforce the chassis with double shock absorbers on the front axle and fit off-road tires. If the ground does not require four driven wheels, the electro-hydraulically controlled center differential distributes the power variably to the front and rear axles. The Porsche is up to XNUMX km/h fast.
Race manager Peter Falk remembers the first three participations, in 1984 with the Porsche 953 and in the two years that followed with the 959 Paris-Dakar: “It was all the better that we got all the cars to the finish line and won the first time. And then Mr. Bott said: 'We have to compete a second time, once is not enough.' In 1985 we retired with all three cars. That was devastating. After that we said to each other that we have to compete again. Although we were all a bit fed up after losing everything. And in 1986 it worked again. All three cars arrived and a one-two.”
Revision: Tell the story of the vehicle authentically
"We want to keep the used condition and only slightly revise the vehicle, but it should remain technically flawless," says Werner. Because the starting basis of the runner-up from 1986 is very good, those responsible manage to replace as few as possible and to retain the maximum number of parts originally installed. The 959 Paris-Dakar has around 18.000 kilometers on the clock, resulting from rally use and a few thousand kilometers of testing. Like the series counterpart, the rally vehicle is powered by an air/water-cooled boxer engine with register turbocharging. Because of the poor fuel quality, the output of the six-cylinder is reduced to 294 kW (400 hp).
“The 959 Paris-Dakar is a technology showcase and for that reason alone its re-commissioning is emotionally charged. In 1986 the car was challenged, now we are challenged,” says Uwe Makrutzki, Head of Porsche Classic Factory Restoration. His team and that of Kuno Werner work hand in hand and coordinate closely. Porsche Classic dismantles, overhauls and assembles the engine, gearbox and axle drive for the project. All components have little or no damage. “The condition of the vehicle is very good, there are no major deformations or corrosion. As with any restoration with the specific mission of preserving as much substance as possible, the team examines each individual component and repairs or replaces where necessary. Many parts from back then are in the near-series prototype status,” summarizes Werner.
For the tough distance of the rally, the sports car manufacturer optimized, among other things, the attachment of the engine control units in the 1.260s. In order to be able to cross rivers without being damaged, the experts place the engine control units high up. Porsche is also preparing the oil cooler and lines under the rear fenders for the rally and has given the vehicle motorsport genes by perforating the aluminum support. In order to save even more weight, the sports car manufacturer drilled holes in the brake discs and opted for a body, doors and hood made of Kevlar. So the Stuttgarter end up with a relatively low dry weight of XNUMX kg.
Sand and dirt from the African desert
During dismantling, those involved come into contact with sand and dirt from the African desert. Since the vehicle's return, the body and technology have never been separated. “This is not an everyday occurrence for us either, but very fascinating. Today we can see from mud-like dirt that the 959 Paris-Dakar crossed rivers and that there was water in the interior,” reveals Werner. Small areas of corrosion where the Kevlar body panels rubbed against the metal frame during dynamic rally use are preserved rather than repaired to preserve the vehicle's history.
“After checking and repairing all the components, we even leave the cable ties exactly where they were. After all, appearance is irretrievable. Transmission professional Klaus Kariegus is also enthusiastic about the African dust on the vehicle and the authenticity that goes with it. “The vehicle has proven its quality and robustness. Even sand and dust from tough racing couldn't harm the technology. Even then, high-quality materials were used,” says Kariegus. With Makrutzki's team, consisting of four specialists for the 959, he takes care of the functionality of the technology and that the historical traces of the missions are preserved. "We can only tell the story authentically and preserve it if we get the injuries from back then," summarizes Werner.
Snow and Gravel: Rollout against a spectacular backdrop with Jacky Ickx
To tell the 1986 story as authentically as possible, the Porsche Heritage and Museum team invited Jacky Ickx to roll out after the gentle makeover. The former driver of the runner-up 959 Paris-Dakar gets to be the first to move the vehicle in a quarry. "Immediate memories come up in the car, I think of the people who made it possible for me back then." The team on site consisted of just 18 people. The cohesion was strong and last but not least one of the decisive factors for the success. “Everyone wanted to drive the car on the road back then. And then Porsche decides to send the 959 to a desert rally. It's fantastic that I can be part of this story," enthuses Ickx. The rally was an incredible challenge and at the same time the perfect test track for the all-wheel drive. Nobody would have expected this success from him and his rally colleagues. "The desert is like the sea, no dune or wave is like the other," says Ickx, describing the situation.
For Le Mans winner Timo Bernhard, who accompanies him during the rollout of the revised vehicle, the experiences of his fellow racing driver from 1986 are fascinating. "I remember unique rally scenes where the helicopters couldn't follow the cars because they were driving so fast," adds Timo Bernhard. Ickx sums up the first drive after almost four decades in three words: "Memories, emotions, passion." For the head of the museum workshop, Kuno Werner, the rollout is something very special: "The 959 stood for years before it was completely new symbiosis with the original driver from back then on snow and gravel. That makes our entire team at Porsche Heritage and Museum proud.”
It can be seen at Retro Classics and on the Porsche YouTube channel
From February 23 to 26, 2023, interested parties can view the vehicle in Stuttgart at Retro Classics as part of the special show "75 years of Porsche sports cars" in the atrium / exhibition center entrance east. If you don't have time to visit the trade fair, you can still get exciting insights into the process of putting the machine back into operation. A camera team has accompanied the Porsche Heritage and Museum as well as Porsche Classic over the past few months through the individual steps leading up to the restart. The first part of the "959 Paris-Dakar" documentary can be viewed in full on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 on the Porsche YouTube channel. After the first video, five more will follow in February on the days: 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th. Exciting insights await the viewers: from the inventory, the dismantling of the engine, body work, revision and Reinstallation of the engine up to the first ride.
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Porsche preserves the history of the 959 Paris-Dakar
Photo credit: Porsche
