Porsche 959 On Bay Area Craigslist

[StanAE86]

US Legalized:

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/167331561.html

[StanAE86]

Porsche wouldn't give the US Dept. of Transportation 4 cars to crash test...so the US said, "fine, you cant sell them here." Porsche had several cars that were built as "US spec" cars too.

http://erntheburn.tripod.com/autos/959/95911.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_959

"The 959 was not street legal in the United States prior to 1999 when the "Show and Display" law was finally passed, although an unknown number were imported via the "grey market" during the late 1980s as show pieces. During the model's development, Porsche refused to provide the United States Department of Transportation with the four 959s they required for crash testing, and the car was never certified by the NHTSA for street use in the U.S. With the passage of "Show and Display" the crash test requirements were removed and importation of the 959 was allowed, assuming the car could meet with the local emissions standards that would have existed as of 1987. The 959 can be fitted with a catalytic converter and a rechipped computer which will allow it to meet those emissions requirements. However most owners refuse to modify their 959s, and the cars remain as collection pieces. While the initial selling price was $230,000, it is agreed that today, one of these cars would be worth upwards of a million dollars. The most famous owner of the 959 is likely Microsoft Founder Bill Gates. The car was likely the famously frugal Gates' first "splurge" of his vast wealth and the "Show and Display" law was partially his doing."

[nickthaskater]

I recall reading somewhere that upon learning of the 959's less than legal status in the US, Gates went on to create (or fund or what have you) a computer program which demonstrated the crash test results, which allowed him to legalized his 959... I wish I could remember where I read that, though I'm pretty sure it was a major magazine.

Either way, cool find.