The 959 was the test bed, so to speak, of much of the technology used today, from AWD to the use of twin turbos as used on the 993, 996, and 997 turbos, and watercooled heads as found on 996 and 997 turbos, GT2s and GT3s. The twin turbos were sequential, whereas the newer turbo cars (993, 996, 997) use one turbo dedicated to each bank of three cylinders. The motor, like all the old-style v-bottomed motors uses a true dry-sump oiling system.

The AWD system is different in the 996 and 997 AWD drive cars, more of an evolution of what was used in the 959. The 959 used a 2.85 L twin turbo motor that put out 444 hp. So it's got about 90 HP more than the current C4s. It's much smaller, and weighs about 250 lbs less. the 959 is faster, too. Top speed was 198-202 mph depending on what your source is... 0-60 mph was 3.6 sec. the car was a homologation for the Gruppe B racing series, which as it turned out was never initiated. Only 268 were built, none for use on the road in the US.

The 997 C4S uses the new-style fully watercooled motor and puts out 355 hp. Like the Cayman and CS, it also uses the wet-sump oiling system - Porsche calls it an "integrated dry sump."

The other difference I can tell you is the torque value on our wheel lug bolts is 96 ft. lbs, where the torque value on the single-nut wheel system on the 959 is 460 ft. lbs.

The newer AWD turbo cars - 993, 996, and 997, are much closer cousins to the 959 than the 997 C4s.

brad

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21-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor