You get into one of the fastest and most legendary supercars ever built, the Porsche 959. You look at the gearshift and see something strange. Where the “1” normally sits is a “G. A mistake? No. It’s a brilliant German trick to get around the rules.
The “Gelände” trick
In 1986, the Porsche 959 was a spaceship on wheels. But that technology came at a price: sound. According to Car and Driver, Porsche devised a ruse to get around the strict noise standards. They fitted a six-speed transmission, but called the first gear “G” (from Gelände).
Porsche came up with a ruse. They fitted a six-speed transmission, but called the first gear “G” (from Gelände, or terrain). Officially, this was a crawling gear for off-road use or harsh conditions. This made the “real” first gear the second gear on paper.
The result? In the mandatory noise test (where you have to pass in a certain gear) Porsche was now allowed to shift up to what was officially the ‘second’ (but actually the third), keeping the revs lower and the car neatly within the noise standards. A feat of German engineering to outsmart the officials.
The blueprint for the future
The “G-bucket” is just one of the many innovations that made the 959 unique. The car was full of technology that we only now consider normal: tire pressure sensors, magnesium rims, a body made of Kevlar and aluminum, and a hydraulic suspension system that automatically lowered the car at high speed.
Originally intended as a Group B rally monster, it became the progenitor of all modern 911 Turbos. Where Ferrari opted for raw simplicity (the F40 was actually a go-kart with a V8), Porsche opted for computerized perfection. The fact that Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld bought one says it all: this was the car for the tech elite.
Still priceless
Today, the 959 is one of the most sought-after Porsches in the world. Less than 300 of them have been built and prices are heading toward 2 million euros. Should you ever come across one and get to get in: don’t forget to put it in its “G” for a moment. Not because you are going off-road, but just to feel how Porsche bent the rules to build the fastest car in the world.
Image Source: PRO SHOTS / psnewz, Adobe Stock, Gemini AI
