As well as being one of the most iconic supercars of the 1980s, the Porsche 959 has plenty of racing pedigree. After all, the car was originally built so Porsche could compete in the Group B rally series. A limited run of Porsche 959s were also built to participate in the Paris-Dakar Rally during the 1980s, which served as prototypes for the road-going production model. Later this year in October, RM Sotheby's will be hosting a special Porsche 70th Auction, which will be headlined by one of six rally-spec Porsche 959s that were ever built.

The first example to ever be sold at a public auction, it's one of three Porsche 959s that competed in the 1985 Paris-Dakar Rally. All three cars were equipped with the Carrera's naturally aspirated 3.2-liter engine and the suspension, all-wheel drive system, and body panels developed for the 959. Specifically, the car going under the hammer is chassis number 010015 driven by René Metge. Sadly, none of the three 959s that entered the 1985 Paris-Dakar completed the challenging 8,700-mile race, though Metge drove a different 959 to victory at the same event the following year. Chassis 010015 was forced to retire in the 1985 rally due to an oil line failure, while the other two 959s crashed.

Since it survived the race in better condition than the other two 959s, car #0100015 went on to participate in various vintage events across the US and Europe, including appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2004-2006 under former owner Jacky Ickx, at the Royal Automobile Club in London, and at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, where it won Best in Class in 2008. "It is fantastic to be able to offer one of the very few 959 Paris-Dakar rally cars at auction, especially at our Porsche 70th Anniversary sale," said Alexander Weaver, car specialist at RM Sotheby's.

"Just six of these impressive machines were ever built, with five examples surviving and perhaps a mere two or three, including this car, in private hands. The Paris-Dakar presents in as-raced, highly original condition, and is being commissioned to complete running order prior to the sale in October." Hosted by the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta on October 27, chassis #010015 will go under the hammer at the Porsche 70th Anniversary Sale auction. RM Sotheby's estimates it will sell for between $3 million and $3.4 million.