Bill Gates bought a Porsche 959 but it spent 13 years stuck in US customs
Bill Gates famously kept his Porsche 959 in US customs for over 13 years because the car did not meet American safety and emissions standards. The vehicle was eventually released under the 'Show or Display' exemption, which allows for the import of historically significant cars.
Why it matters
The story illustrates the intersection of automotive history, strict federal import regulations, and the challenges faced by collectors of rare technology.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates bought a Porsche 959 in 1988, but the rare supercar could not legally be driven on US roads because it had not been certified under American safety and emissions rules. Instead, the car was held in a US customs facility for more than 13 years while Gates and other enthusiasts sought a way to legally import such rare vehicles. The 959 was among Porsche’s most technologically advanced cars of the 1980s, featuring a twin-turbocharged flat-six engine, all-wheel drive and advanced suspension. Gates’ car eventually benefited from the US “Show or Display” exemption, which allowed historically or technologically significant vehicles to be imported under strict conditions.Why Bill Gates’ Porsche 959 was stuck in US customsThe problem was not that the Porsche 959 was considered unsafe in the ordinary sense.
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