Porsche Carrera GT (2004)

In 1998, Porsche planned on a new Le Mans prototype for 1999. Initially intended to use a turbocharged flat-six cylinder engine, it was later redesigned to use a new V-10 engine, pushing the project back to planned completion in 2000. The V-10 was a unit secretly built by Porsche for the Footwork Formula One team in 1992 but had been shelved. The engine was resurrected for the Le Mans prototype and increased in size to 5.7-litres. Unfortunately, the project was cancelled after two days of testing for the first car, in mid-1999, mostly due to Porsche's wish to build the Cayenne SUV with involvement from Volkswagen and Audi, thus requiring engineering expertise to be pulled from the motorsports division. It was also speculated that VW-Audi chairman Ferdinand Piëch wanted Audi's new Le Mans Prototype, the Audi R8 not to face competition from Porsche in 2004.

Porsche did keep part of the project alive showing a concept car at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show, mainly in an attempt to draw attention to their display. Surprising interest in the vehicle and an influx of revenue provided from the Cayenne helped Porsche decide to produce the car, and development started on a road-legal version that would be produced in small numbers at Porsche's new manufacturing facility in Leipzig, Germany. Porsche started a production run of Carrera GTs for the 2004 model year, the first Carrera GT went on sale in the US on January 31, 2004.

The production-ready Carrera GT didn’t stray far from its original race-bred intentions, and was powered by a 5.7-litre V-10 engine producing 612 horsepower closely related to engine. Porsche claims it will accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 205 mph, although road tests indicated that in reality the car can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds! The Carrera GT has a basic five colour paint schemes which including Guards Red, Fayence Yellow, Basalt Black, GT Silver and Seal Grey. Custom colours were also available from the factory. A traditional six-speed manual transmission is the only available.

In addition to the engine, elements pointing to the cars stillborn Le Mans routes are abundant throughout the car. Attached to this gearbox is a Beechwood gear knob which pays homage to the wooden gear knob used in the Porsche 917. In typical Porsche fashion, the ignition is to the left of the steering wheel. A Porsche fixture, this placement dates back to the early days of Le Mans racing when drivers were required to make a running start, hop into their cars, start them and begin the race. The placement of the ignition enabled the driver to start the car with his left hand and put it in gear with his right.

Sold new to its first owner in Monaco in August 2004, this Carrera GT was built for the French market and equipped with the following optional extras: stronger battery, 197 (stronger battery), 572 (Air-conditioning), 578 (Terracotta luggage set), and 681 (Sound system), 690 (CD Radio Becker Online Pro). Finished in Seal Grey over Terracotta leather, it remained with its first owner for just under three months, it was sold to its second owner, who was at the time an up-and-coming Formula 1 driver, and would later be crowned World Champion. In his ownership, the car was exported to Jersey where it was subsequently registered and remained for the following two years.

In 2006, the Carrera GT was sold to an owner in Germany prior to being exported to the U.K. in 2011. Returning to Germany in 2015, the car remained with an owner there for roughly five years and remains German registered today. Accompanied by its original manuals including its original service book, its most recent service was undertaken in April 2020 at 8,157 km by Porsche Centre Antwerp. This consisted of a minor service as well as fitting four new tyres and new radiators.

In addition to the aforementioned manuals, it is accompanied by the following accessories: an original Porsche car cover, battery tender, additional seat cushions, its original Terracotta luggage set (without the suit carrier), a display box with a V-10 engine model and a VHS cassette of Carrera GT press material. Presently located at our facilities just outside London, this Carrera GT needs nothing and is ready to be enjoyed by its next owner.