Porsche Carrera GT (2006)

The Carrera GT's roots can be firmly traced back to its predecessors, the 911 GT1 and LMP1-98 racing cars. In 1998 Porsche planned on a new Le Mans prototype for 1999. The car was initially intended to use a turbocharged flat-6, but was later redesigned to use a new V10 engine, pushing the project back to planned completion in 2000. The V10 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. Porsche started a production run of Carrera GTs in 2004, the first Carrera GT went on sale in the US on January 31, 2004. The Carrera GT is powered by a 5.7-litre V10 engine producing 612 horsepower. Porsche claims it will accelerate from 0 to 62.1 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 included 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.

Elements pointing to the car's 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 Le Mans racers. In typical Porsche fashion, the ignition is to the left of the steering wheel. 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.

This example was first registered on 1st September 2006 and as a final year build car, is fitted with a number of options not available to early cars. This very Carrera GT is the final example to be supplied to the UK, finished in Basalt Black over Natural Dark Grey leather. Fitted with the air-conditioning and Porsche Online Pro CD radio as expected, this car also received the updated steering wheel with carbon fibre inserts, carbon fibre handbrake and carbon fibre gear knob. The carbon fibre options were introduced as a result of customer demand and fit very well with the interior, the Carrera GT receiving carbon fibre door cards as standard as well as extensive use throughout the cabin.

• C16 - UK Supplied
• LC9Z - Basalt Black
• DZ - All leather seats dark grey
• 197 - High amp battery
• 572 - Air-conditioning
• 681 - Sound system
• 579 - Luggage set dark grey
• 690 - Porsche Online Pro CD Radio
  
  
• GAC - Carbon Fiber Steering Wheel
• GAD - Carbon Fiber Handbrake
• GAG - Carbon Fibre Gear Lever

Desirably, this example has also been fitted with a front axle lifting kit. Totally reversible, it ensures driveability of the car is not impeded by the perils of speedbumps!

Serviced exclusively by Porsche Reading since new, this example has no fewer than 12 stamps in its accompanied original service book. Most recently the car was serviced at Reading in June 2022. This fantastic example is available to view at our showrooms just outside London immediately.