The title of “last great analog supercar” is hotly contested, but the Porsche Carrera GT sits at the top of the list for countless enthusiasts. Advanced in its design and in its use of cutting-edge materials, the Carrera GT nevertheless offers a purist driving experience unlike anything built by major automakers today. At its heart is a naturally aspirated V-10 paired with a specially developed six-speed manual transmission, the sole gearbox offered. A lack of intrusive electronic driving aids made the Carrera GT a raw and challenging, but immensely rewarding, car to master.

The tale of the Carrera GT’s development—and how it languished beneath shifting tides of corporate investment between 1998 and late 2003—is a complex and fascinating story which can only be briefly touched upon here. Suffice to say, this so-called “Lazarus” project found its origins in a secretive Formula One powertrain program, a Le Mans Prototype chassis, and a concept car exhibited at the 2000 Paris Auto Salon. Porsche’s intensive shift towards its Cayenne SUV initially doomed this ambitious supercar project. However, the Cayenne’s massive commercial success injected the capital needed to finish the Carrera GT and present its production prototype at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show. Having resisted death several times over the course of a multi-year development hell, on 23 February 2003, Porsche’s Carrera GT emerged triumphantly into the limelight—and an accompanying shower of deposit slips.

Porsche’s new supercar broke new ground in many ways; it was the company’s first product to utilize an immensely strong but lightweight monocoque cabin and engine support unit of CFP (carbon fiber-reinforced plastic) with steel bracing around the windshield and passenger compartment. Chassis construction was sublet to Italian aerospace component maker ATR Composites. The front and rear suspension was based on state-of-the-art racing design, with upper and lower stainless-steel wishbones and inboard-mounted, rocker-arm-operated coil-over shock absorbers at all four corners. Huge ventilated and cross-drilled carbon-ceramic disc brakes were managed by multi-piston rear light-alloy calipers fitted behind forged magnesium-alloy center-lock road wheels.

Furthermore, the Formula One-derived V-10 engine now had a home. Sized at 5.7-liters in production form, this marvelous 40-valve powerplant developed an astonishing 613 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 435 pound-feet of torque at 5,750 rpm. Power was delivered through a six-speed manual transaxle. To keep the car’s center of gravity as low as possible, the engine employed dry-sump lubrication.

The bodywork incorporated large air intake and exhaust vents, as well as a pair of removable CFP roof panels that could be stored within, a rear air diffuser, and a stability-enhancing rear wing that rose automatically at 75 mph. The leather interior was luxurious, with every amenity, and included a large digital information screen. The Carrera GT was fitted with numerous safety systems, including traction control and anti-lock braking, all vital to a machine capable of 0–60 times of three seconds and a maximum speed of 200 mph, quite remarkable for a normally aspirated road car.

CARRERA GT 0943

This Carrera GT, serial 0943, is one of just 644 US-market examples produced between 2004 and 2006. Finished in the famous shade of GT Silver Metallic (U2) over a natural dark grey leather (DZ) interior featuring custom tailoring (2427), this Carrera GT’s additional factory specifications include XT-size seats, Porsche Online Pro media unit, floor mats, air conditioning, and a set of matching luggage. The aforementioned “custom tailoring” option is likely a reference to the extensive use of gloss carbon fiber trim throughout the cabin—in substitution of the standard aluminum or leather. The car’s accompanying window sticker shows that it was delivered new to Porsche of North Scottsdale in Phoenix, Arizona.

By September 2005, 0943 had been purchased new by a Colorado resident and remained within their collection until December 2011, then indicating approximately 860 miles. It was thusly acquired by a collector in Houston, Texas, who carefully enjoyed this esteemed supercar until September 2019 and 1,285 miles.

Since June 2020, this Carrera GT has resided within the consignor’s collection. As presented today it shows fewer than 1,315 miles since new. It is accompanied by three pieces of matching luggage, manuals, original window sticker, three keys, and VINanalytics build report.

Automotive critics hailed the Carrera GT as one of the greatest supercars of all time when it was introduced, marveling over its incredible performance in a lightweight, race-ready package with exotically beautiful styling; it is the rare modern masterpiece that is equally suitable for concours exhibition and driving enjoyment. Considering this example’s low mileage and wonderfully maintained condition, this US-specification Carrera GT it is an opportunity not to be missed.