FROM RACING PROTOTYPE TO FLAGSHIP SUPERCAR

Engineered with overwhelming power, yet minimally governed by the computers and adaptive elements that characterize so many of today’s supercars, the Porsche Carrera GT was a perfect homage to the company’s legendary roots in motorsports. This is hardly surprising given the fact that the model was originally developed with the hopes of competing in prototype sports car racing.

On the heels of Stuttgart’s 1998 victory at Le Mans with the 911 GT1, the engineers at Weissach set their sights on a new open-top prototype for the LMP1-98 program. Rather than employing the familiar 911-based turbocharged flat-six of the GT1, the prototype was to be powered by a normally aspirated wide-angle V-10 resuscitated from the stillborn Footwork Arrows Formula One project. The car might have been a fantastic contender on the track had the FIA not canceled the 1999 Le Mans Prototype class, effectively ending the car’s competition future. But the minds at Porsche were not content to let the development work be cast aside, so the project was transitioned to a new design brief: flagship roadgoing supercar.

Officially introduced at the 2000 Paris Salon, the Carrera GT debuted to great acclaim, initially equipped with a 5.5-liter version of the V-10. Although the Carrera GT showcar may have only been intended as an attention-grabbing technical exercise, customer interest was undeniable, prompting Porsche to greenlight production of this ravishing top-shelf boutique offering.

Clearly predicated on the racing principles of low weight and extreme power, the Carrera GT was centered upon a lightweight 220-pound driver’s tub of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). The material was also generously used in the engine subframe and the breathtaking coachwork, which sprung from the pen of Grant Larson, the designer of the popular Boxster. With its sensuous curves and low stance, the body is reminiscent of the racing spyders of the 1950s and 60s, evoking Stuttgart’s proud motorsports tradition.

The jewel-like aluminum V-10 engine, which grew to 5.7 liters in production form, employed an unusual angle of 68 degrees. Overall weight and reciprocating mass were lowered with the use of lightweight racing components such as aluminum pistons, an aluminum intake manifold, titanium connecting rods, and a forged crankshaft. In total the remarkably engineered motor weighed just 452 pounds.

Dry-sump lubrication allowed the mid/rear-mounted engine to be placed very low within the subframe, and a carbon ceramic clutch and low-mass flywheel contributed to free-revving low-inertia performance encapsulated by a redline of 8,400 rpm. Developing 605 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 435 pound-feet of torque, the V-10 was mated to a six-speed manual transaxle actuated with a beechwood-capped shifter in the style of the celebrated 917.

The net result was earth-shattering performance, as the Carrera GT could reach 60 mph from standstill in just 3.6 seconds, and a top speed of 205 mph, making it an instant member of the exclusive 200+ mph supercar club. Cross-drilled ceramic-composite disc brakes with huge 14.96-inch rotors anchored lightweight magnesium wheels, and an ingenious suspension system derived from the 911 GT1 ensured superior cornering and balance.

Built in a modest quantity of 1,270 examples through four years of production, of which only 644 cars were exported to the United States, the Carrera GT is today regarded as one of Stuttgart’s most desirable prestige models, as proven by its steady increase in value over the last 15 years. The Le Mans-inspired model boasts Weissach’s legendary competition pedigree, striking good looks, and relative rarity, checking all the boxes as one of today’s most appealing “future classics.”

SERIAL NO. 0690: AN EXCEPTIONALLY LOW-MILEAGE CARRERA GT

Claiming a life of minimal driving use through no more than two private ownerships, this striking Carrera GT is among the most desirable examples to be encountered. According to a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, chassis number 001274 was built in March 2005, finished in GT Silver Metallic paint with a matching roof panel over an interior trimmed entirely in Terracotta leather. Further appointed with air conditioning, XT bucket racing seats, Porsche Online Pro audio system with CD player, and a set of luggage in matching Terracotta leather, the Carrera GT was dispatched to the United States, destined for retail by Bert Smith International of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Believed to have remained with one owner in Florida through at least 2017, the Porsche was reportedly purchased by a collector in Kansas circa January 2021. Around this time, the car received an $18,000 service at Byers Imports of Columbus, Ohio, including the installation of a new water pump, engine belts, spark plugs, tire pressure control sensors, and battery. The opportunity was also taken to mount new Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

Acquired by the current caretaker in January 2022, this Carrera GT has recently undergone a clutch reading, and it was found to measure 30.34 millimeters. At the time of cataloguing displayed just 267 miles on the odometer. It is accompanied by owner’s manuals, four pieces of Terracotta luggage, wheel nut socket, and documented with service records and a Porsche COA. Such a low-mileage and well-maintained Carrera GT would make a fabulous addition to any sporting collection, as a stellar and highly original example of one of Stuttgart’s most significant modern prestige cars.