Colors make cars.

This catchphrase is quickly becoming commonplace in today’s classic car market. While enthusiasts today can choose from a rainbow of colors for their new supercar, this was not always the case, even as recently as ten or twenty years ago.

In the case of Porsche’s Carrera GT, the company’s halo supercar could be had in five standard colors: GT Silver Metallic, Seal Grey, Basalt Black, Fayence Yellow, or Guards Red. For the more daring, Paint to sample options have always been available for Porsche customers, and Carrera GT was no exception to this rule. Despite the Carrera GT’s place in Porsche’s model range and its cost when new, this was an option not frequently specified. While sources vary, it is believed that fewer than sixty Carrera GTs were finished in a paint to sample color, with perhaps half that figure or less destined for the US market.

Carrara White would be the chosen color for this particular Carrera GT, serial number 1080, and it is thought to be one of only a handful Carrera GTs originally finished in that shade. The outside of the wheel spokes are painted in Carrara White to match the bodywork, alongside black painted brake calipers instead of the standard contrasting red and yellow painted calipers. The paintwork is offset by a Natural Dark Grey leather interior, the interior features deviated stitching throughout, including on the steering wheel with optional carbon fiber trim. The car is also fitted with the rare carbon fiber shift knob, usually made of birch and ash in a nod to Porsche’s 917. Finally, the Carrera GT was outfitted with the rare matching luggage set, and it is presently accompanied by wooden-handeled briefcase, hold-all bag, the suit carrier, duffel bag, center console bag, and the two small bags for the door compartments (photos of the accmopanying items can be found in the digital history file). All told, this Carrera GT’s MSRP came out to $504,060, believed to be one of the highest MSRPs of any Carrera GT.

According to the accompanying CARFAX, this Carrera GT was delivered new via Porsche of Naples in November 2005, but shortly thereafter the car was exported to Europe and reregistered in Germany. At the time, this was not an unusual occurrence for US-specification Carrera GTs, as US-delivered cars, Carrera GTs were occasionally cheaper to buy and import to certain European countries due to the value of the US dollar versus the euro, and the relative surplus of Carrera GTs delivered to the US compared to those delivered in Europe. While it is not known exactly when this car was exported to Europe, the earliest invoice for the car on file is a minor service from Porsche Zentrum Seestern in Germany, dated April 2008 showing the car had accrued 1,897 km at that point.

At that point, the car was under the ownership of Dr. Roger Orzelski. Further invoices show that he had driven the car some 4,000 km more over the course of the next two and a half years, at which point the car received an engine-out major service and a new water pump at Porsche Zentrum Düsseldorf. A further service with the fitment of four new tires took place in 2014, and in 2015 the battery was replaced at 7,542 km.

By 2017, the Carrera GT had passed into the ownership of Klaus Dieter Frers and the car would return to Porsche Zentrum Düsseldorf for a major service at 8,243 km which included fitting new brake pads and the replacement of a taillight. A minor service was carried out in June of 2021 at 9,574 km (5,949 miles).

At some point while in Europe, the original US specification front bumper was replaced with a RoW specification front bumper. Only US specification Carrera GTs were required to have front ¾ reflectors, and most consider the RoW cars without indicators to be more visually attractive as a result. Furthermore, the speedometer was replaced with a km/h gauge, while the digital readout and odometer have reverted back to miles today. Finally, a KW nose lift kit has been fitted to the car. Activated by a button discreetly hidden in the ashtray and able to be activated within seconds, this makes the day-to-day driving experience much more stress-free.

In mid-2024, the Carrera GT was re-imported into the US where it remains today. Shortly after arrival, the car was shipped to Porsche Exchange of Highland Park, Illinois, where the recall service to replace the upper and lower front suspension wishbones was carried out in November of 2024. At the same time, the car was fitted with four new tires and an oil change was carried out.

Truly a 21st century analog hero, the Carrera GT has become a true modern-day collectable. The paint to sample cars are, without a doubt, the most highly sought-after examples due to their rarity and visual panache. Showing less than 6,300 miles from new, this would be a noteworthy addition to any significant Porsche collection.