The story of Porsche’s Carrera GT started five years before the first production model left the company facilities. Porsche sought to develop a new Le Mans prototype to replace the venerable GT1, which was powered by a 5.5-litre V-10 engine. Although a change in FIA rules shelved its racing plans while the model was in development, Porsche remained undeterred and continued forward with plans to make the platform suitable for road use.
To attract attention to its stand at the Paris Motor Show in 2000, Porsche displayed a road-going concept of the car alongside its other models. With the amount of attention that the concept received —combined with additional revenue from the Cayenne—Porsche decided to go ahead with production. The Carrera GT was first offered for sale in 2004, alongside the Ferrari Enzo, Ford GT, and Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, and it more than held its own in what proved to be an incredible year for supercars.
The Carrera GT was a groundbreaker in many ways; manufacture of its full carbon fibre monocoque and subframe was subcontracted to ATR Composites of Collonna, Italy. To that very strong and lightweight structure was attached a racing-derived suspension with upper and lower wishbones and inboard, rocker-arm suspension at all four corners, eight-piston monoblock front brake callipers, and four-piston monoblock rear callipers with ventilated and cross-drilled carbon-ceramic brake rotors, all surrounded by forged magnesium-alloy centre-lock road wheels.
The mid-mounted 5.7-litre dry-sump, normally aspirated engine has dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Developing more than 600 horsepower, this marvelous powerplant could propel this wonderful 1,250-kilogram machine to 100 km/h in less than four seconds, and 0–200 km/h in less than 10 seconds, with a terminal velocity of nearly 330 km/h. A new small-diameter flywheel and carbon-ceramic clutch package driving a six-speed manual transaxle allowed a very low engine placement and centre of gravity, giving the new chassis tremendous handling qualities.
At the same time, the Carrera GT was quite luxurious, as befitting its nearly €350,000 price tag, with brushed aluminium and carbon fibre interior trim, leather upholstery, air conditioning, power windows, a stereo system, and a colour TFT screen providing three levels of comprehensive information and navigation assistance. The two racing-style seats have adjustable knee and leg supports, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel has hand-painted Porsche crest telescopes for driver convenience. Even the Carrera GT’s gear selector is topped with a wooden knob that harkens back to the famous Le Mans-winning 917 works cars. The Carrera GT was also fitted with extensive safety systems, including front and side airbags, traction control, anti-lock brakes, bi-xenon headlamps, LED taillamps and directionals, and a rear wing that extends automatically at 120 km/h to enhance stability.
Initial demand was such that Porsche allotted only one or two units to each of its dealers worldwide. By the time production ceased in April 2006, just 1,270 examples of this formidable supercar had been built for worldwide distribution.
Carrera GT 0495 came off the Porsche assembly line on 1 December 2004 and was first registered on 28 December 2004 as a French-market example. Shortly thereafter Centre Porsche Strasbourg in Hoenheim officially took delivery on 7 January 2005.
This example is finished in the model’s signature shade of GT Silver. The car’s interior is handsomely specified in a full treatment of rich Ascot Brown leather complete with XT-size seats, factory air conditioning, upgraded battery, and a BOSE sound system with Porsche Online Pro media unit.
0495 was first sold new to an Italian resident residing in the northern province of Veneto, and by December 2005 it was being cared for by Porsche Centro Padova (Padua). Sometime thereafter it was acquired by a collector in Tuscany, and in March 2008 it was attended to by Porsche Centro Arezzo, then indicating 12,907 km. The car’s original maintenance booklet shows that it continued to receive all factory-recommended servicing at this dealership; appointment entries in 2011, 2012, 2017, and 2021 all indicate a fastidious attention to mechanical care. The car’s last routine service appointment during its Italian residency was completed at Arezzo on 10 December 2021 to the cost of €5,676.
On 10 January 2021, it was furnished with a new battery, brand new set Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres with TPM sensors by Porsche Zentrum Stuttgart. A complete TÜV inspection was completed during this appointment which revealed that the car’s carbon-ceramic clutch was sufficiently healthy and measured more than 29 millimeters.
As presented today, this striking French-market GT is accompanied by its original manuals, service invoices, car cover, roof panel, two keys, and lumbar support pillows. The Carrera GT is still considered by many to be one of the greatest cars to ever wear Porsche’s crest. It demands 100 percent of the driver’s attention and can provide an almost unrivalled level of performance for a relatively “analog” supercar. Standing out from the rest thanks to its gorgeous colour combination, pristine condition, and documented mileage, this Porsche would make an exciting addition to any collection of modern supercars.
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