Porsche Carrera GT (2004)

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.

Please note, this vehicle is no longer for sale.

This example of the heroic Porsche Carrera GT was supplied new by Stratstone Porsche Centre Wilmslow on the 28th of May 2004 to its first owner with 80 miles on the odometer.

The exterior of the car was specified in the elegant GT Silver resplendent on the bodywork with the wheels also finished in silver. Meanwhile, the interior was optioned in the subtle Dark Grey leather and featured air-conditioning, Porsche Carrera GT sound system, CD-Radio Porsche Online Pro, and a Dark Grey Luggage set, for which is still present with the car today.

During its early years, the car passed through the hands of three owners in total until it landed in the ownership of Mr Andrew Brown in April of 2007, who would proceed to keep the car for no less than ten years! Regardless of ownership, it is clear that the car was tremendously well kept, seeing an impressive ten services (all carried out by Porsche Centre Reading) by the time Mr Brown would let go of the car.

Service History

• 11.08.2006 - Porsche Centre Reading - Minor Service - 4,455 miles
• 18.09.2007 - Porsche Centre Reading - Annual Service - 5,978 miles
• 22.12.2008 - Porsche Centre Reading - Major Service - 7,296 miles
• 23.04.2010 - Porsche Centre Reading - Annual Service - 7,952 miles
• 29.03.2011 - Porsche Centre Reading - Annual Service - 8,342 miles
• 18.03.2013 - Porsche Centre Reading - Annual Service - 8,793 miles
• 03.03.2014 - Porsche Centre Reading - Annual Service - 8,899 miles
• 30.03.2015 - Porsche Centre Reading - Annual Service - 8,992 miles
• 11.07.2016 - Porsche Centre Reading - Annual Service - 9,098 miles
• 04.07.2017 - Porsche Centre Reading - Annual Service - 9,305 miles
• 07.08.2018 - Porsche Centre Reading - Minor Service - 9,372 miles
• 11.09.2020 - Porsche Centre Reading - Major Service - 9,734 miles
• 19.07.2022 – Porsche Centre Reading – Minor Service – 9,765 miles
• 08.08.2023 – Porsche Centre Reading – Annual Service – 9,807 miles

Moving onto pastures new, Carrera GT specialists RPM Technik would then handle the sale of the car to its new keeper. In preparation for this, the car underwent a 11-page strong inspection, passing each mark and subsequently selling to its next keeper in early 2017, Mr David of London, with just 9,474 miles on the clock. Today, the car has covered just 400 miles from this point and shows just under 9,850 miles on the odometer.

Having recently benefitted from a fresh service at Porsche Centre Reading in August 2023, not to mention the thirteen additional services also carried out by Porsche Centre Reading, this Carrera GT is ready to be enjoyed during the next chapter of its life. Gifting the glorious 5.7-litre V10 engine with a pronounced soundtrack, the car is also equipped with a tastefully enhanced exhaust system.

Further complimented by its luggage set, original book pack, Porsche roof cover pouch, comprehensive document folio, and spare key, this classically specified example of the desirable Carrera GT is available to view by appointment only at our showrooms just outside London.