Presented by Mecum Auctions.
Porsche astonished the motoring world when it unveiled its all-new Carrera GT prototype at the Louvre in Paris on September 28, 2000. The occasion was a surprisingly encouraging one to Porschephiles, who had long noted Porsche’s absence from the burgeoning worldwide race for supercar supremacy. The battle had reached new heights with the 1992 McLaren F1 and rocketed into the stratosphere as other manufacturers joined the fray. By the late 1990s it seemed Porsche was stalled in its competitors’ wake, but the Carrera GT changed all of that with a clean-sheet design that proved Porsche’s resolve to maintain supremacy against all challengers.
By the end of production in May 2006, sales of the Carrera GT had surpassed those of the McLaren F1, Ferrari Enzo and Pagani Zonda models combined, a noteworthy achievement in the heady world of automotive exotica that led Porsche to label it the “the most successful supercar in history.” Like the epochal Porsche 959 before it, the Carrera GT had its origins in the company’s racing program. There were no design restrictions, and no requirement to use existing components from other programs.
Drawing from other programs was not prohibited, however, so Porsche’s racing engineers made use of the 5.5L V-10 engine and associated driveline components developed for the canceled 2000 Le Mans prototype program. With displacement increased to 5.7L, the Carrera GT’s normally aspirated V-10 uses Nikasil coated bores, forged titanium connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons, Porsche’s VarioCam timing system and a two-chamber stainless steel exhaust system to generate 605 HP and 435 lb-ft of torque. That output is transferred through Porsche’s Ceramic Composite Clutch (PCCC). Only 6.65 inches in diameter, the PCCC effortlessly handles the V-10’s power while allowing the entire driveline, including the clutch and 6-speed transverse manual gearbox, to sit lower in the GT’s chassis for a lower center of gravity.
The Carrera GT’s extensive use of advanced materials earned it Popular Science Magazine’s “Best of What’s New” award in 2003. The car’s monocoque chassis, the first of its kind in a production car, features a racing-style reinforced cockpit safety design. It combines bonded layers of carbon fiber, resin and aluminum with plastic honeycomb reinforcements to form an extremely lightweight structure that provides a solid foundation for its carbon-reinforced plastic driveline cradle, pushrod-actuated all-independent suspension, forged magnesium wheels and Porsche Ceramic Composite (PCCB) disc brake system. The Carrera GT’s advanced aerodynamic sculpting includes a speed-actuated rear spoiler and a ground effects under-floor that flows back to a rear diffuser.
The result of all this advanced engineering is the ultimate in Porsche performance. Accelerating from a standing start, the Carrera GT reaches 60 MPH in just 3.8 seconds on the way to a top speed of 205 MPH. Yet, the Carrera GT also remains faithful to Porsche’s reputation for matching searing performance with everyday drivability, something that escapes many competing exotics.
Driven just 182 miles since new, this 2005 Carrera GT is No. 940 of 1,270 produced through the model’s production run. One of only 64 North American Carrera GTs finished in Seal Grey Metallic, it presents with a desirable Terracotta leather interior featuring a galvanized magnesium center console, XT bucket seats and a 917-inspired birch and ash wood shift lever knob. Removable carbon fiber roof panels, covered Xenon headlamps, traction control, air conditioning, Porsche Online Pro CD stereo sound, books, a car cover and a fitted matching leather luggage set are all included with this revolutionary Porsche supercar.
