To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Monterey
event, 15 - 17 August 2019.
Estimate:
$625,000 - $725,000
- Incredibly desirable modern Porsche supercar and an instant
classic
- Presented in GT Silver Metallic over Ascot Brown leather
- Complete with owner's manuals and factory accessories
- Includes optional matching luggage set
- Showing fewer than 5,200 miles from new
Porsche's Carrera GT saga starts five years before the first
production model left Porsche's facilities in Leipzig, Germany.
Porsche sought to develop a new Le Mans prototype to replace the
venerable GT1, which was powered by a 5.5-liter V-10 engine.
However, a change in FIA rules quickly shelved their 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 their stand at the Paris Motor Show in
2000, Porsche displayed a road-going concept alongside their other
production models. With the amount of attention that the concept
received, combined with additional revenue from the Cayenne,
Porsche decided to go ahead and produce the car. 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 materials that went into the construction of the Carrera GT
were simply those of an engineer's dream. By utilizing a
carbon-fiber monocoque and subframe, as well as carbon-ceramic
brakes, Porsche's engineers pushed the envelope of what was
mechanically possible in order to offer a car that was as light as
it was strong. Porsche also designed a three-disc carbon-fiber
racing clutch for the car, which measured 7.5 inches in diameter
and was about a third the size of a normal clutch. Similar
attention to detail was applied to nearly every facet of the car.
The ultra-lightweight forged magnesium wheels had center-locking
bolts that were color-coded for each side of the car, ensuring that
wrong bolts were never put on the incorrect side of the car.
At the heart of the Carrera GT beats a fiery 5.7-liter V-10 engine.
Performance was incredible, with 605 horsepower and 435 foot-pounds
of torque, and the Carrera GT could rocket from 0-60 mph in 3.6
seconds toward a top speed of 205 mph. The Carrera GT truly showed
its racing roots when, in July 2004, one piloted by Walter R�hrl
lapped the N�rburgring Nordschleife in 7:28. It was a record for
Porsche that was not broken until the release of the 911 GT2 RS in
2010.
Slide into the Carrera GT's carbon-fiber bucket seats, and it is
clear that Porsche's engineers did not limit the car's
track-focused nature to just the mechanical components. Every
surface within reach is either leather, aluminum, or carbon fiber,
and nothing in the car, minus the requisite stereo with CD player
and air-conditioning, distracts the driver from the task at hand.
Everything else in the cockpit is typical Porsche, from the
instrument layout with the tachometer in the center to the
left-hand placement of the ignition. Porsche topped the gear
shifter, which was mated to a six-speed manual transmission, with a
retro-inspired wooden shift knob, tying an organic link from past
models into their technological tour de force. By the time
production ceased, 1,270 examples had been built.
This stunning GT Silver example presently records fewer than 5,200
actual miles at the time of cataloguing and is in spectacular
original condition. A two-owner car, this GT was serviced at Rusnak
Porsche less than 200 miles ago with four new Michelin Pilot Super
Sport tires, alignment, new spark plugs, oil service, TPMS sensors,
and a clutch measurement of 30.5 mm. It is offered with its
original manuals, two keys, a valet key, covers for the roof panel,
and optional matching seven-piece luggage set, including garment
bag, shoulder bag, briefcase, duffle bag, console bag, and two
small leather pouches that fit neatly into the ends of the doors,
as well as a center-lock socket, air compressor, and the Tire
Mobility System.
Automotive critics hailed the Carrera GT as one of the greatest
supercars of all time when it was introduced, marveling over its
incredible performance in a lightweight, race-ready package with
exotically beautiful styling. Considering this example's low
mileage and factory-fresh condition, it is an opportunity not to be
missed.
Please note that due to California emissions, this vehicle must be
sold to a dealer or out-of-state resident.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo19.