Gregor Wenner
Specialist Consultant
Lot 158P
2005 Porsche Carrera GT
2005 Porsche Carrera GT
Chassis no. WP0ZZZ98Z5L000139
Chassis no. WP0ZZZ98Z5L000139
• One of only 1,270 built
• Delivered new in Monaco
• Rare European specification example
• Desirable colour scheme of Basalt Black with Terracotta leather interior
• Open top V10 motoring with six-speed manual gearbox
When Porsche decided to attach the 'GT' appellation to 'Carrera' in 2004, it marked an acknowledgement of its competition roots, the new flagship supercar's looks recalling those of the original Type 550 of 60-plus years ago. The first hint that Porsche was planning something very special was dropped in 2000 when a concept car designed by American Grant Larson appeared on the Stuttgart manufacturer's stand at the Paris Motor Show, where its overwhelmingly favourable reception gave Porsche the green light to commence development of a version suitable for production.
It would have been all too easy to stick with the tried and tested flat-six engine design used in the 911 and Boxster, but the new model needed to be significantly different in order to achieve the desired impact. Fortunately there was a suitable power unit to hand: a 5.5-litre four-cam V10 developed a few years previously for a still-born Le Mans racer. The latter had incorporated a carbon-fibre monocoque, as had the GT1, and this state-of-the-art method of construction was carried over to the Carrera GT, albeit in a form that met the requirements of a road car.
Porsche's engineers gave themselves an additional set of problems to solve by extending the use of this material to the engine support structure. The development of a small-diameter, multi-plate clutch incorporating ceramic composite materials enabled the V10 engine to be mounted low in the chassis, resulting in a lower centre of gravity than would have been possible with a flat six. Before production commenced, the V10 would be enlarged to 5.7 litres, producing its maximum of 612bhp at 8,000rpm. A six-speed manual transmission was the only one available.
Clearly, a car of such importance would have to possess perfect road manners before being released for sale, and to ensure this perfection Porsche employed racing driver Walter Röhrl to assist with development, which included countless laps of the demanding Nürburgring circuit. In the interests of high-speed stability, the rear body incorporates a wing that rises automatically at around 75mph, retracting when the speed drops back to 50mph. This was no mere gimmick but a vital necessity in a car capable of exceeding 200mph.
The Carrera GT's suspension is pure competition car, featuring unequal-length control arms all round with horizontally mounted gas shock absorbers operated via pushrods and rockers. Its brakes too are racetrack developed, consisting of six-piston aluminium callipers gripping 15" diameter ceramic composite discs that are more heat resistant and 50% lighter than cast-iron equivalents. More weight was saved from the wheels, which are made of forged magnesium (19" front, 20" rear) while ABS was standard equipment, as was power assistance for the steering.
When the production Carrera GT went on sale in 2004 it looked remarkably similar to the 2000 Paris Show car yet was subtly different in countless ways. One more obvious difference was the GT's roof, a feature lacking on the open prototype, which consisted of two parts that could be removed for stowage in the front luggage compartment. Inside, the seats were made of leather-trimmed carbon fibre while the gear lever knob was made of wood, recalling the unlikely use of this traditional material on the legendary Porsche 917 endurance racer.
Of course, it is no longer sufficient merely to deliver the ultimate in on-the-road performance: these days the discerning supercar buyer also demands the very latest in in-car mobile telecommunications technology. The Carrera GT project engineers did not skimp in this respect, equipping it with 'Porsche Online Pro' satellite navigation incorporating a Bose sound system, hands-free 'phone, and email and Internet connectivity. A five-piece luggage set was included in the specification at no extra cost, though, perhaps surprisingly, air conditioning was optional.
Porsche stated that only 1,500 Carrera GTs would be made, thereby emphasising the car's exclusivity, and each example carries a numbered plaque on the centre console (the factory retained 'No.1' for its museum). In the event, the Carrera GT would turn out to be even more exclusive than its maker had originally intended, with only 1,270 built when production ceased in 2007.
Finished in Basalt Black with Terracotta leather interior, this stunning example of Porsche's seminal super car was delivered new to Monaco by Porsche Segond in 2004 and has had three owners since then. The Porsche has covered only some 26,000 kilometres from new and has been stored since our vendor acquired it in 2011, covering approximately 1,000 kilometres in the last 13 years.
The last service was carried out in October 2023 when the engine and gearbox received attention from a specialist (invoice on file). New tyres were fitted in August 2023 when the car passed its most recent roadworthiness test, which is valid until 2025. The car comes with its original (cancelled) French Carte Grise and some invoices for services carried out by Porsche Nanterre for the previous owner. The complete luggage set and all books are also accompanying the car.
With so few produced and all in the hands of private collectors, the Carrera GT is only rarely seen on the open market. Presented in beautiful condition and offered with all its original books, tools, and complete luggage set, this eminently collectible Porsche Carrera GT represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire what Car & Driver rated as "arguably the finest sports car the company has ever produced".
Please note there is restricted bidding on this lot which requires enhanced bid verification checks. Please contact us at [email protected] or call +44 20 7447 7447 as soon as possible if you are planning to bid on this lot to prevent any last-minute delays.
• Delivered new in Monaco
• Rare European specification example
• Desirable colour scheme of Basalt Black with Terracotta leather interior
• Open top V10 motoring with six-speed manual gearbox
When Porsche decided to attach the 'GT' appellation to 'Carrera' in 2004, it marked an acknowledgement of its competition roots, the new flagship supercar's looks recalling those of the original Type 550 of 60-plus years ago. The first hint that Porsche was planning something very special was dropped in 2000 when a concept car designed by American Grant Larson appeared on the Stuttgart manufacturer's stand at the Paris Motor Show, where its overwhelmingly favourable reception gave Porsche the green light to commence development of a version suitable for production.
It would have been all too easy to stick with the tried and tested flat-six engine design used in the 911 and Boxster, but the new model needed to be significantly different in order to achieve the desired impact. Fortunately there was a suitable power unit to hand: a 5.5-litre four-cam V10 developed a few years previously for a still-born Le Mans racer. The latter had incorporated a carbon-fibre monocoque, as had the GT1, and this state-of-the-art method of construction was carried over to the Carrera GT, albeit in a form that met the requirements of a road car.
Porsche's engineers gave themselves an additional set of problems to solve by extending the use of this material to the engine support structure. The development of a small-diameter, multi-plate clutch incorporating ceramic composite materials enabled the V10 engine to be mounted low in the chassis, resulting in a lower centre of gravity than would have been possible with a flat six. Before production commenced, the V10 would be enlarged to 5.7 litres, producing its maximum of 612bhp at 8,000rpm. A six-speed manual transmission was the only one available.
Clearly, a car of such importance would have to possess perfect road manners before being released for sale, and to ensure this perfection Porsche employed racing driver Walter Röhrl to assist with development, which included countless laps of the demanding Nürburgring circuit. In the interests of high-speed stability, the rear body incorporates a wing that rises automatically at around 75mph, retracting when the speed drops back to 50mph. This was no mere gimmick but a vital necessity in a car capable of exceeding 200mph.
The Carrera GT's suspension is pure competition car, featuring unequal-length control arms all round with horizontally mounted gas shock absorbers operated via pushrods and rockers. Its brakes too are racetrack developed, consisting of six-piston aluminium callipers gripping 15" diameter ceramic composite discs that are more heat resistant and 50% lighter than cast-iron equivalents. More weight was saved from the wheels, which are made of forged magnesium (19" front, 20" rear) while ABS was standard equipment, as was power assistance for the steering.
When the production Carrera GT went on sale in 2004 it looked remarkably similar to the 2000 Paris Show car yet was subtly different in countless ways. One more obvious difference was the GT's roof, a feature lacking on the open prototype, which consisted of two parts that could be removed for stowage in the front luggage compartment. Inside, the seats were made of leather-trimmed carbon fibre while the gear lever knob was made of wood, recalling the unlikely use of this traditional material on the legendary Porsche 917 endurance racer.
Of course, it is no longer sufficient merely to deliver the ultimate in on-the-road performance: these days the discerning supercar buyer also demands the very latest in in-car mobile telecommunications technology. The Carrera GT project engineers did not skimp in this respect, equipping it with 'Porsche Online Pro' satellite navigation incorporating a Bose sound system, hands-free 'phone, and email and Internet connectivity. A five-piece luggage set was included in the specification at no extra cost, though, perhaps surprisingly, air conditioning was optional.
Porsche stated that only 1,500 Carrera GTs would be made, thereby emphasising the car's exclusivity, and each example carries a numbered plaque on the centre console (the factory retained 'No.1' for its museum). In the event, the Carrera GT would turn out to be even more exclusive than its maker had originally intended, with only 1,270 built when production ceased in 2007.
Finished in Basalt Black with Terracotta leather interior, this stunning example of Porsche's seminal super car was delivered new to Monaco by Porsche Segond in 2004 and has had three owners since then. The Porsche has covered only some 26,000 kilometres from new and has been stored since our vendor acquired it in 2011, covering approximately 1,000 kilometres in the last 13 years.
The last service was carried out in October 2023 when the engine and gearbox received attention from a specialist (invoice on file). New tyres were fitted in August 2023 when the car passed its most recent roadworthiness test, which is valid until 2025. The car comes with its original (cancelled) French Carte Grise and some invoices for services carried out by Porsche Nanterre for the previous owner. The complete luggage set and all books are also accompanying the car.
With so few produced and all in the hands of private collectors, the Carrera GT is only rarely seen on the open market. Presented in beautiful condition and offered with all its original books, tools, and complete luggage set, this eminently collectible Porsche Carrera GT represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire what Car & Driver rated as "arguably the finest sports car the company has ever produced".
Please note there is restricted bidding on this lot which requires enhanced bid verification checks. Please contact us at [email protected] or call +44 20 7447 7447 as soon as possible if you are planning to bid on this lot to prevent any last-minute delays.
Footnotes
2005 Porsche Carrera GT
Châssis n° WP0ZZZ98Z5L000139
• No. 492 sur seulement 1 270 construites
• Livrée neuve à Monaco
• Rare exemplaire aux spécifications européennes
• Séduisante harmonie de teintes, noir Basalt Black sur intérieur en cuir Terracotta
• Voiture découvrable à moteur V10 et boîte manuelle à six rapports
Lorsque Porsche décida en 2004 de faire suivre l'appellation 'Carrera' de 'GT', ce fut en hommage à ses racines sportives, car l'allure de sa nouvelle supercar emblématique rappelait celle de la Type 550 qui s'était illustrée plus de 60 ans auparavant. Le premier indice du fait que Porsche préparait quelque chose de bien particulier fut semé en 2000 lorsqu'un concept car dû à l'Américain Grant Larson apparut au Salon de Paris sur le stand du constructeur de Stuttgart ; l'accueil enthousiaste qu'il reçut fut pour Porsche le feu vert pour entamer le développement d'une version adaptée à la fabrication.
Il aurait été plus facile de se cantonner au concept du six-cylindres à plat bien rôdé sur les 911 et Boxster, mais le nouveau modèle se devait d'être sensiblement différent de celles-ci pour produire l'effet escompté. Il existait heureusement un moteur à la hauteur, un V10 double arbre de 5,5 litres développé quelques années plus tôt pour une voiture du Mans restée mort-née. Celle-ci était dotée d'une structure monocoque en fibre de carbone, de même que la GT1, et cette construction à l'état de l'art fut reconduite sur la Carrera GT, mais aménagée pour satisfaire les exigences d'une voiture de tourisme.
Les ingénieurs de Porsche s'infligèrent quelques problèmes supplémentaires à résoudre en étendant l'utilisation de ce matériau au berceau moteur. Le développement d'un embrayage multi-disques de petit diamètre recourant à la céramique permit de monter le V10 plus bas sur le châssis, ce qui se traduisit par un centre de gravité plus bas que ce qu'aurait autorisé un six-cylindres à plat. Avant d'entrer en production, le V10 vit sa cylindrée passer à 5,7 litres et sa puissance à 612 ch, obtenus à 8 000 tr/min. La seule boîte de vitesses disponible était une manuelle à six rapports.
Il était clair qu'une voiture d'une telle importance se devait d'avoir acquis un comportement routier exemplaire avant d'être commercialisée ; pour atteindre ce niveau de perfection, Porsche fit appel à l'assistance du pilote Walter Röhrl, qui effectua au cours du développement d'innombrables tours sur le difficile circuit du Nürburgring. Pour assurer sa stabilité à vitesse élevée, l'arrière de la voiture hébergeait un aileron qui se soulevait vers 120 km/h et se rétractait lorsque la vitesse redescendait au-dessous de 80 km/h. Ce n'était pas là un gadget, mais une nécessité vitale pour une voiture capable de dépasser 320 km/h.
La suspension de la Carrera GT était intégralement celle d'une voiture de course, avec pour chaque roue des triangles d'inégales longueurs et des amortisseurs horizontaux à gaz actionnés par poussoir et culbuteur. Ses freins étaient eux aussi issus de la piste, des étriers aluminium à six pistons venant mordre des disques céramique de 380 mm, résistant mieux à la chaleur et plus légers de 50% que leurs équivalents en fonte. Ses roues (19 pouces à l'avant et 20 à l'arrière) étaient encore plus allégées, car fabriquées en magnésium forgé, et l'ABS de même que l'assistance de direction faisaient partie de la définition série.
Lorsque la Carrera GT de série fut commercialisée en 2004, elle ressemblait beaucoup au concept car vu au Salon de Paris 2000, mais avec d'innombrables subtiles différences. L'une des plus évidentes était son pavillon, dont le prototype était dépourvu et qui consistait en deux parties amovibles qu'on pouvait ranger dans le compartiment à bagages avant. Dans l'habitacle, ses sièges en fibre de carbone étaient revêtus de cuir et son pommeau de levier de vitesses était en bois, un clin d'œil à ce matériau traditionnel mais inattendu autrefois vu sur la légendaire Porsche 917 d'endurance.
Il n'était bien sûr pas suffisant de proposer le nec-plus-ultra de la performance routière : les acheteurs de supercars, des personnes avisées, exigeaient aussi un système de télécommunications embarqué à la pointe de la technique. Les ingénieurs du projet Carrera GT ne lésinèrent sur rien dans ce domaine et équipèrent la voiture d'une navigation par satellite 'Porsche Online Pro' qui incluait un système audio Bose, un téléphone mains libres et une connectivité Internet et e-mails. On trouvait dans la dotation de série un jeu de cinq bagages mais, de façon sans doute surprenante, l'air conditionné était en option.
Porsche avait prévu de ne produire que 1 500 Carrera GT pour en accentuer le caractère exclusif, et chaque exemplaire portait au milieu de sa console centrale une plaque numérotée (l'usine a conservé la n°1 pour son musée). Dans les faits, ce modèle se révéla encore plus exclusif que voulu par son constructeur et seules 1 270 d'entre elles avaient été produites lorsque la fabrication cessa, en 2007.
De couleur noir Basalt Black sur un intérieur en cuir Terracotta, ce splendide exemplaire de la première supercar de Porsche fut livré neuf en 2004 à Monaco par Porsche Segond et a connu trois propriétaire depuis. Elle n'a parcouru que quelque 26 000 km depuis l'origine et est restée à l'abri depuis que notre vendeur l'a acquise, en 2011 ; elle n'a roulé qu'environ 1 000 km ces treize dernières années.
Son dernier entretien, effectué en octobre 2023, a vu son moteur et sa boîte recevoir les soins d'un spécialiste (facture présente au dossier). Elle a été chaussée de pneus neufs en août 2023 lorsqu'elle a passé son contrôle technique, qui est valide jusqu'en 2025. Elle est proposée avec sa carte grise française d'origine (annulée) et des factures d'entretiens effectués par Porsche Nanterre pour le compte du précédent propriétaire. Le set de bagages complet ainsi que tous les manuels accompagnent également la voiture.
La Carrera GT, qui a été si peu produite et dont tous les exemplaires sont entre les mains de collectionneurs privés, se rencontre rarement sur le marché. Celle-ci, qui est dans un magnifique état et munie de ses documents de bord, de son outillage et de son jeu de bagages complet, tous d'origine, est tout à fait digne d'entrer dans une collection. Elle représente une merveilleuse occasion d'acquérir celle que Car & Driver a qualifiée de "probablement la plus belle voiture de sport que la firme ait jamais produite".
Purple Paddle Lot: Veuillez bien noter que ce lot est soumis à des conditions spécifiques pour pouvoir enchérir nécessitant des vérifications supplémentaires. Si vous envisagez d'enchérir sur ce lot, veuillez nous contacter à [email protected] ou appeler le +44 20 7447 7447 dès que possible afin d'éviter tout délai dans votre enregistrement.
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