Photo: Mecum Auctions
Before the Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid hypercar, the German automaker made some jaws drop with the 996-based 911 GT1 Strassenversion and the awe-inspiring Porsche Carrera GT.
The latter model, as I’m sure you already know by now, is arguably one of the most iconic supercars of the Noughties. Even though the Porsche Carrera GT was manufactured in more numbers than the 911 GT1 Strassenversion and 918 Spyder combined, you rarely get to come across an example of this rarefied breed with 152 miles (245 kilometers) on the odometer.
The Basalt Black-painted example you can admire in the adjacent gallery is exactly that and, if the official estimates are to be believed, it could fetch anything between $1.1 and $1.4 million at auction. That’s more than twice its original retail price for the U.S. market (approx. $440,000).
Unlike the Porsche 918 Spyder, its predecessor is all motor. More than that, it was designed with one thing in mind: to thrill the driver both in a straight line and when the going gets twisty. The 5.7-liter freely aspirated V10 engine, for example, is derived from a Le Mans prototype that went the way of the Dodo because Porsche needed money to develop the Cayenne.
With 612 PS (604 horsepower) and 590 Nm (435 lb-ft) of torque sent to the rear wheels via a manual transmission, this bad boy was (and still is) an unadulterated rollercoaster ride. Speaking of manual transmission, the Porsche Carrera GT comes as standard with a ball-shaped knob made of birchwood, which is a nod to the 917 that won Le Mans in 1970 and 1971.
This Carrera GT, however, has its gearshift lever knob made from carbon fiber. I’m not a big fan of the material, but when you think about it, carbon fiber suits the Carrera GT perfectly. Why? Well, the Carrera GT is the first production car to boast a monocoque chassis and module frame made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. You know, that material BMW calls CFRP.
The Basalt Black-painted example you can admire in the adjacent gallery is exactly that and, if the official estimates are to be believed, it could fetch anything between $1.1 and $1.4 million at auction. That’s more than twice its original retail price for the U.S. market (approx. $440,000).
Unlike the Porsche 918 Spyder, its predecessor is all motor. More than that, it was designed with one thing in mind: to thrill the driver both in a straight line and when the going gets twisty. The 5.7-liter freely aspirated V10 engine, for example, is derived from a Le Mans prototype that went the way of the Dodo because Porsche needed money to develop the Cayenne.
With 612 PS (604 horsepower) and 590 Nm (435 lb-ft) of torque sent to the rear wheels via a manual transmission, this bad boy was (and still is) an unadulterated rollercoaster ride. Speaking of manual transmission, the Porsche Carrera GT comes as standard with a ball-shaped knob made of birchwood, which is a nod to the 917 that won Le Mans in 1970 and 1971.
This Carrera GT, however, has its gearshift lever knob made from carbon fiber. I’m not a big fan of the material, but when you think about it, carbon fiber suits the Carrera GT perfectly. Why? Well, the Carrera GT is the first production car to boast a monocoque chassis and module frame made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. You know, that material BMW calls CFRP.
Google News