News of Fast and the Furious actor Paul Walker’s death spread quickly last week, shocking fans of the franchise and causing many to reflect on the automotive enthusiast’s generosity and humility. It also brought some unexpected attention to the vehicle he perished in, a red Porsche Carrera GT. Almost unfairly, reports of the vehicle’s unruly nature and tendency to bite back with even experienced drivers at the wheel began to surface. Although a supercar like the Carrera GT is not for the meek, its role in the accident cast the spotlight on Porsche’s most memorable model since the 959.
It could be this notoriety that has pushed this 2004 model onto the market. With 612 b.h.p. on tap, the Carrera GT will click past 60 in 3.9 seconds routed through a conventional six-speed manual, a feature I love in an age of supercars stuffed with technology-laden automatics. Huge carbon ceramic brakes slow the monster down, while a carbon fiber monocoque and subframe kept curb weight in check. Occupants didn’t lack for creature comforts despite the car’s raw abilities, cossetted in leather seats with a Bose stereo and navigation standard.
Year: 2004
Model: Carrera GT
Engine: 5.7 liter V10
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage: 5,950 mi
Price: $379,900 Buy It Now
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2004 Porsche Carrera GT on eBay
This 2004 Carrera GT is one of the most rare Super Car Exotics in existence. All original with only 5950 miles this car is absolutely stunning and timeless. Brand new tires, service and the $18,000 clutch is near new this car truly is turn key. 612hp of pure bliss. As of Nov 12th we just had a $3500 clear bra put on the car to protect the beautiful paint. And also included in the sale is a very hard to find 1/18th Scale Autoart Millenium Model Car.
This car is available for $399,000
The development of the Carrera GT can be traced back to the 911 GT1 and LMP1-98 racing cars. Due in part to the FIA and ACO rule changes in 1998, both designs had ended. Porsche at the time had 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 later shelved. The engine was resurrected for the Le Mans prototype and increased in size to 5.7 litres. The project was canceled 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 by using the 5.5 L V10 from the prototype in a concept car shown at the 2000 Paris 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, shipping the units with an MSRP of $448,000 USD. The first Carrera GT went on sale in the US on January 31, 2004.
Originally a production run of 1,500 cars was planned. However, Porsche announced in August 2005 that it would not continue production of the Carrera GT through to 2006, citing discontinuation was due to changing airbag regulations in the US. As of May 6, 2006, 1,270 GT’s had been manufactured, with 604 being sold in the United States
With an original list price of nearly $450,000, the asking price here is practically a bargain! As has also been detailed following the Walker crash, these cars have significant maintenance requirements, proving that even if you can afford the asking price, poverty will come fast and furious if you haven’t budgeted for upkeep.
-Jeff