#2 - 184

Finished in GT Silver over black leather trim. Supplied new to USA. Travelled 10,300 miles. Full authorised Porsche Service history. Complete book package. Original paint.

The Carrera GT is a car that pushed technological boundaries beyond any supercar of that time. Its beautiful profile encompassed a staggeringly powerful 612PS V10 engine that was a direct descendant of the 10-cylinder race engine developed for the Le Mans 24-hours of 2000.

The only modifications the race engine required were those to meet worldwide emissions and noise regulations for road legal cars. In keeping with its push for innovation, the Carrera GT also pioneered the use of pure carbon fibre for its monocoque and subframe. This use of carbon fibre for components and select body sections has become a signature feature of modern Porsches – but then the pursuit of lightweight construction has been part of Porsche heritage going right back to when the company was formed.

And the headline figures for the Carrera GT go far beyond that staggering 612PS power output. Jump in one today and want to know how quick the Carrera GT is? It can reach 100km/h in just 3.9secs and roar on to 200km/h in 9.9secs. That quick. The top speed of the Carrera GT is officially 330km/h – which, 21 years ago, is a figure that would have been the preserve of low-flying aircraft. Even today it’s a mind-blowing number for a classic sports car.

Another signature feature of the Carrera GT is that there isn’t a single body adornment that isn’t functional – again, very much in line with Porsche heritage. The huge air intake along the car’s flanks, along with the three radiators – which are five times larger in area than that of the Porsche 911 Turbo of the time – means that the Carrera GT is extremely unlikely to overheat. That subtle approach extends to the fabled aerodynamic performance of the Carrera GT. For example, the make-up of its entire carbon underbody geometry, together with its rear diffuser, keeps the car stable even at very high speeds. And then there’s a rear wing that remains neatly tucked away until the car reaches 120km/h, at which point it rises up to reduce rear-end lift (although it can also be raised at any moment at the touch of a button).