Porsche Of The Day: 2004 Porsche Carrera GT

Released at the 2003 Geneva Auto Show, Porsche’s Carrera GT was a final production version of the concept car first seen at the 2001 Paris Auto Salon. It was Porsche’s first limited production supercar since 959 production stopped in 1988. At the time of launch, it was one of the few available products that rivaled the Ferrari Enzo. Unlike the 911, which carried the company for four decades, the Carrera GT was complete bottom up design.

When it arrived as a production car in 2003, the Carrera GT was instantly hailed as an era-defining supercar. Almost two decades after the first Carrera GT rolled out from Leipzig, and it’s safe to say that this supercar still excels both as a collector and a driver’s car. While the game moved on with the Porsche 918, that hypercar from Porsche was catering to a new breed of Silicon Valley billionaires, with its high-tech, environmentally aware philosophy.

The Carrera GT, initially priced at $448,300 USD, has consistently appreciated in value since its debut. Similar to other contemporary classics and most Porsches in general, the prices for pre-owned rarities are steadily increasing, driven by a growing interest in cars that prioritize driving experience and purity—a quality the Carrera GT excels in.

This is attributed to its a naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V10 engine, producing 605 HP at 8,000 rpm and 435 lb-ft of torque at 5,750 rpm. Notably, it is acclaimed for the remarkable sound emitted from its cannon-like exhausts at the rear. The Carrera GT was a raw, almost unhinged no-nonsense traditional supercar. The last analog hypercar and probably the best supercar ever made.

Photo Source: RM Sotheby’s