2004 Porsche Carrera GT - The Last Real One
If you're reading this, you already know what the Porsche 2004 Carrera GT is and what it isn’t. This isn’t an overboosted, overhyped tech-fest with a fake exhaust note and launch control for Instagram likes. This is raw, reverent, and real.
Built in an era before Porsche went full corporate and before everything was digitized and sanitized, the Carrera GT is the last great analogue hypercar with a naturally aspirated V10 that sings at 8,400 RPM, a carbon chassis, and a manual gearbox.
Walter Röhrl Called It “Too Fast for the Road”
Legendary Porsche test driver Walter Röhrl reportedly said the CGT was the first car that scared him.
“This is the first car in my life that I drive and I feel scared.”
And this wasn’t a man prone to hyperbole. That alone tells you everything you need to know about its performance and respect-it-or-else reputation. This wasn’t a car built to flatter. It was built to challenge and reward. This wasn’t marketing fluff - it was Röhrl's raw, honest take during early testing of the Carrera GT at high speeds. He respected it deeply, but also made clear that it demanded serious skill behind the wheel. Unlike modern supercars that hide their speed behind electronics, the CGT lets you know what you’re dealing with - every second.
It’s now become part of the car's mystique, especially among enthusiasts who know what it means when Walter Röhrl, of all people, gets a little sweaty-palmed.
This particular 2004 Porsche Carrera GT? Basalt Black Metallic. Subtle. Sinister. It’s properly spec’d for someone who prefers understatement with a side of domination.
Born to Race. Raised to Rule.
The Carrera GT was not supposed to exist. It came from Porsche’s failed attempt at Le Mans domination back when they were building a V10 prototype so feral it scared the accountants. When the race program was canned, the engineers didn’t stop there. They pivoted and changed the plan.
Born From a Canceled Le Mans Dream
The Carrera GT’s heart and soul come from a shelved LMP2000 prototype, a race car Porsche had developed for Le Mans. The 5.7L naturally aspirated V10 at its core was originally engineered for endurance racing - but when Porsche pulled the plug on the project, the engine didn’t die. Instead, it evolved into something far more exclusive. The result? A road car with true motorsport lineage, unfiltered and analog in a way the world would likely never see again.
Instead of letting that 5.7L V10 die in a boardroom, they wrapped it in carbon fiber and sent it into production. The result was a road car with race-bred guts and no filters between you and the machine.
Manual Transmission as a Statement
When it debuted in 2004, Porsche went against the grain by sticking with a 6-speed manual gearbox, even as competitors were embracing paddle shifters and semi-automatics. Rather than a nostalgia play - it was a philosophy: connection over convenience. That’s part of why the Carrera GT is so revered. It wasn’t just fast. It was visceral.
Ask anyone who’s driven one the way it was meant to be driven. The sound alone could make an F1 engineer blush. The clutch is brutal, the throttle response is instant, and the grip is telepathic.
Spec Breakdown: It’s All There
- Engine: 5.7L DOHC V10, 612 hp @ 8,400 rpm
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, racing-style ceramic clutch
- Chassis: Full carbon fiber monocoque
- Performance: 0-100 km/h in 3.9s, top speed over 330 km/h
The result is a driving experience that modern cars won’t be able to replicate and frankly never will. There’s no traction control. No stability nanny. It’s one of the most intoxicating engines ever dropped into a street-legal car.
The Spec: Collector-Grade, No Compromises
This is a properly maintained, well-documented Carrera GT that ticks the boxes that collectors stress over.
- Color: Basalt Black Metallic (LC9Z)
- Interior: Black leather with that signature beechwood shifter (yes, that one)
- Mileage: Low (26,000 KM)
- Clutch: Replaced in 2024 - costly job, but done right
- Recall: Suspension wishbone recall completed (most aren’t)
- Bonus: Original books + matching luggage (a rarity)
Market Position: The Blue-Chip Hypercar
The CGT has crossed over. No longer “undervalued,” no longer “one to watch” - this car is cemented as one of the most collectible cars of the modern era.
Values have been on a rocket trajectory since the mid-2010s and are now holding strong above $1.5M USD. Bring a Trailer has dozens of recent comps to prove it, including multiple results nearing or surpassing $2M for well-maintained, low-mileage examples. The black-on-black spec is one of the stealthier, more desirable combos - especially for collectors who value rarity over flash.
And here’s the kicker: unlike other early-2000s exotics, these cars are driven. Loved. Preserved, not parked. Yet the clutch work, service costs, and low production volume (~1,270 units worldwide) keep the pool tight - and the value even tighter.
It almost didn't happen. What’s not often discussed is that the Carrera GT was only built because of an unexpected gap in Porsche’s production schedule after the 911 GT1 and Boxster programs wrapped. Executives saw an opening and took a gamble on this raw, V10-powered unicorn. Just over 1,270 units were built, making it not only a technical marvel - but also a deeply calculated rarity.
Why This Car Still Matters
Every brand has their peak. Ferrari had the F40. McLaren had the F1. Porsche? They had this.
The Carrera GT is the high-water mark for driver-first engineering. No turbos. No flappy paddles. No apologies. Just a V10 with a motorsport heart, and a chassis so finely balanced it will almost make you question everything built after 2010.
For collectors who know, this car sits right at the edge of modern and vintage - making it the perfect crown jewel. It’s the car other hypercars pay homage to. Publications revere it too.
Car and Driver called it “one of the most thrilling cars ever built,” while MotorTrend praised its “precise handling and uncompromising focus on driver engagement.”
There isn’t any fluff or gimmicks, only raw, analog brilliance that left even the most jaded critics wide-eyed.
Bottom Line: If You Know, You Know
We’re not here to oversell it. If you’ve been in the market for a Carrera GT, you already know how rare it is to find one that checks every box. This is that example - properly maintained, expertly sorted, and finished in a spec that speaks volumes without shouting.
Freshly serviced. Fully documented. No guesswork - just a truly exceptional car ready to be appreciated, whether on the road or in the collection.
If this feels like the right moment, we’re here for a conversation - not a pitch. At Auto Icons, we don’t just move cars. We match discerning collectors with the machines that deserve their garages. Inquire via WhatsApp, email, or submit a request through our contact form to receive full documentation, service history, and a direct consultation or private viewing with our team.