The closest thing Porsche has to a time machine is the Sonderwunsch (special request) division. If the bank account can handle it, you can ask for a complete overhaul of an existing vehicle, putting it into a “zero-kilometer condition, which is also documented accordingly.” That’s exactly what happened to this Carrera GT, a supercar built 20 years ago and now returned to factory-fresh mechanical shape.
Porsche calls these “Factory Re-Commission” projects, which involve completely disassembling the cars. A first-generation Cayenne GTS with the rare six-speed manual gearbox recently went through the same remarkable transformation. As with the three-pedal SUV, the V-10 supercar’s technical components are virtually back to their original 2005 condition.
However, the car doesn’t look the same as it did two decades ago when it left the Leipzig assembly line. That’s because the owner asked Porsche to change the Carrera GT’s color from its original silver finish to a racing livery evoking the 1970 Le Mans-winning 917. The #23 race car driven by Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood proudly wore the colors of the Austrian city of Salzburg.
Those hues have now been accurately replicated at the owner's request, Victor Gómez. A foil protects this Carrera GT’s hand-painted exterior, as the owner intends to actually drive it. Rather than placing it in a climate-controlled garage and waiting for its value to increase, the Porsche enthusiast plans to put miles on his prized possession.
Further distinguishing this 2005 Carrera GT from its original specification are the matte-black carbon accents and the “23” racing number. Additionally, the engine cover’s grilles are now matte black anodized to echo the other dark details. The wheels are also finished in black, further enhancing contrast against the predominantly red-and-white theme.
The interior was also completely transformed, with extensive use of red Alcantara throughout the cabin. From the dashboard and door cards to the steering wheel and center console, this Carrera GT is covered in suede-like material. Alcantara even extends to the front trunk, where there’s a matching luggage set.
The special touches don’t end there. For some surfaces, Porsche used black textile from the Carrera GT’s successor, the 918 Spyder. Elsewhere, the seat shells are made from matte carbon, which also appears on the instrument panel and air vents.
2005 Carrera GT restored by Porsche
This is one of only 1,270 vehicles built between the fall of 2003 and May 2006. At launch, Porsche charged €452,690 in Germany and $440,000 in the United States. The company won’t say how much it cost Gómez to have his mid-engined supercar overhauled, but it certainly wasn’t cheap.
They say you can’t put a price on happiness, but the owner is clearly thrilled to have a one-off Carrera GT:
'Now I own a Carrera GT in new condition, with zero kilometers on the odometer, and outside and inside according to my personal ideas.'
Source: Porsche
