Yesterday

Carrera GT overhauled by Porsche Sonderwunsch

'Factory Re-Commission' started with a Cayenne; a 917 homage Carrera GT feels much more like it...

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You wouldn’t be alone in believing the Porsche Carrera GT beyond improvement; it is, after all, PH’s supercar of the century, an icon of the genre that’s becoming more desirable by the day. But there’s always somebody who wants their Porsche to be that bit more special than everybody else’s; in fact, there are quite a few of them, which is why the Factory Re-Commission service exists. It’s part of Sonderwunsch, which deals with the really special orders, and takes the donor car back to the factory for a ‘zero-kilometre condition’ overhaul. At that time, bespoke extras can be added in, too - a recent Cayenne commission went for a rally raid vibe, for example. The owner of this Carrera GT, however, has gone for something a little more eye-catching… 

Those who know their Porsche 917s will recognise the hand-painted Indian Red and white livery here, as it’s the ‘Salzburg’ design famous from the 1970 Le Mans winning car of Richard Attwood and Hans Herrmann. The #23 car was the first Porsche to win Le Mans overall, and therefore a huge part of its motorsport heritage - the ideal thing to build a Carrera GT-shaped tribute to. But this was far, far more involved than just a repaint; a CGT and a 917 are obviously quite different shapes, so sketches were drawn up to adapt the iconic livery to the V10 supercar. The design was rendered as well, just to make absolutely sure before paint was applied.

Note, as well, the new carbon accents - the roof halves, the mirror caps, the diffuser, the A and B pillars - offering some contrast against the red and white. Typically it’s very hard to make motorsport liveries work on road cars without looking a bit naff; think of how many dubious Martini stripes you see on the way to Le Mans. But Porsche may well have done the impossible here. Certainly it’s more interesting than the original silver it used to be… 

And that’s before even looking at the interior, this Carrera GT benefitting from a total retrim in vivid Indian Red Alcantara to match the outside. And we’re not talking just dash here: the steering wheel, the doors, even the front boot are lined with the ‘haptically pleasant, suede-like material’. It’s perhaps a more divisive part of the recommission than the paint, but certainly it’s distinctive. How on earth you keep Indian Red Alcantara clean is another matter entirely. 

Don’t forget this is all in addition to a total restoration as well. So Porsche took apart every bit of the Carrera GT, then repaired and replaced what was necessary before putting it back together. The V10 was disassembled and rebuilt, carbon parts recoated and the car treated to whatever was needed to get it back to the factory-fresh condition of 20 years ago. So you can imagine this has taken quite a while. And probably the sort of investment that would buy another Carrera GT… 

The finished car is going to Puerto Rico, where owner Victor Gomez plans on driving his Porsche on local roads - the incredible paint has been PPF’d in preparation. This won’t be just a museum piece, which is nice to know. Gomez said of his car: “The Sonderwunsch experts worked with great passion and attention to detail. Now I own a Carrera GT in new condition, with zero kilometres on the odometer, and outside and inside according to my personal ideas." Just in time for Christmas, too. Those considering similar work will be pleased to know that three silver Carrera GTs are for sale in the PH classifieds - just anything but Gulf blue, please…

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• Carrera GT wins best supercar of the last 25 years
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[GreatScott2016]

GT always had challenging looks, at least to me but it’s the interior that I really struggle with. However, the GT is always about that glorious engine

[griffdude]

Saw one recently: Really are a piece of automotive art.

However, think the dash colours are the wrong way around on this- black on top with red on the horizontal bar. Also I’d reverse the steering wheel colours.

Numbers are a bit ‘try hard’ on a road car IMHO.

Less is more…

[shoestring7]

Good for Victor, although its difficult to see how a retina-blasting interior improves the car.

In his favour, at least he didn't choose the over-worked Gulf color.

[disco666]

It's a bit red.

[thegreenhell]

I liked it until I saw the interior.

[nismo48]

Lovely old girl, but way too much red going on

[MountainsofSussex]

Each to their own and all that, but for me, roundels look naff away from a racetrack. I reckon it might have looked quite good as it is, just without them. But the interior is a bit red - better than coal-hole black I guess

[David87]

Must be amazing to have an absolute stload of cash.

Super cool though - great stuff.

[CountyLines]

I understand the thought process but it doesn't work IMO.

[Ed Boon II]

Lovely! I'd have to swap out that steering wheel though, that's really ugly and way too red.

[Dapster]

Thankfully there is evidence on the Porsche website of Sonderwunsch customers with slightly more subtle taste...although the white interior is a bit Miami Vice













https://www.porsche.com/international/accessoriesa...

[993rsr]

Seen a number of these when I've visited Porsche Classic a few times last year.

As I'm heading towards 75000 miiles in mine, it does make me sad these returned to zero odometer SW cars will barely turn a wheel, missing the very point of this fabulous car IMO.

Edited by 993rsr on Thursday 18th December 12:16

[ImFeelingSaucy]

No roll cage, no cut off switches = no numbers

[mooseracer]

Good to see the bizarre tradition of many Porsche buyers specifying truly "bizarre" interiors is still alive and kicking!

[TIGA84]

Never been massively keen on that Porsche Livery and not sure it works entirely on this either.

I like the interior, can't quite get my head around the un-symmetrical Carrera and GT on the seats though!

[Snubs]

ImFeelingSaucy said:

No roll cage, no cut off switches = no numbers

Good philosophy that I fully intend to borrow. Weirdly, my first thought was to wonder what they'll say about it on the Doug Demuro podcast.

[national]

I prefer the cayenne getting this treatment than a CGT. The cayenne was a mass produced, somewhat generic 4x4 of which many exist and there will always be original examples of. The CGT was completely different an insane project by Porsche which should be kept original or if sent into this programme only to be recommissioned or repainted in age appropriate colours etc that were available at the time. Putting a historic livery on a ‘modern historic’ car just seems tasteless. What’s next put an electric powertrain in it instead of the V10 or add hybrid assistance. Cars should generally be left in the era they were born.

But I don’t have a CGT and that guy does so fair play to him.

[wibble cb]

It must be Christmas, not a fan, why would you need to Le Mans sticker up such a thing, weird!

[Iamnotkloot]

Great, lovely, nice stripes but then I saw the interior…..

[WPA]

Interior is awful plus it does not need racing numbers, they make no sense at all