There aren’t many brands which would even think about taking back their customers’ old cars and performing a full restoration, but that’s what Porsche has done for one very lucky Carrera GT.
Puerto Rican customer Victor Gómez had his dream come true when - after digging out enough money - he sent his Porsche Carrera GT to the brand’s Sonderwunsch Manufaktur program, who not only took it back to as-new condition but added some special elements.
Porsche’s technicians disassembled the mid-engined supercar and worked on its howling 450kW V10 engine, and recoated its carbon parts to ensure longevity. At the end of the process, the car is recorded as being in “zero kilometre condition”.
Given Porsche issued a recall on the Carrera GT for faulty chassis control arm mounts - forcing owners to park their cars for up to 18 months while a fix was found - the supercar theoretically now also drives better than it did when it launched in 2005.
Instead of stopping there, Gómez wanted the already exotic Carrera GT to further stand out from the crowd, which resulted in its original silver paintwork and wheels being changed for Porsche’s iconic ‘Salzburg Design’.
Paying tribute to the red and white #23 Porsche 917 short-tail which won the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans at the hands of Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood, the design incorporates Salzburg’s red and white colours.
Due to the differences between the 917 and Carrera GT, Porsche’s designers had to make a number of tweaks to make the livery work, but it was finished off with matte black carbon finishes on the wheels, roof panels, A- and B-pillars plus air ducts and diffuser.
There were similar changes inside too, with the upholstery changed to Alcantara in Indian Red, reflecting the exterior. This is contrasted with matt carbon trim, while Porsche also took some black textiles from the 918 Spyder, the spiritual successor to the Carrera GT.
Porsche hasn’t detailed how much the restoration cost, but to Gómez it was worth every last cent.
“The Sonderwunsch experts worked with great passion and attention to detail,” he said. “Now I own a Carrera GT in new condition, with zero kilometres on the odometer, and outside and inside according to my personal ideas.”
