What a spot !! Having not been to London for a few weeks over the Christmas holidays my first trip back did not disappoint. Usual journey down gave a few standard Ferraris and Porsches but going into the centre of London I spotted a Porsche Carrera GT just parked up on the side of the road. I say “the side of the road” but to be honest it was very nice part of town where houses certainly do not come cheap so I guess having a £200K car just left outside could be deemed to be a little bit more normal ?

Anyway, what a car ! I’ve seen a few on the roads over the years and every time I conclude it is the road car I’d buy if I ever came properly into some money.

There were 1,270 Carrera GT’s built of which basically 50% were sold in the USA, so with 600 left for the rest of the world it remains a rare treat to spot one. It’s also an interesting car due to its history and if you like, its reason for birth…. the story is that Porsche was building a new sportscar for Le Mans (see photo below) :

It then got just 2 days of testing (and one caught here !) before the project got cancelled with stories of both needed engineers to focus on their new off-roader (the Cayenne !) and that as Porsche wanted help from VW / Audi for the Cayenne it was suggested Ferdinand Piech didn’t want to compete against its Audi R8.

This engine then made it into a concept car at the Geneva Motor show where strong consumer interest in the car lead to Porsche building the Carrera GT.

So, in a strange way we have to thank both Audi & the Cayenne for giving us the Carrera GT !!

You may be interested in this book about the Carrera GT

or reading more about the Porsche LMP1 on Mulsannes Corner

Wow… what a find !!!

An almost un-touched Bugatti Type 57S Atalante found in a garage in Newcastle, and probably not moved in 50 years has been “found”.  It’s existence was known by just a handful of people and will now be sold by Bonhams on the 7th Feb in Paris

Not a bad way to start the New Year for the family who found it ??