Ferrari is rightfully protective of all IP—the Italian marque famously sent electronica musician Deadmau5 a cease-and-desist after he rebadged his Ferrari 458 as a “Purrari.” But if there’s a non-Ferrari worthy of Maranello’s Rosso makeover, it might be the Porsche Carrera GT.
A true driver’s car, the Carrera GT is powered by a naturally-aspirated 5.7-liter V10 that was originally built for the 1992 Formula One season. Per the recommendation of Walter Rohrl—the two-time World Rally champ and Porsche test driver who described the Carrera GT as “the first car in my life that I drive and I feel scared”—output was decreased to a still-potent 603 horsepower and 435 pound-feet of torque sent through a six-speed manual. At the time, the Ferrari Enzo had already brought clutch pedal-less paddle shifters to supercars, a configuration that would also be adopted by the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 shortly thereafter.
The power and six-speed manual transmission alone aren’t what make the Carrera GT one of the last great analog supercars. It also had no electronic stability control, meaning drivers had to be acutely aware of the car’s balance while driving aggressively. With a properly pedigreed operator, however, the Carrera GT—which boasts a downforce-generating wing that deploys at above 70 mph—was a treat on the track. Rohrl drove it around the Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 28 seconds, which is still ahead of the fastest laps set by modern supes like the Lamborghini Huracan and Porsche’s own Taycan Turbo S.
Showing 3,471 miles on the odometer, this 2005 Porsche Carrera GT sports a bespoke Rosso Fuoco (Fire Red) paint coat, which was applied by the noted European vehicle experts at Karosserie in Wayne, Pennsylvania. It’s unclear from the listing whether the paint manufacturer, PPG Industries, created the hue under license. Over a three-month period, the car was carefully stripped to its bare carbon fiber tub before receiving a concours-quality paint job exceeding factory standards. This car’s factory-original hydraulic rear spoiler actuators were also updated with a specially engineered electrical system.
Mecum doesn’t disclose pre-auction valuations, but the Carrera GT has never been hotter on the collector market. As Hagerty notes, the very best Carrera GTs are now valued at $3.45 million, representing a 200% increase in valuation over the last 5 years. The automotive insurance company actually placed the 2000s-era Porsche flagship in its list of the 11 “Bull Market” cars that are predicted to see continued value increases over the next year.
“In the two decades since the Carrera GT came out, well-heeled enthusiasts have taken stock of all its analog attributes, now nearly lost from the automotive landscape,” Hagerty opines of the Carrera GT’s increased desirability. “Raw, visceral… machinery like the Carrera GT is increasingly appealing. When it’s painted in a rare, eye-catching color, such enthusiasts are clearly prepared to open their wallets.”
With that in mind, expect the sole Rosso Fuoco Carrera GT to fetch a pretty penny at Mecum’s Monterey 2026 auction on August 15.