Porsche Carrera GT Just Became A Le Mans Tribute Nobody Expected

A Coachbuilder's Dream Candidate

The Porsche 911, particularly air-cooled examples, has become a staple of coachbuilding thanks to companies like Singer Vehicle Design. But one designer decided to skip the timeless sports car and instead turn to one of Porsche’s rarest creations: the Carrera GT, which has been transformed into a Le Mans-inspired machine.

The designer in question is Jason Castriota, who designed iconic cars including the Ferrari 599, Maserati GranTurismo, SSC Tuatara, and Ford Mustang Mach-E, among others. This Porsche Carrera GT-based vehicle is his ninth commission, hence the JC9 name, and was presented at Miller Motorcars’ 50th anniversary celebration.

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Echoes Of Le Mans

According to Evan Cygler, director of special projects at Miller Motorcars, the JC9 is inspired by endurance prototypes from the 1960s to the 1980s – think iconic racers such as the Ford GT40 and Porsche 917K. The JC9 even adopts a color scheme reminiscent of the 917K’s Gulf livery, evoking nostalgia for longtime racing fans.

While the exterior could fool untrained eyes into thinking this is an old-school endurance racer, the interior gives it away. Those familiar with the Carrera GT would recognize it instantly, primarily because of the center tunnel that houses the beechwood shifter for the 6-speed manual gearbox. However, this particular one-off features a blue cabin finish that matches the body paint.

The 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V10 has also been retained, producing 612 horsepower from the factory. Limited to 1,270 units, the Carrera GT is the only production Porsche powered by a V10 engine. The powerplant was originally developed for a Le Mans prototype, which never made it to the racetrack.

Porsche's Flagship Evolution

The Carrera GT was succeeded by the 918 Spyder, which brought hybrid power to Porsche’s flagship model line and formed part of the so-called “Holy Trinity” of hypercars alongside the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1. Porsche later previewed a possible successor with the all-electric Mission X concept, which debuted in 2023, but the project has yet to receive the green light for production.

Cygler did not reveal the cost of the commission. However, given that the Carrera GT regularly sells for seven-figure sums, the JC9 likely costs a fortune. Miller Motorcars is an exotic car dealership based in Greenwich, Connecticut, and also services rare hypercars such as the Bugatti Veyron.

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