Porsche Carrera GT in Paul Walker crash had six owners in its cross-country life

Always Evolving's Porsche Carerra GT -- recognizable for its unusual red color and black wheels -- is a difficult car to drive for even professionals, with one top driver calling its handling “scary." Those of us at Autoweek who have driven the car will likely concur.

Always Evolving, a car race and tuner store operated by CEO Roger Rodas, a financial consultant who became friends and business partners with actor Paul Walker at a racetrack, acquired the car last spring, and used it often at car shows and in promotional ads. Rodas was driving when the car crashed, killing him and passenger Walker in a California business park Saturday afternoon.

There were fewer than 1,300 of the V-10, 610-hp, midengine cars built from 2004-07, with less than half coming to the U.S. The car that crashed, number 479, was one of 38 cars offered for sale by Always Evolving's store in Sun Valley, Calif.; it was listed as a 2005 model with 3,283 miles. The price is not listed; the car sold new for about $450,000.

It was offered by a dealer in Dallas for $339,000 when it had 1,707 miles, and then the car was listed in the duPont Registry by an exotic car dealer in Pompano Beach, Fla., when it had 2,100 miles. A dealer in Fort Lauderdale listed the car for $359,900, with 3,231 miles on it, and by then it had acquired the black wheels that were on the car when Always Evolving had it. Always Evolving was the next owner.

The car was originally purchased from Beverly Hills Porsche in California, in March of 2005. When the second owner in California bought the car in 2007, it had only 456 miles on it, and when it was sold to owner three in Texas in January, 2009, mileage was 1,510. When it was offered for sale in October, 2011, it had gained only 200 miles. The car went to Florida, then Indiana, then back to Florida, then Always Evolving apparently acquired the car last spring, where the license plate, California number 7CCY590, was mounted inside an Always Evolving black frame.

Sadly, you know the rest of the car's history.

Paul Walker getting into the the Porsche Carerra GT that was involved in a deadly crash on Saturday.

By Steven Cole Smith