There aren’t many businesses that provide the same functions as Germany’s RUF. RUF was founded in Pfaffenhausen, Germany, as a garage in 1939. Over the years, it has transformed into a Porsche specialist shop, a Porsche tuner, and something that almost defies description: a manufacturer of brand-new cars that may resemble an air-cooled 911 but are actually entirely RUF from the wheels up.
If you squint, you might be able to see out some similarities between organizations like Caterham and the Lotus Seven, which greatly expanded the Lotus Seven formula’s original design intentions. Perhaps Singer as well.
The RUF CTR, also known as the Yellowbird, is a late-’80s evolution of the 911 with specifications that still blow minds today: 0-60 mph in 3.65 seconds, a 210 mph top speed, a sub-2,600-pound curb weight (! ), and a challenging but joyful demeanor behind the wheel. To date, none of those companies has created a vehicle with the same kind of world-tilting impact. It’s almost like a freak of nature—a hero vehicle that, by all accounts, exceeds even the most unjustified hopes.
A new short film called RUF: Love at the Red Line takes a look back at the company’s past eighty years, following its development from a service center to manufacturer and the production of what is likely the first viral car video (though back then, you had to buy Fascination at the Nurburgring on VHS). It includes interviews with car culture icons like Bruce Meyers and Kazunori Yamauchi, who helped promote the CTR by adding it in his enormously popular Gran Turismo video game series, as well as Alois Jr., Estonia Ruf, and other members of the firm.
The historical perspective is priceless: The 928, a front-engined vehicle that Porsche had intended to replace the rear-engine, air-cooled 911, was the a-ha moment for Alois, for instance. Obviously, it didn’t because the 911 is still operating. However, the development of the CTR, which was at the time constructed using a body shell from Porsche, marked a turning point for the rear-engine sports vehicle. Instead of trying to stop the 911 from advancing toward pure, unrestrained performance, Alois and team set out to push it farther than Porsche dared. The results are still being discussed today, so RUF obviously did something good.
We could refer to this movie as a retrospective, but it would indicate that RUF’s story has come to an end. Nothing could be further from the truth, and its work will likely become more relevant and in great demand than ever before as the performance frontier pushes further and further away from the analog sports car experience that so many of us still yearn for.
In the movie, Alois Ruf says, “My motto has always been: When you drive one of our cars, you have to feel like you are driving your own trousers, your own pants.” We hope that things like the sound of a flat-six engine, the operation of a superb manual transmission, and the ability to interface with both in a properly tuned lightweight sports car will never go out of style.
Gordon Kozak
For as long as he can remember, Graham Kozak has been enamored with automobiles.
In This Article...
The New Ruf Still Looks Like A Porsche Even Though It Isn’t Based On One
When the non-Porsche Ruf was introduced a few days ago, everyone was ecstatic, but it turns out that the car’s entirely carbon fiber body is a replica of a 1980s 911.
As you may recall, Ruf created a unique vehicle that wasn’t based on a Porsche for the first time. It turns out that it isn’t nearly the break from tradition that we had anticipated.
Ruf has dressed its brand-new carbon-tubbed CTR 2017 in a body that, let’s just say Porsche might be a little irritated if Ruf hasn’t requested permission, in homage to the 1987 CTR Yellow Bird, an absolutely bonkers 210mph version of the contemporary 911.
What makes a brand-new chassis worth the trouble, then? The most recent Porsche models are too large to have the desired impact.
With flat-cut five-spoke alloy wheels, a sizable spoiler, yellow paint, and upright, round headlamps, the look is eerily reminiscent of 1987. However, the small elements are distinctly 2017—the lower ride height, the cutting-edge headlamp technology, and the interior, which is definitely not a Porsche and is covered in Alcantara practically everywhere but the tartan leather seats.
You really, really wouldn’t want to crash it even at low speed because its extraordinarily wide body is made entirely of carbon. Is it pure hotness or is it unfortunate that Ruf didn’t create its own styling to match all the work it went into creating the chassis?
It is swift in either case. It is lighter than a McLaren 720S, weighing only 1200 kg dry, but slower moving due to longer gearing for the 700 horsepower twin-turbo Ruf. Expect a 0-62 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a 0-124 mph time of less than nine seconds, but the 224 mph top speed beats the McLaren’s 212 mph.
The 245-section front tires are dwarfed by the 305-section rear tires, which provide traction. There must be enough of grip to contain the 649 lb-ft of torque at only 2750 rpm. Ruf designed the 3.6-liter flat-six engine, which resembles the 3.6-liter flat-six used in the 1987 Yellow Bird.
We’re torn between admiring it for seamlessly fusing the old and the new and wishing the outside wasn’t just a carbon replica.
Transmit this tale
One of the world’s most instantly recognizable automobiles is the Porsche 911. Porsche has maintained the same fundamental format—a flat-six engine positioned behind the rear axle—across many iterations and decades. The Porsche crest, however, is not actually present on some of the most well-known 911s. Instead, they are formally acknowledged as being the creations of the German business Ruf, with its headquarters in Pfaffenhausen. And the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles has opened a new display honoring them.
It’s likely that you already know about Ruf if you’re a car nerd. That may be a result of the Nurburgring’s fascination. Ruf produced a 20-minute promotional movie for the Ruf CTR, popularly known as the Yellowbird, in 1987. The Yellowbird is shown in the video. Ruf modified the suspension and brakes, replaced the body panels with lightweight aluminum (or fiberglass for the bumpers), and seam-welded the chassis based on the naturally aspirated 911 Carrera 3.2. Ruf further improved the engine, bore it out to 3.4 L, added two large turbochargers, and achieved at least 463 horsepower (345 kW) and 408 lb-ft (553 Nm), which was significantly more than anything Porsche marketed at the time.
The test driver for Ruf, Stefan Roser, also appears in Fascination on the Nurburgring. He displays masterful car control over 20 minutes, hustling the Yellowbird at frequently absurd slip angles around some of the challenging turns that make up the Nordschleife. It also serves as a pretty good example of how the tire technology of 1987 was not really capable of containing all much power. Faszination on the Nurburgring VHS copies were valuable items before the Internet era, but today anybody can see it due to Ruf’s YouTube channel:
It’s more probable that if you’re reading Ars you first saw Ruf in the racing game Gran Turismo 2, which was previously hailed as the greatest console racer ever. Porsche was then bound by an exclusive agreement with Electronic Arts, which lasted until 2016. Kazunori Yamauchi, the game’s designer, chose to approach Ruf instead, ostensibly accosting Alois Ruf Jr. in a hotel to guarantee the brand’s inclusion in the game.
A 1990 Ruf CTR Yellowbird, a 2012 Ruf CTR3 ClubSport, a 2007 Ruf Turbo R Cabriolet, a 2016 Ruf Turbo R Ltd, a 2016 Ruf Ultimate, a 1994 Ruf RCT EVO narrow body, a 1994 Ruf RCT EVO wide body, and a 2015 Ruf RT12R are among the vehicles on display in the “Pfaffenhausen Speed Shop—The RUF Gallery” exhibition, which debuted at the Petersen on May 15.
What distinguishes the RUF from the Porsche?
For more than 80 years, the brand RUF has been associated with competence in the automotive industry. German family-owned automaker Ruf Automobile is headquartered in the heart of Bavaria.
Ruf uses Porsche motors, right?
RUF started out as an expert Porsche tuner. Engine, chassis, and brakes were overhauled, and lighter, platforms and chassis with higher torque were made.
What is the price of a Ruf Porsche?
Although it’s not a Porsche, the RUF CTR3 comes very close. The reason for this is that the car’s design team preferred to create a vehicle from scratch. It looks a lot like a Porsche, but the design team made some clear changes. For instance, its fenders and headlights resemble those of the renowned Porsche 911.
Describe the RUF. What did it represent?
The Ruf CTR (Group C, Turbo Ruf), sometimes referred to as the CTR Yellowbird or just the Yellowbird, is a high-performance sports car produced in limited numbers by the German automaker Ruf Automobile.
What became of the RUF?
Beginning in 1991 and concluding in 2002, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) was a rebel organization that engaged in an unsuccessful eleven-year conflict in Sierra Leone. Later, it changed into a political party that is still in existence today. Issa Sesay, Morris Kallon, and Augustine Gbao, the three most senior surviving leaders, were found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity in February 2009.
The Porsche 9ff is what?
Ruf and Porsche are not that dissimilar from one another. Pfaffenhausen has a division called Ruf. Vehicles are created, improved, and restored by Ruf Automobile. The company has departments for upholstery, panel beating, paint, engines, and a section for historic cars.
The Porsche 9ff is made by who?
Since “BMW” is only a three-letter word, many people pronounce it that way: “bee em double yoo.” The English pronunciation, however, is incorrect because the brand is German. The most accurate way to pronounce this is therefore “bee em vee.”
Who founded RUF?
Beginning in 1991 and concluding in 2002, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) was a rebel organization that engaged in an unsuccessful eleven-year conflict in Sierra Leone. Later, it changed into a political party that is still in existence today.
Which Porsche is the quickest?
What ultimately resulted in Ruf Alois Ruf Sr. founded Automobile in Pfaffenhausen, Germany, as a standard garage in 1939. Due to the unfortunate circumstances of one driver, his son Alois Ruf, Jr., would later expand the company into a Porsche tuning powerhouse.
What number of Singer Porsches are there?
German auto tuning specialists 9ff are situated in Dortmund. Jan Fatthauer started it in 2001. It specializes in turning stock Porsches into street-legal racing cars, either by selling individual parts or complete cars that have been tuned.
Are Porsches trustworthy?
Williams has created the ultimate Singer, just as Singer created the perfect 911. All 75 of this legal hypercar’s 1.8 million dollar production runs have already been sold.
What is the foundation of RUF CTR3?
The 911 GT2 RS (991.2 Generation) is, in fact, Porsche’s quickest street-legal vehicle to date. It is also the most powerful 911 Porsche has ever produced, with 691 horsepower.
A CTR vehicle is what?
Those who discover definitive design find it enjoyable. Singer Group, Inc. (Singer) follows the instructions of its customers when restoring and reimagining Porsche 911s from 1989 to 1994 that are built on the 964 chassis. Singer does not produce or market vehicles.
How do you pronounce Maybach cars?
This unusual car, which is based on the modest Porsche Cayman and was inspired by the illustrious Carrera GT, has enough power to put modern supercars to shame. The RUF CTR3’s narrative is distinct.