Vehicle Description
Chassis No. W09TD0364WPR06013
Having inherited control of his father's eponymous garage in
Pfaffenhausen, near Munich, Germany as long ago as 1974, Alois Ruf
launched his first improved Porsche 911-one based on the incumbent
930 Turbo-the following year. By 1977, his nascent company had
unveiled an enlarged, 3.3-liter version of the car which, at that
stage, was still only available in production form powered by a
3.0-liter engine. Interestingly, RUF simultaneously developed a
five-speed transmission of their own design, which was also fitted
to their Turbo derivative; this a technical improvement which
Porsche themselves would not be inclined to fit on the Turbo until
1989.
Significantly, in 1982 RUF received formal recognition as an
independent vehicle manufacturer from Germany's Federal Motor
Transport Office; thus, enabling the company to issue their own
chassis numbers as opposed to merely using those issued by Porsche,
as had been the case previously. Production of the 930-based RUF
BTR commenced in 1983, the car's increased 3.4-liter capacity and
370 horsepower being determining factors in its securing of the
Production Car Speed record-at a speed of some 190 mph-later that
year.
The BTR would continue to hold the speed record for three years
until it was usurped, perhaps fittingly, by a Porsche: the mighty
959. Yet the 959 would hold the title only briefly, for RUF had
been developing their new 911 Carrera 3.2-based CTR "Yellowbird" in
the meantime; the 463 horsepower behemoth subsequently regaining
the title in 1987 for the diminutive Bavarian manufacturer with a
staggering top speed of some 213 mph.
Production of the BTR would carry on for the next decade or more.
In 1993, the company's BTR 3.8 model was unveiled, the car
effectively a 410 horsepower, turbocharged version of the 964-shape
Carrera 2. Featuring a novel six-speed automatic transmission with
electronic clutch, it continued to employ the manufacturer's
tried-and-tested philosophy of maximizing power while minimizing
weight and aerodynamic drag; something amply reflected in its 0-60
mph time of just 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 199 mph.
Just a year after the introduction of the BTR 3.8, another new
model was introduced; this time based around the architecture of
the newly introduced 993-generation bodyshell and, specifically,
that of the Carrera variant. Continuing the BTR name, the
Carrera-based 3.6-liter engine was equipped with a single KKK K27
turbocharger operating at a maximum boost of 11.6 psi, a bespoke
air-to-air intercooler, modified camshafts and a Bosch Motronic
Engine Management system. Maximum power was 420 horsepower at just
5,000 rpm, while maximum torque produced was a no less healthy 435
foot-pounds at 4,800 rpm.
However, impressive though its technical specification was, perhaps
the most significant aspect of the BTR was that it effectively
offered a 993-shape Porsche 911 Turbo-in all but name-almost two
years before Porsche themselves did the same. Not for the first
time, RUF had stolen a march on their Stuttgart neighbors.
Elsewhere, the car employed the by-now customary RUF-developed
six-speed manual transmission, a limited-slip differential, and
suspension lowered by over an inch relative to the BTR 3.8.
Performance was predictably meteoric, with 60 mph achieved in just
4.1 seconds and a top speed of 191 mph.
In common with many bespoke manufacturers, RUF have - in their
case, for almost five decades - forged a justified reputation for
microscopic attention to detail and their unwavering commitment to
tailoring their cars to the individual requirements of their
clients. Indeed, two cars of the same model may occasionally
display minor cosmetic and even minor mechanical differences. This
would appear to be the case with the magnificent example offered
here, for while it retains the 3.6-liter single turbo engine of a
BTR, these have been incorporated into the slightly more aggressive
body of RUF's concurrent Turbo R model; the latter identifiable by
the triple "gills" recessed into its front and rear bumpers.
Nevertheless, chassis number 06013 remains exquisitely presented in
Adria Blue with a Mocca Brown leather interior with matching blue
stitching and retains all the delightful bespoke details associated
with RUF. These include - but are not restricted to - its milled
aluminium pedals, RUF-branded door kick plates, machined front
strut brace and its original 18 inch wheels. Furthermore, its
specification is further enhanced by a power-operated sunroof and a
Harman Kardon audio system; the latter with a remote CD autochanger
located in the front luggage area.
This car was acquired by the consignor around 10 years ago still,
remarkably, showing only delivery mileage; its seats and interior
evidently having barely been occupied. In the current ownership,
the car has continued to be fastidiously stored and maintained; its
odometer at the time of cataloging displaying just 331 miles.
Forever associated with the Porsche name, yet justifiably now
revered as a manufacturer in their own right, RUF remains one of
the most remarkable stories of the performance car sector in recent
times. Highly innovative, expertly skilled and commendably
reactive, they have produced some of the fastest and most potent
purpose-built GT cars ever constructed; their manufacturing
processes a byword for intelligent design, exquisite engineering
and impeccable levels of finish. In the case of the magnificent
example offered here, it remains uniquely original and unmarked in
its presentation, ultra-low mileage, and one of only ten such
examples believed to have been produced; three primary criteria
which underly its remarkable collector potential and all but
guaranteed future appeal.
