Latest news with #RufCTR
The Drive
02-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
This Ruf Yellowbird Is Extra Special, and Not Just Because It's the Wrong Color
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The Ruf CTR, often known by its nickname 'Yellowbird,' was a Porsche 911 Carrera so heavily customized that it essentially became a new car. A few were made to the same spec, but only one was painted Bordeaux Red and personally driven by Alois Ruf Jr. That's the car we're looking at here, and it's for sale. This 1989 Ruf CTR1 Lightweight, unofficially dubbed 'Redbird,' is one of six extra-lean CTRs ever made. To earn the Lightweight designation, some steel body panels were swapped for aluminum; there's no center console, no roll cage, no power brakes, no sunroof, no radio, some chassis sound-deadening foam is gone, and the seats are extra-light ones. RM Sotheby's The twin-turbo flat-six bored to 3.4-liters, Ruf five-speed transmission, and chassis reinforcements are still present, though. These cars claimed 211 mph in 1987—a ridiculous speed for a vehicle this delicate in any era—letting it win Road & Track's 'World's Fastest Car' shootout that year. But '89 was when the 'Faszination on the Nürburgring' video was released, cementing Ruf's awesomeness in the minds of anybody who had the chance to see it. This particular car, the ninth CTR built (of 29 total, six of which were Lightweight models), was reportedly stored at Alois Ruf Jr.'s house and used as his personal car to some extent before being delivered to its first real owner. Mr. Ruf himself was, of course, the tuner whose obsession with tinkering on 911s got one of the most elite Porsche customization houses into the annals of history after taking over Ruf from his father (also named Alois). But even without the fun backstory, the spec on this thing is just incredible. The red-over-dark-brown has a real richness to it. I feel like I can smell the interior through some of these photos. I mean, the whole car is just delightful to look at. Sadly, for most of us, looking is all we'll be doing with it—R.M. Sotheby's is auctioning it at Monterey this summer, but expects it to fetch between $4.5 and $5 million. RM Sotheby's Know about any other extra-special special Porsches? Drop me a line at
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
A 1989 Ruf CTR 'Yellowbird' in Photos
More from Robb Report Car of the Week: This 1989 Ruf CTR 'Yellowbird' Could Fetch $6 Million at Auction The Ferrari Testarossa Is an Icon of 1980s Style That's Making a Comeback Car of the Week: This 1954 Jaguar Set a Speed Record at Le Mans. Now It Could Fetch $8.5 Million. Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article. This 1989 Ruf CTR 'Yellowbird' will be offered through Gooding & Company at its 2025 Amelia Island Auctions next month. The interior features the basic Porsche 911 RS vinyl trim, as well as Recaro Clubsport racing seats and a full roll cage. The air-cooled, 3.4-liter flat-six engine makes a claimed 463 hp and 408 ft lbs of torque. This CTR 'Yellowbird' is one of just six built to lightweight spec—with alloy body panels—and one of four equipped with a Ruf-designed six-speed manual gearbox. One of the most appealing features of the car is that it only shows 1,673 kilometers (1,039.5 miles) on the odometer. The car presents a redesigned rear bumper below the trademark 911 Turbo picnic-tray rear wing. Also included is the original invoice, along with the books, tools, and accessory items that came with the car. Gooding & Company is counting on the car's rare spec and immaculate condition to deliver on that 'in excess of $6 million' estimate next month.
