1998 RUF BTR2 993 Turbo

• UK-registered/delivered RUF BTR2, 1 of the 5 RHD RUF-built examples ever produced; full history from new; 22,000 Euro invoice for a service at RUF April 2019
• Being offered for sale for only the third time since new, with its original owner cherishing the car for twenty years, utilising the factory for servicing
• A 'W09' chassis number RUF car - built  not converted by the marque - specified with an Integrated Roll Cage (IRC)
• A specially built RUF single turbo 3.6-litre engine offering 420bhp at 5700rpm, a 0-62 mph time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 191mph
• A truly collectable, air-cooled RUF-built car, combining a purposeful appearance with exceptional engineering integrity and ballistic performance
• RUF Automobile GmbH is officially recognised as an automobile manufacturer by the German government and every unique RUF built car has a VIN starting with 'W09'

Founded in 1939 in Pfaffenhausen, Bavaria, ‘RUF Automobile GmbH’ is a name now synonymous with Porsche, having produced some of the quickest, most exclusive, and certainly the most thrilling cars of the last 45 years.

By 1977, RUF had gained further recognition for adding power to the then-new 930 Turbo, establishing themselves as turbocharging maestros, producing its own 3.3-litre factory-beating version. Since Porsche only produced Turbos with a four-speed gearbox, by 1981 RUF was offering its version with their own five-speed gearbox fitted – perfectly illustrating RUF’s self-confidence and belief in their own technical abilities.

Such advancements meant that, also in 1981, RUF secured ‘manufacturer status’ and, when considering any car titled a ‘RUF’, an important distinction must be made between a ‘RUF-built car’ and a ‘RUF-enhanced car’. Due to being officially recognised as an automobile manufacturer by the German government, every RUF-built car has a VIN starting with 'W09' and is registered as a RUF (not a Porsche). These examples leave the Porsche factory as bodyshells and componentry and are sent straight to RUF to fully reengineer and assemble from the ground up.

In April 1987, RUF’s status (and exposure) hit new heights with its participation in ‘Road & Track’ magazine’s top-speed shootout. RUF brought along its newest model, the CTR (Group C Turbo RUF), to Volkswagen’s test track at Ehra-Lessien in Germany. There, this rather tame-looking 911 (except for its yellow paint) saw off all the opposition by topping an incredible 211 mph. A photographer named John Lamm, witnessed the record and christened the car ‘Yellowbird.’

Subsequently, the RUF CTR ‘Yellowbird’ achieved the accolade of the world’s fastest production car, which was again reinforced in 1988 when another automotive magazine oversaw it pass through Nardo’s speed traps at 212.5 mph, being quicker than both a Porsche 959 and Ferrari F40.

These exploits really put RUF on the map, establishing it as the maker of some of the most special and capable cars on the planet. Their stature is not to be underestimated.

Like in years gone by, RUF beat Porsche to the marketplace with a turbo’d version of the latest model incarnation. Unlike Porsche though, who’s own 993 Turbo would be an all-wheel drive wide-body only model, RUF envisaged the BTR2 to be a rear-wheel drive, narrow-bodied coupe, in keeping with the original BTR ethos (but customers could specify a wide-body and/or a cabriolet if they preferred).

As it turned out, at the end of the RUF BTR2 (#WO9) production run of just 18 examples, 15 were coupes and 3 were cabriolets, with a total of only 5 cars being in right-hand drive.

Unlike Zuffenhausen, which for their 993 Turbo opted to fit twin K16 blowers, RUF employs a single KKK turbo to achieve an identical boost of 11.6psi. To ensure the engine can cope with the increased pressure, a set of specially engineered Mahle pistons are installed to reduce the compression ratio from the Carrera’s standard 11.3:1 to 8.4:1, with the same 3600cc capacity. At the top end, RUF’s own tailor-made camshafts are fitted in place of the original Porsche items along with faster-flowing injectors, both of which are regulated by a remapped Bosch Motronic brain. Whilst at the bottom, a freer flowing, lightweight, catalyst-equipped sports exhaust is fitted instead of the basic system. With RUF fully balancing and building back up the flat-six, it can achieve a handy 420bhp at 5700rpm at the crank and stump-pulling 435lb ft of twist, giving a useful 12bhp and 37lb ft margin over Porsche’s effort – even with RUF’s output figures being renowned for being on the conservative side. The BTR2’s on-the-road figures read 0-62 mph in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 191 mph.

The car presented here is a UK-registered/delivered 1998 RUF BTR2, 1 of the 5 RHD RUF-made examples ever produced and is now being offered for sale for only the third time since new. Like all 'W09' RUF cars it was originally supplied by the RUF factory in Pfaffenhausen and built to its original owner’s exact specification, which included the addition of an Integrated Roll Cage (IRC). The original owner was so taken with RUF he even went to the factory to collect the car back in 1998.

This exceptional automobile obviously has the obligatory RUF ‘W09’ chassis number and all the features associated with the BTR2 model. It is safe to say that the original owner has really loved this car and formed a very special relationship with RUF and founder Alois, making regular visits to the factory for both servicing and socialising. This twenty-year association and the owner’s absolute devotion to his car has meant it could not be in better health.

The car has covered a total of 72,000 miles with its three owners and has about the most comprehensive history file imaginable (all original order paperwork, TUV documents, letters back & forth to RUF, every invoice for maintenance from new, recent 22,000 Euro service back at RUF - this is where the decals and wheels were painted), along with a fastidious log of all work carried out on the car since new. All major servicing has been done by RUF in Pfaffenhausen, most recently at 69,013 miles, (historically the car hasn’t ever done more than 12,000 miles without going back to RUF, either being driven there or transported), whilst interim and minor work has been performed by a combination of OPC and Porsche specialist workshops (all invoices present)

This is a truly collectable, air-cooled modern-classic RUF-made car, combining a purposeful, if discreet, 993 appearance, with exceptional engineering integrity and ballistic performance – a BTR2 is easily a match for any modern-day supercar. Today, RUF go from strength to strength, with new models all showcasing the company's engineering expertise, indeed, the new 2021 RUF CTR Anniversary is a 700bhp £750,000 technological and stylistic 'tour de force'.

The car’s condition and mechanical health is a real credit to its original owner, with his commitment to it and his close association to RUF being simply unique.