1989 Ruf 911 Turbo Type 930 Cabriolet

Racing strengthens the breed, and this has always been a staple of the Porsche brand. Much of Porsche's 911 development was from the factory's racing program, and it was the period Group 4 homologation rules - which required 400 road cars to be built - that brought about the 'Project 930.' The Turbo, in production from April of 1975, used a KKK turbocharger with its 3.0-liter Carrera RSR engine. In road-going guise, this was good enough for 260 horsepower and a top speed of 155 mph. Design elements from the Turbo, such as the flared wheel arches and 'tea tray' rear spoiler had already been seen on the Carrera model. The interior was the most luxurious yet seen in a 911, with its leather upholstery, electric windows, and air conditioning system.

In 1979, Porsche enlarged the engine to 3.3 liters and added an intercooler in the process. Power rose to an impressive 300 bhp. As would be expected, top speed and acceleration also increased.

In the United States, Porsche enthusiasts were only able to enjoy the Turbo for a short period before tough emissions legislation forced its withdrawal from the North American market.

RUF Automobile GMBH
Alois Ruf began his company in 1939, initially as a service station. After his passing, his 24-year-old son, Alois Jr., took control of the company. He had a passion for Porsche automobiles and by 1977, RUF began producing their own models with unique RUF serial numbers, starting with bodies-in-white from Porsche. In 1987, the twin-turbo CTR 'Yellowbird' made its mark on the supercar world by becoming the fastest car in the world, achieving a 211-mile-per-hour top speed.

1989 Porsche 930 Turbo RUF Cabriolet
This particular example was built on January 25th of 1989. It was finished in Silver Metallic (S7) paintwork over a linen and marine blue interior. It was heavily optioned from new, including heated seats, a limited-slip differential, a Blaupunkt Reno stereo, and a short gearshift lever. In the 1990s, this Porsche Cabriolet was sent to performance specialist RUF in Pfaffenhausen, Germany to receive various performance and visual upgrades. It was given a BTR engine kit, an increase in horsepower to 330, a RUF intercooler, and a 4-pipe exhaust system. It was also fitted with RUF's wheels, a RUF front spoiler, and a boost pressure gauge in the cockpit.

Currently, this RUF has fewer than 57,000 miles on its odometer. It has a 5-speed Getrag G50 transmission, which was only fitted in 1989, the final production year of the 930. Its 3,299cc SOHC turbocharged 6-cylinder engine is fitted with Bosch fuel injection and produces approximately 330 horsepower.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2018