1998 Ruf CTR2 Sport Coupe

The CTR was an abbreviation for 'Group C Turbo Ruf' and was based on the 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2. Production of the CTR lasted from 1987 through 1996 with 29 examples being built from scratch. Its successor was introduced by Alois Ruf Jr., the company owner, in 1995. It was called the Ruf CTR2 (Group C, Turbo Ruf, 2nd generation) and was based on Porsche's Type 993 generation 911. Production lasted until 1997 and had a retail price of $315,000 USD. It was available with standard rear-wheel drive or an optional all-wheel drive setup. They were equipped with enlarged brakes, an integrated roll-cage, Recaro racing seats with Simpson five-point belts, a Ruf-manufactured coil-over suspension system, and an integrated bi-functional rear wing. The wing provided downforce and allowed airflow to the two intercoolers, one on each side. The engine was an air-cooled Porsche 3.6-liter, twin-turbocharged flat-six engine based on the powerplant found in the Porsche 962 Le Mans Group C car. With tuning by Ruf, the engine output was rated at 520 horsepower and 505 ft-lbs of torque. That figure rose later after additional tuning, to 580 horsepower.

Zero-to-sixty mph was accomplished in under 3.5 seconds and top speed was achieved at 217 mph. In 1995 the CTR was the fastest production car in the world.

16 examples of the standard CTR2 were produced along with 12 examples of the CTR2 'Sport' versions. The Sport versions appeared in 1997 when Alois Ruf entered two special wide-body 'CTR2 Yellowbird' prototype 'Sport' versions, code-named 'CTR2sport', in the 1997 Pikes Peak Hillclimb. Powered by a 702 horsepower engine and built to FIA and Pikes Peak regulations, the cars were able to be raced or used as street-legal cars. The two cars were driven by brothers Steve Beddor and David Beddor, with Steve achieving 1st in overall qualifying and finishing 2nd overall in the race. David finished in 4th overall. Steve's Ruf CTR2sport later raced and won the Virginia City Hill Climb on three occasions along with 20 other 1st place finishes nationwide.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2018