1991 Ruf 911 CR4

German tuner RUF became one of the premier shops for Porsche owners seeking to improve their vehicles. Their fame really took off when the legendary 'Yellowbird' shocked the automotive world with its 211 mph top speed in 1987.

The 964 generation 911 that debuted in 1989 brought improved performance and updated styling, along with a more predictable coil-spring suspension and ABS. It had an upsized 3.6-liter flat-six, and available 959-derived all-wheel-drive. However, Porsche did not immediately follow up on the 964 with a new 911 Turbo, so Ruf filled the gap with a model they called CR. The Ruf CR was a body-in-white 911 delivered from Porsche, sans Porsche serial number, and offered to the client in the rear- or all-wheel-drive configuration. The impressive level of performance and attention to detail convinced the German government to grant Ruf full manufacturer status. Although based on the Porsche 911s, the Ruf cars are given their own manufacturer's serial number.

The rear-wheel-drive examples were dubbed the CR2, while those with all-wheel-drive were known as the CR4. They came with the Ruf styling kit that included an RS-type rear spoiler, and a bespoke front spoiler with inlets and vents. Ruf's signature five-spoke eighteen-inch alloy wheels were given upsized cross-drilled and ventilated brake rotors. The Porsche 3.6-liter engine was tuned to produce 290 horsepower and backed by a modified version of the G64 transmission. A limited-slip rear differential help deliver the power to the ground.

The interior housed the company's own three-spoke steering wheel, jump seats in the rear, sports seats upfront, a modified center console with a storage bin, and special RUF gauges, including a 300-km/h speedometer and an 8,000-rpm tachometer. The package also included a high-power audio system.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2019