Ruf's CTR Anniversary, which we recently sampled to delirious effect, is unforgettable, but the most popular model ever to leave Pfaffenhausen is the 964-based RCT (for ‘Ruf Carrera Turbo’).
Conceived in the early 1990s with more horsepower than the contemporary Porsche 911 Turbo, it existed in both rear- and four-wheel-drive forms and used one of Ruf’s single-turbo air-cooled 3.6-litre motors. Ruf also rebuilt the six-speed manual gearbox, installed its own limited-slip differential and upgraded the suspension.
Then, in the middle of the decade, the RCT Evo was launched, using the 993-generation 911’s ECU system to bring the car’s output from 370bhp to 425bhp, reduce turbo lag and smooth out the power delivery.
The wonderful thing is that, alongside the CTR and the soon-to-arrive 992-gen 911 conversions, Ruf will still build you a pristine RCT Evo if you can supply an old 964-gen 911 (and because the body is comprehensively revitalised, almost any 964 will do).
We had a brief go in a recently finished example – one whose full carbon bodywork (an optional extra that drops kerb weight 105kg to 1295kg) and interior makeover had set the new owner back €380,000 (roughly £330,000).
He or she had yet to take delivery, but one glance at the diminutive, bullet-like silver form and cabin upholstered in soft pastel-green leather, with houndstooth for the buckets, and it’s difficult to imagine they’d have second thoughts. Though subtle, the thing oozed with desirability.
On the move, the RCT’s character then exists in complete contrast to that of the CTR.
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I like a bit of Ruf, would you, we, all like to drive a Ruf Porsche?, so this example costs £330,000, if I had the folding, I'd consider it, wouldn't you?
Maybe as a fourth car? So everyone needs a Range Rover of some sort. And an A6 Avant or Merc eqjuivalent. Not a BMW obviously - simply too vulgar in their new clothes. Then something to catch the sun in - Boxster. Mini Convertable, Corvette? Only then would you even think of a toy like this. At that point why not? OK it's going to lose £100k+ as soon as you sign the cheque but so's your new McLaren, Aston, whatever. Ferrari used to offer protection if you were prepared to keep them 12-15 years but with ICE being history in that period all bets are off. I'd far rather take my mistress to Paris for the weekend in one of these than in any of the above.