Rare RUF CTR2 is a Porsche on steroids, doesn’t come cheap

Competition creates excellence. With a view to the automotive industry, manufacturers are constantly fighting “battles” against one another. After all, if you are building the fastest cars in the world, it is a great tool for getting more customers. And competition was intense in the last decade of the 20th century. Companies like Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Bugatti, McLaren, and Jaguar all vied for the spotlight.

Ferrari’s flagship at the time was the F50. With a Formula 1-derived V12 engine, it had a claimed top speed of 202 mph (325 km / h). Ferrari built a total of 349 cars between 1995 and 1997. Jaguar launched the XJ220 in 1992, but most potential customers withdrew after switching from a V12 to a turbo V6. 275 of these cars were built and they were reportedly capable of going up to 212 mph (341 km / h).

Then there was the Bugatti EB 110. Built between 1991 and 1995, with fewer than 150 units ever built, these were even rarer than the Jaguar. Only about 30 of these were built to Super Sport specifications, and these were capable of going up to 218 mph (351 km / h). The fastest Lamborghini Diablos of the 90s could also top the 200 mph (322 km / h) mark. But Porsche was a bit behind, even if you look at the extreme 911 GT1 street version.

But there is always a bigger fish. But I’m not going into the topic of Duration 962 now, because this is a racing car for the road. Instead, let’s look at what RUF was doing back then. The German company achieved an impressive feat in 1987 with the release of the CTR, also known as the Yellowbird. The CTR was the fastest production car in the world when it was released, with a top speed of 213 mph (342 km / h).

RUF introduced the CTR2 in rapid succession until 1995. While the CTR was based on the 3.2 liter Carrera, the CTR2 was built from the 993 version of the 911 Turbo. It’s pretty easy to see why CTR and CTR2 are so special. Just look at the name: Group C Turbo Ruf. That means the CTR2 powers an engine with an architecture similar to that of the Porsche 962 Le Mans Group C car.

RUF built fewer than 30 units of the CTR2, including 12 improved sports versions. The special thing about this car is that it comes with a AWD Chassis and was built in 1997. That means it has more power than the 1995 and 1996 cars. The 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged engine was able to generate 580 horsepower and 506 lb-ft (686 Nm) of torque. According to the RUF, this vehicle should be able to reach speeds of 220 mph (354 km / h).

This makes it one of the fastest production cars of the 1990s. It may not be as fast as a McLaren F1, but who knows what a little more tuning can do on that note. It’s good that it has an integrated roll cage for extra security. The CTR2 weighs less than 3,000 lbs (1,360 kg) and should be able to run the quarter mile (402 meters) in about 11 seconds.

This particular vehicle is no garage queen as its odometer reads 30,447 miles (49,000 km). Granted, the Arctic Silver Metallic isn’t the coolest color for a CTR2, but the green leather interior looks something special. It is currently located in London in the UK. The price is no joke as it is set at £ 625,000 ($ 852,630). That’s significantly less than you would pay for a 918 Spyder. But it’s also more expensive than any of the newer top-of-the-range 911 models.