Ruf CTR

File:CTR2 Alois Ruf.jpg present near the car]]

The CTR (abbreviation of "Group C Turbo Ruf") was based on the 1987 911 Carrera 3.2 as opposed to the 930; Porsche's factory turbocharged version of the 911. The decision to base the car on the Carrera 3.2 was made because of the 3.2's slightly lower curb weight and drag coefficient. Factory body panels including the doors, hood and engine cover were replaced with aluminum pieces, helping to reduce an additional {{convert|200|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} of weight as compared to the vehicle's factory curb weight. Efforts to reduce drag, the use of fiberglass front and rear bumpers and a pair of intake ducts on the rear flares to allow airflow to the intercoolers topped the list of body modifications. The rear arches were also slightly increased in width to accommodate the larger Speedline wheels.

In addition to the lighter panels, considerable modifications were made to the engine, including boring the cylinders out to {{convert|98|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} to increase displacement from {{convert|3164|cc|L|1|abbr=on|order=flip}} to {{convert|3367|cc|L|1|abbr=on|order=flip}}, adding an uprated DME fuel injection system originally designed for the Porsche 962 race car. A specifically designed turbo system featuring large twin-turbochargers and twin intercoolers were the main highlights of the modifications done to the engine, bringing total output to {{convert|469|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} at 5,950 rpm and {{convert|553|Nm|0|abbr=on}} of torque at 5,100 rpm.

File:RUF CTR Yellowbird engine room.jpg

At the time, Porsche offered the 911 3.2 with a 5-speed manual transmission, but the 930 featured only a 4-speed manual transmission, chosen because it was the only unit manufactured by the company that could handle the turbocharged engine's high power output. Not content with only four forward gears and unable to satisfactorily modify the 5-speed unit, Ruf chose to use a new five-speed transmission of their own design on the CTR, which also gave them full freedom to customise gear ratios.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-11|title=RUF CTR- The Record-Breaking Yellowbird [Ultimate Review]|url=https://sportscardigest.com/ruf-ctr/|access-date=2020-09-14|website=Sports Car Digest - The Sports, Racing and Vintage Car Journal|language=en-US}} An upgraded suspension system, 17 inch Ruf Speedline alloy wheels, {{convert|330|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} diameter Brembo braking system, and Dunlop's Denloc system performance tyres were used.

The company debuted the vehicle at the end of 1987 with pricing set at US$142,900 (approx US$362,000 in 2022), although that number could vary depending on whether a given customer ordered it directly from Ruf or brought in a car purchased via dealer for conversion. Ruf manufactured only 29 cars from chassis bought from Porsche; about 20–30 cars were built from customers' Carreras.Total 911 issue 125 p.42-46 https://www.total911.com/ruf-ctr-the-fastest-car-of-1987

Ruf rated the CTR at {{cvt|469|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|408|lbft|Nm|0|abbr=on}} of torque. It is said that the official power output of 469 PS was the lowest dynamometer reading of all the CTR engines tested while the average figure was closer to {{cvt|500|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} or even higher.

Weighing in at {{convert|1150|kg|lb|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}, the CTR had a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 3.65 seconds and a top speed in excess of 210 mph. Although the Porsche 959 was faster in terms of acceleration to 60 mph, the Yellowbird could outperform all competition when it came to top speed, topping out at {{convert|342|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}, a top speed that made it the fastest production car in the world at the time of its introduction.

• Engine configuration: Twin-turbocharged SOHC 2 valves per cylinder flat-six engine
• Bore X Stroke: {{convert|98x74.4|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}
• Displacement: {{convert|3367|cc|L cuin|1|abbr=on}}
• Compression ratio: 7.5:1
• Power: {{Convert|469|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} at 5,950 rpm
• Torque: {{convert|553|Nm|lbft|0|abbr=on}} at 5,100 rpm
• Redline: 6,800 rpm
• Curb weight: {{convert|1150|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}
• Gearbox: 5-speed manual transmission (6-speed optional)
• Tyres: 215/45ZR-17 front, 255/40ZR-17 rear
• Layout: Rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive.

The CTR could generally outperform most of the other high performance cars of the time, including the Ferrari Testarossa and Lamborghini Countach. In addition, despite being slower than the Porsche 959 in accelerating from 0-60 mph, it could outperform the Porsche 959, Ferrari F40 and the Lamborghini Diablo accelerating from 0-100 mph and attain a higher top speed.{{Cite web | url=http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/232641/birth_of_an_icon_1987_ruf_ctr_yellow_bird.html |title = Birth of an icon: 1987 Ruf CTR ' Yellow bird': Ruf CTR ' Yellow bird'}}Auto, Motor und Sport 25/1988

The CTR was also a highly competent track vehicle, and for several years it held the unofficial lap record at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife track.{{cite web |url=http://www.thesmokingtire.com/2012/why-the-tail-happy-ruf-yellowbird-is-such-a-big-deal-video/ |title=Why the Tail-happy RUF "Yellowbird" is Such a Big Deal [Video] | the Smoking Tire |accessdate=23 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212011926/http://www.thesmokingtire.com/2012/why-the-tail-happy-ruf-yellowbird-is-such-a-big-deal-video/ |archivedate=12 December 2015 }}

Test results by Autocar:

• 0–{{convert|30|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}: 1.69 seconds
• 0–{{convert|60|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}: 3.65 secondsAutocar Magazine, 27 April 2004 Issue
• 0–{{convert|100|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}}: 6.71 seconds
• 0–{{convert|150|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}}: 14.59 seconds
• 0–{{convert|200|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}}: 35.57 seconds
• Standing mile: 27.7 seconds at {{convert|189.11|mph|km/h|abbr=on|order=flip}}
• 0–100–0 mph: 11.85 seconds
• 0–200–0 mph: 47.20 seconds

Test results by other magazines:

• 0–{{convert|100|km/h|0|abbr=on}}: 4.1 seconds
• 0–{{convert|200|km/h|0|abbr=on}}: 10.5 seconds"De snelste:339 km/u!" by Paul Frère
• Standing 1/4 mile (402 m): 11.7 s at {{convert|133.5|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}
• 0–1,000 m: 20.9 secondsSport Auto 7/1987 http://www.einszweidrei.de/ezdold/porsche/rufctryb1987-1.htm
• Top speed: {{convert|342|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}

The Ruf CTR had its first appearance in April 1987 at the "World's Fastest Cars" contest held by American car magazine Road & Track where it was designated "The Fastest Production Car in the World".

It accelerated from 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds, 0-100 mph in 7.3 seconds, 0–200 km/h in 10.5 seconds, {{frac|1|4}} mile in 11.7 seconds at {{convert|133.5|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} and reached a top speed of {{convert|211|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, beating the competition by {{convert|10|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Editor Paul Frère shouted "This is faster than I've ever gone in my life!" during a ride.Road & Track July 1987. Excerpt: {{cite journal |url=http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a29347/the-worlds-fastest-cars-1987/ |title=In 1987, The World's Fastest Cars Couldn't Catch A 211-mph Twin-Turbo Ruf |first=Peter |last=Egan |journal=Road & Track |location=US |date=29 May 2016 |access-date=26 August 2016}}911 & Porsche World, No. 32, March/April 1996

In 1988, Auto Motor und Sport organized a high speed test at Nardò Ring where the Ruf CTR was the fastest reaching {{convert|342|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, surpassing a Porsche 959 s ({{convert|339|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}), two Ferrari F40s ({{convert|321|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} each) and a Mercedes AMG 6.0 32V ({{convert|288|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}). At one point it achieved an unofficial {{convert|215|mph|km/h|abbr=on|order=flip}}.

In 1989, test driver Stefan Roser drove the CTR around the Nürburgring. The laps were captured on camera and released by Ruf in a video called "Faszination on the Nürburgring" which became famous. Car & Driver called it groundbreaking, enthralling and influential and for Top Gear it's the best and most exciting lap for watching.{{Cite web | url=http://www.caranddriver.com/features/1987-ruf-ctr-yellowbird-911-turbo-driven-video |title = 1987 Ruf CTR "Yellowbird" 911 Turbo Driven [+ Video]|date = 11 November 2013}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.topgear.com.ph/features/feature-articles/ruf-ctr-yellowbird-viral-video-star-a2630-20181116-lfrm | title=The Ruf CTR Yellowbird was the very first 'viral' video star| date=16 November 2018}}

In 2004, a Ruf CTR was able to keep up with newer sports cars like the Porsche Carrera GT, the Ferrari Enzo and the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren at the Autocar 0-100-0 challenge and impressed the audience, so did another one - with more than 100,000 kilometers on its odometer - at the Road & Track standing mile contest 2005. Steve Millen, after testing a CTR, stated: "That thing's a blast. It accelerates hard. It's a real old-school car with a lot of torque and power. Just awesome. What a rush. It pulled the whole way through."Road & Track September 2005

The Ruf CTR is a playable/drivable car in the video games "The Duel: Test Drive II", "Project Gotham Racing 3", "Project Gotham Racing 4", "Driver: San Francisco", "Forza Motorsport 4", "Forza Motorsport 5", "Forza Horizon", "Forza Horizon 2", "Assetto Corsa", "Project CARS", and most of the "Gran Turismo" series games.

The CTR was succeeded in 1996 by the CTR2 based on Porsche's newer 993 Generation 911.

{{main|Ruf CTR Anniversary}}

File:Ruf CTR (2017) Motorworld Munich 1X7A0054.jpg

At the 87th Geneva Motor Show held from 9 to 19 March 2017, exactly 30 years after the original CTR was launched, Ruf presented a new model paying tribute to the original CTR. The new CTR utilises an in-house developed carbon fibre body bearing resemblance to a Porsche 964 along with an aluminium chassis resulting in a dry weight of {{cvt|2640|lb|kg|-1|abbr=on}}. The car is not based on the 911, unlike the original CTR. The new CTR is powered by a 3.6-litre water cooled twin-turbocharged Flat-6 engine producing {{cvt|522|kW|PS hp|0}} at 6,750 rpm and {{cvt|880|Nm|lbft|0}} of torque at 4,000 rpm. The car is capable of accelerating from 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in under 3.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of {{cvt|360|km/h|0|abbr=on}}. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox. The car also sports retro components based on the original CTR such as the 'whale tail' rear wing five-spoke wheels, interior and the steering wheel. Only 50 examples of the 2017 CTR will be produced.{{cite web|url=https://ruf-automobile.de/en/modell/6100/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171211235915/https://ruf-automobile.de/en/modell/6100/ | archive-date = 2017-12-11 | title=2017 RUF CTR Unveiled in Geneva Thrilling New RUF Takes The Stage |website=RUF-Automobile.de/en/ |accessdate=1 September 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://jalopnik.com/the-700-hp-225-mph-all-carbon-ruf-ctr-isnt-built-off-1793040716|title= RuF pays tribute to the original CTR by introducing a new model using the same name|author= Tom McParland|publisher= jalopnik|date= 7 March 2017|accessdate= 30 January 2018}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210200015/http://www.ruf-automobile.de/html/technical_911_ctr.html |date=10 February 2001 |title=Ruf 911 CTR (Ruf Homepage) }}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzH_Y-ytRmI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/MzH_Y-ytRmI |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=RUF CTR Nürburgring Lap Video|website=YouTube }}{{cbignore}}

{{Ruf}}{{Commons category}}

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Category:Rear-wheel-drive vehicles

CTR

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Category:Cars introduced in 1987

Category:Cars discontinued in 1996