1987 Ruf CTR Yellow Bird

The Ruf Yellow Bird is one of the most prolific tuned vehicles and gained notoriety from a Road & Track cover article which called it the ‘Fastest car in the world!’. It achieved this title during to two-day event in 1987, where Road & Track was testing various cars in Northern Germany and stunned everyone by achieving 211 mph at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien track.

Alois Ruf purposely made the CTR for Road & Track’s event and the editors quickly nicknamed it the Yellow Bird. Since Alois made the car as fast he could it must have made an outstanding impression. He took the standard 930 body, replaced doors, hood and engine cover with aluminum panels and then made substantial modifications to the engine. At the time it was the only twin turbocharged 911 in the world.

Addional changed to the CTR included RUF’s 5-Speed Gearbox which helped found the company. Eventually the CTR would be approved in the US and help propel RUF name and business.

In 1989 Porsche replaced the 930 platform with the 964 and RUF continued to offer a similar package called the CTR.

In Detail

submitted by	Richard Owen
price $	$223 000 usd
engine	Twin Turbo Flat-6
valvetrain	SOHC
displacement	3367 cc / 205.5 in³
bore	98.0 mm / 3.86 in
stroke	74.4 mm / 2.93 in
compression	7.5:1
power	349.7 kw / 469.0 bhp @ 5950 rpm
specific output	139.29 bhp per litre
bhp/weight	bhp per tonne
torque	553.2 nm / 408.0 ft lbs @ 5100 rpm
redline	6800 rpm
body / frame	Unit Steel & Aluminum
driven wheels	Rear Engine / RWD
front tires	215/45ZR-17
rear tires	255/40ZR-17
front brakes	Vented Discs w/Vacuum Assist
f brake size	x 330 mm / x 13.0 in
rear brakes	Vented Discs w/Vacuum Assist
r brake size	x 330 mm / x 13.0 in
front wheels	F 43.2 x Not Available cm / 17.0 x 8.0 in
rear wheels	R 43.2 x Not Available cm / 17.0 x 10.0 in
steering	Rack & Pinion
curb weight	1170 kg / 2580 lbs
wheelbase	2273 mm / 89.5 in
front track	1433 mm / 56.4 in
rear track	1491 mm / 58.7 in
length	4290 mm / 168.9 in
width	1775 mm / 69.9 in
height	1311 mm / 51.6 in
transmission	5-Speed Manual
gear ratios	3.50:1, 2.06:1, 1.41:1, 1.07:1, 0.86:1, 0.72:1, :1
final drive	3.44:1
top speed	~334.7 kph / 208.0 mph
0 – 60 mph	~3.9 seconds
0 – 1/4 mile	~11.9 seconds