Background:
RUF Automobile occupies a unique position in the performance-car world. Founded from the family business established by Alois Ruf Sr. in Pfaffenhausen, Germany, RUF evolved under Alois Ruf Jr. from a specialist Porsche workshop into a fully recognized automobile manufacturer. Unlike a conventional tuner, RUF can build cars under its own manufacturer identity, with its own chassis numbers, engineering, drivetrains and increasingly its own vehicle architectures.
RUF became internationally famous through the CTR “Yellowbird.” In Road & Track’s celebrated 1987 World’s Fastest Cars test at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien facility, the CTR reached 211 mph, outperforming contemporary exotica from Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche. That achievement established RUF’s reputation for combining extraordinary speed with surprisingly usable road manners.
The company’s philosophy has remained remarkably consistent: low weight, exceptional power, mechanical involvement and meticulous engineering rather than simply chasing headline horsepower. While many RUF automobiles have obvious Porsche ancestry, the engineering beneath them can differ substantially. Modern RUF models have progressed to proprietary carbon-fiber chassis technology and RUF-developed engines, suspensions and transmissions.
RUF also remains unusually small and personal compared with mainstream supercar manufacturers. Its cars are produced in very limited numbers and are closely associated with the Ruf family and the company’s Pfaffenhausen headquarters. That combination of craftsmanship, technical independence and motorsport-level performance has given RUF an almost cult-like following among Porsche enthusiasts.
Perhaps the most important thing to understand about RUF is that its finest creations are intended to be viewed as RUF automobiles rather than modified Porsches. Few cars demonstrate that distinction more dramatically than the mid-engine CTR3.
RUF CTR3
Introduced in 2007, the CTR3 represented a major departure for RUF. Rather than creating another extreme rear-engined 911 derivative, RUF developed a mid-engine supercar. Road & Track noted that although the forward structure had similarities to the contemporary 997-generation GT3 RS, the rear was an original tubular-frame structure developed with Multimatic. Carbon-fiber bodywork and the distinctive long-tail proportions further separated the CTR3 from a conventional Porsche.
The original CTR3 used a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six producing 700 bhp at 7,000 rpm and 657 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Power went exclusively to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential manual gearbox. Road & Track estimated a curb weight of just 3,085 lb (1,399 kg).
Original CTR3 — key specifications
| Specification | RUF CTR3 |
| Engine | 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six |
| Layout | Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Power | 700 bhp @ 7,000 rpm |
| Torque | 657 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed sequential manual |
| Estimated curb weight | 3,085 lb |
| 0–60 mph | 3.2 sec (estimated) |
| Top speed | 233 mph |
| Front brakes | 15-in. carbon-ceramic |
| Rear brakes | 15-in. carbon-ceramic |
| Front tires | 255/35ZR19 |
| Rear tires | 335/30ZR20 |
| Wheelbase | 103.3 in. |
Those figures put the original CTR3 squarely into hypercar territory for its era. Particularly striking was its 233-mph claimed top speed, at a time when a 200-mph production automobile remained something exceptional.
Road & Track magazine
Road & Track’s Mike Monticello covered the CTR3 when it appeared in 2007 and emphasized that the car was far more than a rebodied Porsche. Describing RUF’s first attempt at creating its own supercar, the magazine concluded:
“As a first attempt at building his own supercar, the CTR3 is impressive. We’re squirming in our seats waiting to drive one.”
Road & Track also highlighted the CTR3’s unusual construction. The publication described the rear subframe as “super trick,” noting that its substantial tubular structure made clear the CTR3 was not simply a rebodied Cayman or Boxster.
Years later, Road & Track included the CTR3 among its selection of great German supercars, writing that buyers wanting a RUF with more exotic styling “can’t go wrong with a CTR3.”
Road & Track — 2008 RUF CTR3 feature
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Above contents © 2026 Graham Rahal Performance, reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee , @rexmcafee 🏁
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