While the original Ruf CTR “Yellow Bird” terrorized the Nürburgring and redefined what a 911 could be, its successor, the CTR2, represented evolution over revolution. Based on the 964 Turbo platform, this 1987 masterpiece from Alois Ruf Jr. combined the raw performance DNA of its predecessor with a level of refinement that made daily driving not just possible, but genuinely enjoyable.
The Ruf Philosophy Refined
By the late 1980s, Ruf Automobile had established itself as more than just another Porsche tuner. The company’s approach to enhancement went far beyond bolt-on modifications, with Ruf earning recognition as a legitimate manufacturer in its own right. The CTR2 embodied this philosophy perfectly, taking the already formidable 964 Turbo and transforming it into something that could embarrass supercars costing twice as much.
The heart of the CTR2 was Ruf’s heavily modified 3.6-liter flat-six, breathing through a pair of KKK turbochargers. Unlike the original CTR’s air-cooled brutality, the CTR2’s powerplant delivered its 520 horsepower with a broader, more usable torque curve. The result was a car that could sprint from standstill to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, yet remain tractable in city traffic.
Driving the Evolution
Behind the wheel, the CTR2 reveals its dual nature immediately. At low speeds, it feels remarkably civilized, with the 964’s improved ergonomics and creature comforts intact. The steering is precise without being overly heavy, the clutch manageable, and the six-speed manual transmission shifts with typical Getrag precision.
But unleash the CTR2’s full potential, and its Jekyll and Hyde personality emerges. The turbo lag, while less pronounced than the original CTR, still exists as a reminder of the car’s analog nature. When those twin turbos finally spool up, the acceleration is nothing short of violent. The rear-mounted engine provides incredible traction off the line, while the all-wheel-drive system, borrowed from the 964 Turbo, helps channel the massive torque output to the road.
Track Day Weapon
On a closed circuit, the CTR2 demonstrates why Ruf earned its fearsome reputation. The car’s aerodynamic package, including the distinctive “whale tail” spoiler and front air dam, provides genuine downforce at speed. The suspension, while firm enough for serious performance driving, never becomes punishing on public roads.
The braking system deserves special mention. Ruf’s ventilated disc setup, with massive calipers at all four corners, provides stopping power that matches the car’s straight-line performance. Even after repeated hard stops from triple-digit speeds, fade remains minimal.
A Collector’s Dream
Today, finding a genuine CTR2 requires both patience and deep pockets. Ruf produced fewer than 20 examples during the model’s brief production run, making it one of the rarest 911-based machines ever created. Each car was essentially hand-built to order, with buyers able to specify everything from paint colors to interior appointments.
The build quality reflects this bespoke approach. Panel gaps are tight, the paint finish is flawless, and the interior materials feel appropriately premium. Ruf’s attention to detail extends to the smallest components, from the custom gauges to the distinctive steering wheel badge.
The CTR2 represents Ruf at its absolute peak, combining the raw performance DNA that made the original Yellow Bird legendary with a level of refinement that few manufacturers could match. In an era of increasingly sanitized supercars, this remains one of the last truly analog driving experiences money can buy. For those lucky enough to find one, the CTR2 offers a direct connection to automotive history that few machines can match.
I’ve always respected what Ruf did with that CTR2, though honestly the original Yellow Bird from ’87 still gets my vote for sheer visceral experience – something about that twin turbo setup just hits different on track. You raise a great point about crash testing, Sophia, and it’s funny because that’s exactly where modern 911s like my 991.2 Turbo S just demolish anything from that era in terms of actual safety, even though people romanticize the rawness of those older Rufs.
Log in or register to replyyeah but thats exactly whats wrong with modern cars tbh – they keep “improving” them till theres nothing original left to preserve. that yellow bird still has its soul intact, you’re comparing apples to oranges when u talk about safety standards changing what matters is that ruf respected what porsche built instead of gutting it and rebuilding it into something unrecognizable. the rawness you mention isnt a flaw, its the cars history speaking for itself and teh moment you start “refining” it your just erasing what made it special in teh first place ngl.
Log in or register to replyThis is cool, but I’m curious if Ruf ever published crash test data on these cars back then? I know safety standards were different in the 80s, but even legendary performance cars need good structural rigidity, and I wonder how the CTR2’s frame held up compared to contemporary supercars in any testing they did.
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