---
title: "Now’s Your Chance to See Eight Rare Ruf Models All Together"
description: "The Petersen Automotive Museum exhibit includes an iconic CTR Yellowbird, of course."
date: "2021-05-23"
modified: "2021-05-23"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin V. Shaw"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kristin-shaw"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/40730/nows-your-chance-to-see-eight-rare-ruf-models-all-together"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Porsche News"
---

# Now’s Your Chance to See Eight Rare Ruf Models All Together

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2021/05/RUF-HERO.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

[Ruf Automobile](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/38702/nows-your-chance-to-own-a-ruf-btr2-arguably-the-most-desirable-993-not-built-by-porsche>) started out as Auto Ruf, a tuning shop in Pfaffenhausen, Germany in 1939. Owner Alois Ruf, Sr. built a well-respected business that became a small-volume supercar builder in the late 70s under the leadership of Ruf’s son. [Ruf started building his own cars](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/33230/ruf-built-the-worlds-fastest-car-over-rumors-of-a-front-engine-porsche-911>) on body-in-white chassis delivered from Porsche; so while a Ruf vehicle may strongly resemble its German brethren, it never had a [P-car](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/19080/the-510-hp-ruf-scr-is-so-much-more-than-a-carbon-fiber-porsche-911>) VIN and is its own animal.

The [Petersen Automotive Museum](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/39875/petersen-automotive-museum-is-re-opening-with-a-drool-worthy-supercar-exhibit>) teamed up with event organizers Luftgekühlt to create an exhibit dedicated to celebrating these marvels of engineering. The “Pfaffenhausen Speed Shop–The RUF Gallery” display features nine models, including a rare 1990 CTR Yellowbird, a 2012 CTR3 ClubSport, a 2007 Turbo R Cabriolet, a 2016 Turbo R Ltd, a 2016 Ultimate, a 1994 RCT EVO narrow body, a 1994 RCT EVO wide body and a 2015 RT12R.

![message-editor%2F1621803396304-rufinline1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621803396304-rufinline1.jpg>)
**Petersen Automotive Museum**

Of note, event planner Luftgekühlt is named for the word that represents all the air-cooled cars in the manufacturer’s history from the Pre-A 356 through the 993 model line, which ended in 1998. The [Saratoga Automobile Museum](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/40506/16-super-rare-air-cooled-porsche-exhibit-revealed-for-the-first-time>) recently announced a collection of 16 rare air-cooled Porsche models built before 1998 that it's calling *Rare Air*, and many consider this the Golden Age of Porsche designs.

From this era, Ruf’s CTR Yellowbird (a 463-horsepower model from 1987) rose to fame when it was called “The Fastest Production Car in the World” by *Road & Track,* competing against the likes of a Ferrari Testarossa, Lamborghini Countach, and even a Porsche 959 Deluxe. Later, Ruf cars were featured in the video game *Gran Turismo*, in which kids of all ages could dream about driving one of these impeccably-machined supercars.

If you'd like to see the exhibit, the Petersen Museum [requires advance ticket purchase](<https://www.petersen.org/tickets>), so plan ahead. And for the whole [Ruf Automotive](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/32520/ruf-rodeo-is-a-500-hp-porsche-based-off-roader-for-sophisticated-cowboys>) story, check out the aptly-named "[Love at the Red Line](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/33230/ruf-built-the-worlds-fastest-car-over-rumors-of-a-front-engine-porsche-911>)" documentary the automaker created, which includes Alois Ruf, Jr. along with several designers and owners.

https://youtube.com/embed/tSMEVQ25VBk

*Got a tip? Send the writer a note: kristin.shaw@thedrive.com*

## Author
Kristin Shaw is the former Weekend Editor for The Drive and a current freelancer in both the automotive and aviation worlds. She’s a big fan of anything car-related and calls on her technology background on the corporate side to explain engineering and high-tech concepts. Now living in her sixth state (New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, and now Texas), she is thrilled that working from home is now mainstream.

### Author social links  
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