Among all the Porsche 911’s ever made, the 993 is easily the most sought-after generation. This despite the car already being on sale for three decades up to that point…

And among the 993 series, the 911 Turbo is a mega-star among minor bit players.

Add in a RUF-massaged engine, interior, chassis and paintwork in trademark Yellowbird with monoblock wheels and the RUF big brake kit?

The end result is many people’s ideal Porsche, right here, idling calmly.

This RUF 911 Turbo benefits from nearly all the modern tech and style of a current-generation Porsche, plus the legendary speed of the RUF Yellowbirds from the early 1990s that were based on the previous-gen 911.

Obviously, this car is a real stunner when stopped and heart-stopping on the move. This bantamweight boxer engine plus twin turbo’s is a *rare* combination indeed.

AUCTION RESULT

This car sought $300,000-plus at Mecum’s Kissimmee Florida auction over the weekend, but did not meet its reserve with more than 10,000 other supercars vying for buyer attention nearby.

As such, this RUF 911 — dubbed the Tiburon during development — is still prowling the Gulf and Atlantic coastal waters…. looking for its next prey.

1997 RUF Porsche 911 Turbo R Yellowbird

 

1997 Porsche Ruf 993 Turbo R

• Engine
  3.6/500 HP
• Trans
  6-Speed
• Color
  Yellow
• Interior
  Ivory
• https://www.mecum.com/lot-detail.cfm?lot_id=FL0115-206126

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ESTIMATE: $300,000 – $350,000

Known as El Tiburon, this 1997 Porsche Turbo R coupe was the subject of a wide-ranging series of modifications by Ruf Automobile GmbH in Germany. The car was ordered from Porsche painted Glacier White with a Black interior, supple leather seat upholstery, aluminum and chrome interior package, aluminum and leather shifter and parking brake handles colored-crest wheel centers and Pirelli tires, self-dimming mirrors and rain sensor and a digital sound package with 6-disc remote CD changer.

Photographs of the car show it at the Ruf factory, where the transformation to the famed Yellowbird configuration commenced. The flat-6 twin turbo engine is built to CTR (Group C, Turbo Ruf) specification, revised with air-cooled cylinders and heads and capable of producing a mind-numbing 500 HP. The extra power necessitated the use of the Ruf-designed 6-speed close ratio manual gearbox, which provides not only the strength to handle the output but higher flexibility in the choice of gear ratios.

The car was also fitted with Ruf’s larger diameter disc brake conversion and finished off with the Road&Track-named Yellowbird paint and Ivory Ruf racing seats. Driven by no less an authority than Alois Ruf Jr himself, this Turbo R supercar shows just 19,600 actual miles and comes with the Ruf documentation. 

HIGHLIGHTS

– Known as El Tiburon
– Original Ruf Yellow Bird
– Personally driven by Alois Ruf Jr.
– 19,600 actual miles
– Ruf package coupe
– Ruf 3.6/500 HP CTR engine
– Air-cooled
– Ruf close ratio 6-speed transmission
– Ruf big brake conversion
– Yellowbird with Ivory interior
– Ruf documentation and receipts
– Photos of the car at the Ruf plant in Germany
– Porche certificate of authenticity
– Clean CarFax
– Extra key

 

Pre-Sale Photos by John Hollansworth Jr.

Courtesy of Mecum Auctions