Rare 2012 RUF CTR3 (w/ startup)

A very rare matte silver 2012 Ruf CTR3 arriving at and leaving Cars and Coffee at Finish Line Auto Club. Introduced in 2007, the CTR3 was based on a platform developed by Multimatic and features styling inspired by the Porsche 987 Cayman and 997-generation 911. It is powered by a rear-mid-mounted 3.7-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine producing 691 horsepower (or 766 horsepower in Clubsport trim). This engine, along with several other features of the CTR3, was also used in the W Motors Lykan HyperSport. This example is one of around 30-40 CTR3s built, including seven Clubsports. In 2023 during Monterey Car Week, Ruf introduced the CTR3 Evo, an updated version of the Clubsport with revised bodywork and an engine tuned to produce 800 horsepower.

There's no doubt Ruf has built many truly incredible cars. But none really tug at enthusiasts' heartstrings like those in its CTR series. The original CTR "Yellowbird" needs no introduction, and its followup act, the CTR2, was no less of a world-class contender. It was with the third CTR, however, that Ruf truly went berserk both inside and out. Rather than building another car that could be mistaken for a Porsche 911 from far away, Ruf started with a fresh chassis, utilized the mid-engined layout of the Cayman, exaggerated the car's design proportions like crazy, then topped things off with just enough visual cues for you to recognize the car it's inspired by. It reminds me a lot of Hennessey's Venom GT, which looks like a Lotus Elise/Exige on steroids. Ruf continues to build amazing cars today, both based on and inspired by Porsches. But this remains the one model that will not be mistaken for any other. Purists may consider original Yellowbird or the CTR2 as the most desirable Ruf, but for those who want something that looks as wild as it drives, the CTR3 certainly takes the cake. Then again, if your wallet is as deep as this owner's, why not just get all three?

Would you choose this car over a CTR "Yellowbird" or CTR2? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!