Tuesday 19th February 2013

Ruf sells stake to Genii

Lotus F1 owner Genii pumps money into celebrated builder of exotic Porsche-based specials

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Partly thanks to the German legislative need to register as a manufacturer in its own right, a lot due to 'that' video of a bloke in slip-ons tearing up the 'ring in the Yellow Bird and, more recently, video game celebrity status Ruf is now more than just a tuner. And attracting the attention of big investors keen to use Alois Ruf's near half century in the business to really make the leap to the big time.

Self-built V8 in the back of a 911 - ambitious

The investor in question? Genii Capital, which has been announced as a 'shareholder and strategic partner' with founding partner Gerard Lopez becoming a non-exec board chairman at Ruf. So what interest does an F1 team owning investor have in a company like Ruf?

Well, the engineering expertise of Ruf has, over the years, been well proven. The Yellowbird was hitting 200mph-plus before the big boys started doing it as a matter of course, and with forays into self-built electric Porsches, V8-engined 911s and its own 750hp CTR 3 supercar there's no lack of ambition.

"Today the brand is also connected to younger generations through its appearance in number one selling driver computer games, opening the potential to new buyers all across the world," says Gerard Lopez in the press release confirming the deal. "The high performance vehicle market is going through a fundamental transition with emerging markets and alternative propulsion solutions paving the way for RUF's future."

CTR3 takes Ruf beyond 'mere' uprated 911s

So where the current generation of supercar buyers - predominantly European and American - grew up with posters on the wall the next - in the Middle East, China and Russia - dreams of the cars through videogames. And here Ruf has a foothold already.

See confirmation that the first homegrown Middle Eastern supercar, the W Motors Lykan, will use Ruf power at its heart for where this is going.

Interesting times for the future then. But if you're from the old-school of supercar dreamers this flatnose Ruf Turbo for sale at Specialist Cars Of Malton might be a more immediate way of enjoying that famous need for speed.

Ruf's 80s heyday - yours for £70K

 

 

[ItsJustARide]

Sounds like an excuse for:

Stefan Roser popping out for some milk

[sisu]

less 90's custom than the red one here

[lindrup119]

Big fan of RUF but God I'd forgotten how hideous those flat noses look, even in steroid-pumped RUF form.

[Mastodon2]

I've always loved Ruf, they make the ultimate 911s imo. The way they got a V8 into the back of a 911 is amazing, and what a V8 it is, revs so fast and high.

[myhandle]

lindrup119 said:

Big fan of RUF but God I'd forgotten how hideous those flat noses look, even in steroid-pumped RUF form.

That car has been for sale for ages and looks way worse than a regular Turbo SE.
- wrong wheels
- wrong mirrors
- wrong spoiler
- clear front and sidelights but 80s original orange rear ones
- cheapo stripes

And was it originally built as a Ruf? It says factory Ruf conversion. Is this the same as a car built as a Ruf? I am not sure. I know the US-market Ruf 993 generation cars were converted Porsches rather than original Ruf cars.

A period Turbo SE (from the same dealer) should look like this - very 80s, obviously, but this one at least looks coherent.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.spe...

Edited by myhandle on Monday 18th February 16:10

[k-ink]

A CTR3 is very high on my wish list. Lovely machines and rather different from the herd.

[F1GTRUeno]

Dear me the wheels on that flatnose do not suit it in the slightest.

Why such poor taste.

[eliotrw]

sisu said:

less 90's custom than the red one here

Jesus t***y F*****g Christ.

WANT

[Davey S2]

F1GTRUeno said:

Dear me the wheels on that flatnose do not suit it in the slightest.

Why such poor taste.

Because 1980's.

[kritter86]

eliotrw said:

Jesus t***y F*****g Christ.

WANT

Couldn't agree more :-)

[Charlie Michael]

eliotrw said:

sisu said:

less 90's custom than the red one here

Jesus t***y F*****g Christ.

WANT

+1 Pure automotive pornography.

[mr_tony]

I want that flatnose. A lot.
I'd like any flatnose, but a RuF one especially..

[ukaskew]

Porsche making the ridiculous decision to sign an exclusivity deal with EA has probably done wonders for RUF.

[DanielSan]

ukaskew said:

Porsche making the ridiculous decision to sign an exclusivity deal with EA has probably done wonders for RUF.

It's fair to say a lot more people have heard of them now because of it.

[soad]

Davey S2 said:

F1GTRUeno said:

Dear me the wheels on that flatnose do not suit it in the slightest.

Why such poor taste.

Because 1980's.

Those wheels aren't from the '80s.

[Banjo47]

I admit to never liking flat noses but that is truly one of the vilest things I have ever seen. Hideous.

[F1GTRUeno]

soad said:

Davey S2 said:

F1GTRUeno said:

Dear me the wheels on that flatnose do not suit it in the slightest.

Why such poor taste.

Because 1980's.

Those wheels aren't from the '80s.

Exactly.

Modern wheels on old cars just don't work.

The 80's RUF wheels are nice too.

[bobberz]

Love that flatnose, but those wheels are far too big! Needs some period RuF alloys & some meatier tyres. The stripes are a bit much, as well.

When will people realise that low profile tyres look hideous on old cars?

[markcoznottz]

That flattie has been for sale for ever. Ruf however I see as increasingly irrelevant, unless you HAD to have one for exclusivitys sake, the turbo s for example is better and faster than rufs own 911. God knows how good the 991 turbo will be.

[sisu]

Charlie Michael said:

eliotrw said:

sisu said:

less 90's custom than the red one here

Jesus t***y F*****g Christ.

WANT

+1 Pure automotive pornography.

There are lots of small details that they made to make the cars as slippery as possible. The bumpers and spoiler. Using 356/VW headlamp glass which is smooth rather than the raised 911 ones. The wing mirrors. Using a Narrow body car, the vents in the rear bumper. Those are the ones I can remember from seeing one, I am sure there are loads more under the skin. While I do like Singers take on - not stuffing up a good design. It does do some things just for show, such as the external oil filler and central ashtray sized fuel filler thru the bonnet, which is a bit cars & coffee rather than anything.
A RUF from the early 90s did this because they wanted to go fast