Between 1987 and 1996, German automobile manufacturer Ruf Automobile built, from scratch, just 29 examples of the CTR Yellowbird, and one recently sold for $6,055,000 USD.

This CTR Yellowbird was produced in 1989 and is one of only nine CTRs originally finished in Definitive Blutengelb (Blossom Yellow). It is based on the narrow-bodied 911 Carrera 3.2 to keep aerodynamic drag and weight to a minimum. The original body parts were replaced by lightweight aluminum panels, which reduced the car’s weight by over 180 kg. Rain gutters have also been removed, the rear wheel arches have been widened to accommodate 17″ Speedline alloy wheels, aerodynamic side mirrors and special front and rear bumpers made of lightweight composite materials have been installed.

The car is in excellent condition, and during three decades the first owner kept it in a climate-controlled storage facility and maintained it regularly. It was registered for the first time in 2020 and sold to a new owner in the United States and has not driven a single kilometer since then. At the time of cataloguing, the odometer displayed just 1,673 km. It is equipped with an optional Leichtbau equipment package that includes aluminum front fenders, a leather-wrapped Matter aluminum roll cage, fire bottle, and Recaro racing bucket seats with shoulder harnesses.

When it comes to the powertrain, the CTR Yellowbird is powered by an air-cooled 3.4-L twin-turbo 6-cylinder engine with a Bosch motronic fuel injection, that delivers 463 hp at 5,950 rpm and 408 lb-ft of torque at 5,100 rpm. The engine is mated to an ultra-rare six-speed RUF manual gearbox.

Along with the car, the new owner received a tool kit, jack, tire inflator, roadside emergency equipment, and owner’s handbook folio, which contains the owner’s manual, warranty book, and literature relating to the Blaupunkt radio and Recaro seats, RUF Zertifikat, Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin, and a copy of the original sales invoice.

Source: Gooding & Company

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