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1989 Nissan 300ZX Turbo IMSA GTO is for sale

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In the mid-1980s, Nissan launched a new sports car, the 300ZX, which a few years later became the platform for one of the Clayton Cunningham Racing team’s most successful cars. Only seven cars were produced between 1989 and 1995 and one of them, the 1989 Nissan 300ZX Turbo IMSA GTO, is for sale.

This 300ZX Turbo IMSA GTO had seven top-five finishes in 1989 alone, and achieved its first victory in 1990. By the end of 1992, the car had four wins in 45 starts, including Mosport and Road America Mid-Ohio and Mosport, as well as 16 top three finishes.

At the end of the 1992 season, the car was fitted with an additional passenger seat, and was used for Cunningham Racing’s track driving experience. It should also be noted that this is the only car in the series to have a modified chassis for the passenger seat.

A few years later, this 300ZX Turbo IMSA GTO was sold to Toby Bean, who exhibited it at vintage racing events and kept it in race-ready condition. In 2017, it was sold to a new owner who completely restored it, and two years later it won the Long Beach Grand Prix and the Rolex Motorsports Reunion in Monterey.

The car features a fully adjustable front and rear suspension, as well as a liquid-cooled braking system. Unfortunately, the passenger seat has since been removed to meet IMSA specifications. It is powered by a 3.0-L twin-turbo DOHC V-6 engine with 860 hp, mated to a five-speed manual transmission and a Cunningham Racing quick change rear end housing with Hewland VGC internals.

The auction will take place on March 6-7, 2025 and the asking price is $450,000.

Source: Gooding & Company

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1989 Nissan 300ZX Turbo IMSA GTO is for sale
News

1989 RUF CTR ‘Yellowbird’ sold for $6,055,000

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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1989 RUF CTR 'Yellowbird' sold for $6,055,000
Auctions

A rare 1997 RUF CTR2 is for sale

Between 1995 and 1997, RUF produced just 16 units of the CTR2, the successor to the legendary RUF CTR Yellowbird. Only four examples remain in the United States, and one of them, a 1997 RUF CTR2, is for sale.

The German company RUF has been building and modifying Porsche cars since the mid-1970s, and became known to the public in 1987 when the RUF CTR Yellowbird defeated some of the legendary cars such as the Ferrari F40, Lamborghini Countach, and Porsche 959 in the Top Speed ​​Shootout.

The RUF CTR2 is one of the most exclusive and influential supercars of the 1990s, and is based on the Porsche 993. This design choice reflected the vision of Alois Ruf Jr., RUF’s chairman, who favored the narrow body for improved aerodynamic efficiency.

The car is equipped with a reshaped front bumper made of composite materials, larger air intakes, re-engineered side sills, shaved rain gutters, and sleeker rearview mirrors. The widened rear featured a redesigned deck lid with an air intake inlet for the induction air box. A taller, bi-functional rear spoiler was installed, which included an integrated duct to channel airflow to twin intercoolers positioned behind the rear wheels, and the rear bumper was redesigned by adding two central exhaust pipes and an additional opening for engine cooling.

The interior of the car is equipped with leather-clad bucket seats, air-conditioning, electric windows, and a standard Integrated Roll Cage (IRC), making it ideal for road and track.

When it comes to the powertrain, the RUF CTR2 is powered by an air-cooled 3.6-liter 6-cylinder twin-turbo engine with 520 hp (387 kW) and 505 lb-ft (686 Nm) of torque. That’s enough power to push the car to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 217 mph (349 km/h). Power is sent to all wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission with limited-slip differential.

This RUF CTR2 is finished in Adriatic Blue, has been meticulously maintained, and is in original condition. The odometer reads 60,194 km (37,403 miles) at the time of cataloguing. It comes with books, tools, jack, air compressor, delivery accessories, service invoices, RUF Zertifikat, and documentation.

The auction will take place March 6 – 7, 2025, and the estimated value of the car is $2,000,000 – $2,500,000.

Source: Gooding & Company

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A rare 1997 RUF CTR2 is for sale