Value of Ruf 930 cabriolet?

howiee · howiee's Garage

My Friends dad has an 1987 930 slant nose cabriolet that he is thinking of selling. He said he would let it go to me for 35k US. (I'm in Canada). It has 110km, about 65miles. Black on black and is in mint condition. It has a single turbo and a very large intercooler. He has the original bill of sale and shows the guy before him paid 250k cdn for it new. He is the second owner and has a pile of service records.

Now if the ppi checks out I think he is offering a screaming deal. I don't know enough about the Ruf options, what should I look for, and should I be worried about reliability?

I don't have a picture but I'll try and get one to post.

Jeff Alton · 03-22-2004, 04:49 PM

Here in Vancouver an 89 930 Ruf sold for 74000 cdn last week. Car was a triple black cab with 40000kms. 395hp btr motor etc..... mint condition.

Jeff

howiee · howiee's Garage

Hi Jeff

Looks like for 25-30,000.00 CDN less might be a pretty good deal. I've know the car for 5-6 years and have driven it a few times before. His dad isn't exactlly a car beater. Bought it cause he liked the slant nose and it was the only one he could find in this good shape.
I think I'll get a PPI done.

Jeff Alton · 03-23-2004, 07:11 AM

If that car was originally from toronto they were probably put together by the same guy. I can not remember his name now and I beleive he has since passed away, but, he had a deal with Ruf in the mid to late 80s getting Ruf cars into Canada and specifically Toronto. The car I saw was originally from there and has only been on the west coast for about 6 months.

Jeff

unimog · 03-23-2004, 07:22 AM

If it passes the PPI, is sounds like a killer deal. 'Normal' turbos go for that much or more, and the color combo (black on black) surly adds to it's value. The mileage is low and an official Ruf, I don't see how you could go wrong, (other then slip with the seller's contact information and have 100+ Pelicanheads trying to buy it)

Good luck, and post photos when you get it, so we can all be green with envy.

howiee · howiee's Garage

Jeff,
The car is from Toronto. He has the original bill of sale with the car, I'll try and get it and scan it.

I'll keep you all informed. The car is in stroage and it is snowing as I type this. It will be a few weeks before I can get the car out of storage and get it all checked out.

Jeff Alton · 03-23-2004, 09:01 AM

Howiee, If you moved out to the west coast you could drive this week with the top down!!!! This sounds like a good car, may I ask where you will have the PPI done?

Jeff

Jeff Alton · 03-23-2004, 09:03 AM

If you go to www.weissach.com and check the "sold" list you will see a couple of pics of the 89 for comparison purposes. I saw the car and it was stunning.

Jeff

D Hanson · 03-23-2004, 10:19 AM

Sloancars.com has the red 87 Ruf slant nose convertible that was featured in car and driver. The car is $ 62,500.

howiee · howiee's Garage

Jeff

I know a guy that is part of the local PCA. He runs his own Porsche Shop. Worked for the Porsche dealer in town for years and couldn't take the crap any longer and started his own shop. Alot of the racers go to him for their cars. I'll call him to see how much he knows about Ruf and if not I may have to bring it to Montreal or Toronto for the inspection. I sure don't trust the local Porsche dealer.....big time A..holes.

D Hanson I saw that car in excelence this month. Same car just has lower mileage.
I'm not a huge slant nose fan but hell, a Ruf Cabriolet for the price of a reg turbo coupe!!!!!

RickM · RickM's Garage

Curious, didn't RUF make a 6 speed box? If so, was it G50 based and would it be in this car?

Jeff Alton · 03-23-2004, 11:50 AM

Ruf did infact make a 6spd, but it was crazy expensive. I don't think too many cars have one.

Jeff

D Hanson · 03-23-2004, 12:39 PM

To me, the turbo cab's are only worth between $ 35 and $ 40 k. The prices went down a little in the last 6 months or so, but seem like they are trying to go back up. There was about a 6 month period that gorgeous turbo cabriolets (regular or slant nose) would not fetch more than about $ 35 k to $ 40k and generally closer to the $ 35k range. You see people asking more for them, but when I was looking, I saw plenty of nice ones in this price range.

BTW, how much is $ 250 Canadian. The Ruf cabs were only about $ 140 new in the US. May be wrong on this, but seems like I saw this somewhere.

ZCAT3 · 03-23-2004, 01:03 PM

Interesting - does it have 65 miles or 65,000 miles? Also, RUF 930s do not have huge intercoolers - they are just slightly larger than the stock intercooler and have cooling fins on the outside of them. A friend of mine had an 89 RUF BTR so I am pretty familar with the car. If this car has a RUF VIN then you may be on to something.

Bill

carmad · 03-23-2004, 01:37 PM

Make sure the transmission is sound and does not have any issues. Ruf used non standard and some customized parts in the 5-speeds, and are a pain to rebuild. Some parts are NLA and sourcing replacements can be a problem due to their rarity.
I had a very experienced transmission guru turn down my rebuild, and he has experience with these. I did finally get someone with the experience and he replaced synchro's, all the needle bearings, stops and energizer bands, basically everything but the gear sets and it cost me $ 4500. According to Weissach a replacement if you can find one will cost $ 15,000 - 18,000.

TurboRuf · 03-23-2004, 01:58 PM

howiee,

An 87 930 RUF should have a RUF VIN, if it's a "real" RUF. The RUF VIN will be on the driver’s door sill area similar to the photo below. The engine should also have a RUF VIN just to the right of the fan assembly. All of the RUF specific parts should have RUF part numbers as well (The number will start with RUF). For example, on the RUF dual out exhaust you can find the RUF part number on the bottom left side of the exit pipes.

Some key parts to look for: RUF intercooler (see photo below), boost controller, dual out exhaust, gauges, and steering wheel (All will be labeled RUF).

Good luck!

howiee · howiee's Garage

Dug into it a little more.....

Talked to my buddy(his dads car). It is a 930s. The original owner had a Ruf exaust, suspension and mags put on from the Ruf guy in Toronto when new. So it has a Porsche VIN and not a Ruf one. nothing else was done to the engine or tranny. As for the original selling price I kind of have my doubts but he does have the bill of sale and I'll be looking thought all the service papers as well.

But wait there's more...
Last time my buddy saw it ,which was end of last summer, It was sitting in their barn and had some mold forming on the leather and the headliner. Now I'm worried that moisture had gotten into the seats and top fabric let alone the engine etc.etc.etc.

Kind of scary. I figure the price isn't worth much more than 30usd in good shape with that miliage. now with the mold and crap I'm worried about the rest of the car.

I'll be seeing it in a few weeks and reserve my decision till then.