Ruf Visit July 2004

GeorgeM · GeorgeM's Garage

Had a great day at the annual Ruf Tag yesterday. Mr. Ruf invites all his local american cutomers and friends (mostly former members of the now defunct PCA Germany Region, of which he was also a member) to tour the facility and have a few brats and beers in Pfaffenhausen.

Here are some highlights:

R Turbo

RGT RS

901 #37

964 based narrow body turbo something or other, recently built and with only 4000km

Our gracious host with our good friend Larry Miller, owner of Cars International and also the Porsche Military Sales guy

YB

The only YB with scoops. Mr. Ruf said they didn't work quite as planned. They ended up being exhausts rather than intakes, so they stopped using them. He pointed out that 16 of the YBs built are in Japan now.

YB motor

Larry brought a new 997 for us to check out

Perhaps the most attractive 4-door ever made - the new Maserati Quattraporte

TurboRuf · 08-01-2004, 10:47 AM

George,

As always, thanks for the great pics! I would love to take a tour of the Ruf facilities, but until then I’ll have to live vicariously through your great photos.

Any more?

KobaltBlau · 08-01-2004, 11:01 AM

Thanks for the photos, George.

The intercoolers on that CTR are oriented differently than these:

posted in this thread:

RUF yellowbird.

By Yellowbird RS

I'd love to know why, and examine the intercooler positioning on those in detail. I'm very curious how the airflow through those works.

KobaltBlau · 08-01-2004, 11:06 AM

I think I just figured this out. The silver car (although I don't have any pictures of the exterior) doesn't appear to have the NACA ducts on the fenders, which is most likely the reason for the different intercooler positions. I read somewhere else that the NACA ducts were less effective than hoped for, and later eliminated. The silver car is probably a later car with intercoolers repositioned after elimination of the NACA ducts. I'd still like to understand the airflow on the silver car, does it just get sucked out of the fenderwell by the engine fan mostly?

Joeaksa · 08-01-2004, 11:54 AM

One of the nicest things about Ruf Automobiles is that the owner, Alois is just a really nice guy. When I lived in Berlin many years ago I called him about some questions and ideas on my 72 911 and he ended up spending almost 30 minutes on the phone with me. He knew that I did not have the money to do what he recommended but it was not a problem with him. He was helping a potential customer and he did a very good job of it.

If I ever have the money to give him a car and turn him loose I would to it in a heartbeat. I made that decision years ago after that conversation. He is one of the best in the world of Porsche cars and we are lucky to have him!

JoeA

DonNewton · DonNewton's Garage

Wham, I still hate you. When you coming home?

911Velocity · 911Velocity's Garage

Great pics, the YB still does it for me and probably always will.

GeorgeM · GeorgeM's Garage

Hey Don, I think I'll be ready to come home when I'm up for orders in about 18 months.

Concur with Joe, Alois is a very nice guy. We all knew he must have told the history story so many times he could puke, but he told it with as much enthusiasm as it was the first. He even added a few more snippets this time.

He also stressed that their primary business is regular service. Although most folks know them for their supercars, their bread and butter is the regular stuff "at competitive prices". I plan to challenge them with my rough idle problem that I've been trying to figure out on my own (I've tried every suggestion from you guys) for about a year now and an alignment/corner balance. I almost don't care if it costs a little more, just for the piece of mind and knowing they're such great folks.

I'll post more pix soon.

DonNewton · DonNewton's Garage

18 F'n months? Seems like longer than 18 months since we sent you off! You extend, or something?

k9handler · 08-02-2004, 02:21 AM

well George....you have gone twice, and I missed it again! Thanks for the pics and I will be back VERY soon...so a trip is in order.

daka · 08-02-2004, 06:09 AM

In 1984 I was in Kremers shop in Koln with someone who used to do timing for them in the US races. We were treated to a complete "tour" of the shop, including the downstairs, where the "old" racecars are stored and the Dyno room. They were building a Turbo coupe for an American buyer and had completely stripped out a brand new car. I have a bunch of photos somewhere in boxes.
One of the things I always remember is how clean all the German shops are, even the red tile floors.
I did buy a car from them, it was a 77 Carrera Targa Oak Green metallic
that we used for a couple of weeks in Germany and brought back to the US. It was a 3.2 they had built for a customer, it wasn't fast enough for him. (it was for me, I had a demo ride thru Koln with one of their "mechanics", these guys were somethin' else....
I it after a year because the clutch "modification" was too heavy for everyday use. Years later it appeared in the Pano, I call the seller and sure enough it was the same car with the KREMER decal at the bottom of the rear window....but, the Kremer engine was gone....

arcsine · 08-02-2004, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeM
I almost don't care if it costs a little more, just for the piece of mind and knowing they're such great folks.

Plus you know it will be done right and you get the added bench-racing cache of saying Ruf does your tuning. How many of us would LOVE to get to say that?

I never get tired of pics from this shop. Thanks

k9handler · 08-02-2004, 08:26 AM

hey I just noticed both of the new cars have a different style wheel, guess Ruf is going with another wheel or is that a Ruf product?

k9handler · 08-02-2004, 08:30 AM

So George...was my buddy VD there with his recent purchase (993)? He was probably hanging with Larry if he was.

Eric Mckenna · 08-02-2004, 12:10 PM

The Euro branch of the PCA is dead huh! that sucks! Thanks for the great pictures!

Joeaksa · 01:59 PM

Eric,

The German PCA took a big hit when the Berlin Wall fell and Clinton decided to cut our military forces there by over 50%. Lots of US guys there in the organization as well as several of the leaders were Americans who retired there and were working for the military.

When most everything was shuttered it put a hell of a hit on the organization. I was based in Berlin and with the exception of the Embassy and a PX and Class Six for everyone, its been closed. West Germany was effected just as bad if not worse in areas.

It has tried to regain new members and does so every once and a while. Hope it is able to come back and remain viable.

Joe A

ValveFloat · ValveFloat's Garage

mmmmmm RCT, very cool. Thanks for sharing.

GeorgeM · GeorgeM's Garage

Here's more:

k9handler · 08-03-2004, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Eric,

The German PCA took a big hit when the Berlin Wall fell and Clinton decided to cut our military forces there by over 50%. Lots of US guys there in the organization as well as several of the leaders were Americans who retired there and were working for the military.

When most everything was shuttered it put a hell of a hit on the organization. I was based in Berlin and with the exception of the Embassy and a PX and Class Six for everyone, its been closed. West Germany was effected just as bad if not worse in areas.

It has tried to regain new members and does so every once and a while. Hope it is able to come back and remain viable.

Joe A

Joe,
That really isn't the case as I have been informed. The issue is with the coverage required for events and such, we were told to terminate events until an agreement be made...and with PCA not coming up with anything the group basically fell apart. The details are posted on the PCA Germany site. I personnaly think PCA shoud give me (and the others) a two year extension since I paid money to be in a group they terminated.

k9handler · 08-03-2004, 07:09 PM

very nice images George!