#350,000 Tangerine Dream!

[M.D. Holloway]

(article lifted from the Dallas Morning News)
Tangerine dream ready to peel out

12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, October 22, 2005
Mention Ruf (pronounced roof) to most people and they think shingles.

But to Porschephiles who view their vehicles as special Teutonic instruments of speed, a Ruf Porsche is the Big Boxer, the king of the road.

And these are very good times in Ruf-land. A Ruf Rt12, the first new turbocharged Ruf in at least three years, is arriving at Ruf's only U.S. dealership, Ruf Auto Centre in Carrollton.

"This is something very special," said Dr. Jacky Roffe, president of the center. "I think every other fast car will have to be compared with this one."

The $350,000 Rt12 will be on display at the Auto Centre for the next two weeks, Dr. Roffe said. It has a 650-horsepower engine, all-wheel drive, can do zero to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and has a top speed of 230 mph.

An unidentified buyer from the Dallas area has already bought the car but agreed to let it remain on display for a couple of weeks. The tangerine Rt12 will also be an eye-popping backdrop for Auto Centre's first-year anniversary party.

Ruf is a small German specialty manufacturer that was founded 30 years ago by Alois Ruf Jr. Although it builds a few cars like the Rt12 ~ which is based on a 911-style Porsche ~ the company mostly sells parts for extensively modifying existing Porsches. Many consider a Ruf the ultimate Porsche.

Dr. Roffe said he hopes to get two more Rt12s over the next year. "The beauty of this car is it can perform on the track and be driven on the street," he said. "You can scare yourself with it. But you can also drive it every day." Terry Box