Following a standout result at the 2025 Porsche Air|Water Auction—where Broad Arrow achieved over $15 million in sales, led by a 1989 RUF CTR Yellowbird—the stage is set for a return to the vibrant Air|Water event. The third annual Porsche Air|Water Auction will feature more than 50 lots, all offered on April 25 in an exclusive, Porsche-only sale.
Renowned for its ultra-limited production and groundbreaking performance, RUF Automobile is often regarded as the ultimate choice for those Porsche enthusiasts who need just a bit more. However, RUF's creations are not technically Porsches at all. Since the early 1980s, German authorities have recognized the company as an independent manufacturer. This distinction reflects the depth of RUF's craftsmanship, far beyond the realm of typical tuning modifications. The company cemented its legendary status with the iconic 1989 Nürburgring video of the CTR Yellowbird, and over the years, its reputation has expanded beyond an exclusive clientele to become a fixture in the collector car world.
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The Rt12 marks a significant milestone in RUF's history, debuting in 2004 as the company's first true ground-up build, based on the Porsche 997 platform. Initially, power came from a 3.8-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder, delivering 650 horsepower from twin KKK turbochargers in its most potent form, with the standard 3.6-liter variant producing 560 horsepower. The 3.8-liter engine is based on the naturally aspirated Metzger blueprint—the same lineage that powered the GT3 program—here mated to a RUF-developed six-speed transaxle with a limited-slip rear differential, routing power through massive 12.5-inch rear tires. When equipped with the optional four-wheel-drive system and the “tall” gearing package, as is optioned on this example, RUF factory literature cites a top speed exceeding 224 mph and a zero-to-60 time of 3.2 seconds—figures that placed the Rt12 among the fastest production cars of its era.
The Rt12's body shell, derived from the wider 997 Carrera platform, was substantially modified by RUF comprising carbon-fiber bumpers, hood, and rear decklid to improve aerodynamic downforce and reduce weight. A proprietary, fully adjustable RUF hydraulic suspension system incorporates a front axle lift function for daily usability, while braking is handled by eight-piston front and four-piston rear calipers gripping cross-drilled discs. Inside, an integrated roll cage is cleverly concealed within the interior trim, preserving the quality of the cabin. Each Rt12 was completed entirely to the buyer's individual specification; approximately 57 examples were built during the model's five-year production run, ensuring that no two are alike.
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The example offered here, chassis 06089, was completed at RUF's Pfaffenhausen facility in December 2006 and delivered new to a private collector in Dallas, Texas. Finished in Carrara White over a full trim-to-sample BMW M Sport Red leather interior—a color combination believed to be unique among all Rt12s produced—the car was also exceptionally well specified with the 3.8-liter 650-horsepower engine, the RUF four-wheel-drive system, a six-speed manual transaxle with close-ratio gearset, Bilstein suspension, and a carbon fiber rear wing. Factory options further included a dual-exit exhaust, carbon fiber sport mirrors in matching Carrara White, and red-painted brake calipers. The cockpit was equally well curated, featuring heated sport seats, a BOSE sound system, red Alcantara trim, white gauge faces, and black seatbelts. Red-painted calipers are framed by a set of 18-inch OZ for RUF wheels.
This Rt12 has passed through just three owners from new, most recently joining the current California-based caretaker in 2022. Now offered with a mere 3,233 miles recorded at the time of cataloging, it remains a spectacular example of RUF's first ground-up model. With its exceptional one-of-one specification, optional 650-horsepower engine, all-wheel-drive system, and scarcely used condition, chassis 06089 represents a remarkable opportunity for the collector drawn to the outer limits of Porsche-based performance.
To explore the additional bespoke creations and compelling factory builds that create the complete 2026 Porsche Air|Water Auction lineup and to register to bid, visit broadarrowauctions.com.
