Back in the mid-1960s, fearing rollover risks, American safety regulators nearly killed the convertible. They floated a ban that would’ve spelled the end for open-top cars in the United States, which incidentally was also Porsche’s largest export market, coming off the immensely successful 356 Speedster.
So, Porsche had to get creative, and in 1967, they introduced a compromise: the Targa, named after their string of victories at the dangerous Targa Florio road race on the island of Sicily, in Southern Italy. But unlike any car before it, the very first Porsche 911 Targa featured the now iconic silver roll bar, a removable roof panel, and most distinctively, a zip-out plastic rear window, which became known as the soft-window Targa.
However, it didn’t last long as the materials of the time made that rear window stiff and brittle in cold weather. Eventually, Porsche replaced it with fixed glass after just two years. But for the brief period it existed, the soft-window Targa defined a new era of design and freedom. Today, it’s one of the most sought-after 911s in the Porsche world, as only 925 examples were made, which neatly brings us to this unicorn. It’s the only one like it, built not in Stuttgart but in Pfaffenhausen, home to the legendary Bavarian Porsche tuner RUF Automobile GmbH.
Sitting quietly in Miami with just 6,907 miles on the clock, this is a 2011 RUF Rt Roadster coming up for auction on Broad Arrow at Monterey next month. It is a one-off commission that revives the soft-window Targa spirit in the body of a modern-day 997.2-generation 911 Turbo S, combining old-world nostalgia with new-age firepower.
What makes this particular car so special isn’t just the fact that it is a 1-of-1, but it’s also how deliberately it resurrects a forgotten piece of Porsche history. Purists are well aware that between the 993 and 991 generations, Porsche didn’t make a true Targa; not in the classic sense, at least. No open-air experience. No rollover hoop. Just glass roofs and sliding mechanisms, and it appears that it didn’t sit well with a certain RUF client, who pitched an idea: build a real B-pillar-less Targa with an open rear, just like the old days, and RUF ran with it.
The Targa hoop would be revived with the 991.1, but for this particular build, RUF engineered a completely new body based on the 997 chassis. The Rt Roadster features exposed rear quarter scoops that harken back to the air-hungry CTR3 and channel cold air into a heavily reworked, 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six that produces 650 horsepower.
In terms of powertrain and drivetrain enhancements, we’re talking upgraded turbos, high-flow intercoolers, bespoke intake manifold and exhaust systems, a custom ECU map, and a recalibrated DCT with quicker shift mapping. Power goes to all four wheels via a PDK transmission, while carbon ceramic brakes and RUF-tuned suspension round out the underpinnings.
In other words, this is a Targa soft-window reimagined, but with supercar muscle, one that the restomod scene has yet to catch up on. The 993 Speedster is now a reality, thanks to the likes of Gunther Werks, and Porsche itself has gotten in on the action with their one-off Sonderwüncsh commission for collector, Lucca Trazzi.
Coming back to the RUF RT Roadster, this bespoke chassis rides on center-lock wheels, with the bodywork finished in a distinctive kaleidoscopic Chroma Flash Hologram Matt exterior paint finish that shifts color depending on light. The dark grey matte roll bar and 19-inch forged center-lock wheels complement the visual drama, while yellow RUF-branded calipers clamp down on carbon ceramic discs. Inside, it’s no less dramatic: red leather, silver contrast stitching, sporty carbon bucket seats, Chromaflair trim, and bespoke red leather luggage straps complete the cabin. A BOSE surround sound system and touchscreen nav round out the creature comforts.
According to its RUF Zertifikat issued in June 2024, this car retains its original drivetrain and comes with full service records, two keys, manuals, and a clean CARFAX. The last documented mileage before consignment was 6,907 miles, and it most recently received fresh tires, new blinkers, a fluid flush, and a front bumper respray from RUF North America.
The car made its public debut at Rennsport VI in 2018 and was later also featured in MotorTrend. "I am always looking from the emotional side of things, especially with the soft rear window Targa,” Alois told MotorTrend. Since then, it’s remained in the hands of its original owner, until now that is. This RT Roadster isn’t just rare. It’s singular. No other RUF, or Porsche for that matter, has ever replicated this exact configuration. With a matching engine, transmission, and exhaust, and original paint and interior in pristine condition, this is the kind of car collectors yearn for, and for those who know their history, this car is of immense significance.
The original 1967 soft-window Targa was born from U.S. regulations and was powered by a modest 160 horsepower engine in a 2,300-pound chassis. It introduced the roll bar and the removable rear window, and in doing so, created an icon. This RUF doesn’t replicate that history, but it certainly reawakens it with four times the horsepower and a body shaped by master craftsmen. While it may not have the Porsche badge on the nose, make no mistake: this car is part of the lineage.
