This is the 2005 RUF R50, or better known as the test prototype to the RUF CTR3 production car, which is a limited-production, mid-engined sports car produced by German car manufacturer Ruf Automobile. Ruf Automobile GmbH is a German car manufacturer that manufactures and engineers original vehicles using unmarked Porsche chassis, and was founded in 1939 by Alois Ruf Sr. as ‘Auto Ruf’. Finished in a color called ‘Battleship Grey’, the prototype received the name ‘R50’ to celebrate the 50th birthday of Alois Ruf Jr., and at the time, Ruf believed there was a gap between the Porsche 911 and the Carrera GT, and they intended to fill that with the R50 Supercar. The chassis of the R50 uses Porsche components and is matched with a lightweight bodyshell, making for an overall extremely lightweight, and durable build. Ruf in general makes some pretty obscure and mysterious cars, most if not all of them being very rare and historic. The R50, however, seems to be the prototype/car that is the least talked about, considering there is barley any information on this car anywhere. What is known is that the R50 was a two-car prototype production run and each car was reportedly kept in a secret barn tucked away from Ruf's Pfaffenhausen, Germany, factory. Both attempts were examples of Alois Ruf constructing the car "completely Ruf" from the ground up. The R50 was, in a sense, the basis for the Lykan Hypersport, which utilized the same Ruf tuned engine. The design of the R50 was never intended for production, and was only set to be a prototype. If you happen to own the video games ‘Project Gotham Racing 3 or 4’ then you’ll be lucky to know that these were the only ever racing games to ever feature the R50!
How many made? Two. This car being the second, and the first car apparently being known as ‘Godzilla’.
Engine: a 3.6L flat-6 from 911 Turbo producing an enhanced 691hp.
Debut: None
Top Speed: 217mph
0-60mph: 3.5 seconds
Photo Credit: Ruf
Research: @rarecarsonly