1998 RUF Project Dragon (CTR2 Sport one-off)

RUF built its reputation by treating the Porsche 911 as a starting point, not a ceiling. The CTR “Yellowbird” made that argument at Ehra-Lessien; the CTR2 and CTR2 Sport carried it into the 993 era with twin turbos, an Integrated Roll Cage, and that functional bi-wing rear clam that feeds induction and charge cooling as much as it looks the part.

Project Dragon is not a tribute build. Public Gooding Christie’s catalog materials describe a factory commission executed around what Alois Ruf represented as his final unused W09 body-in-white retained from the CTR2 period — an unrepeatable shell. British designer Tony Hatter, who shaped the production 993 at Porsche, returned to that form in CAD and molds freed from series constraints. The outer body is carbon fiber; suspension is Bilstein PSS10; brakes are carbon ceramic; center-lock wheels were tooled with OZ for this car alone. Dyno figures cited in the catalog put output at 621 hp and 834 Nm, rear-drive only.

Color and cockpit are part of the scarcity story, not decoration. Dragon Fire Orange is a one-off mix developed with Estonia Ruf’s team from Porsche Blutorange and Continental Orange references, carried onto wheels, seat shells, embroidery, and instrument faces with RUF’s green numerals. Interior trim mixes RUF “lollipop” seats, new-old-stock period Porsche velour, and a rear luggage box embroidered DRAGON. Factory order language quoted in the catalog calls it a special one-of model and itemizes design, molds, carbon body, engine, and interior as bespoke line items.

Delivered March 2024 and showing roughly 759 miles at cataloguing, the car comes with a RUF build book, manuals, samples, tools, and cover — the paper trail of a one-off, not a dealer option stack. Score 92 — Ultra-rare. Path C (factory one-of) clears on documented uniqueness and the final W09 shell. Specification and documentation sit near the top of the rubric; provenance is scored below a period race one-off because delivery was March 2024 with no competition history. Market appearance of this exact car is a first. Offered without reserve at Gooding Christie’s Rétromobile New York, 20–21 November 2026.

Watcher’s checklist

1. Confirm VIN W09BA0369WPR06044 against RUF Zertifikat / build book at inspection.
2. Separate CTR2 Sport inspiration from any claim of period 1990s race history — this commission is contemporary.
3. Verify carbon body, IRC, and OZ center-locks match factory documentation, not aftermarket swaps.
4. Read the no-reserve condition carefully; estimate is not a sale.
5. Outbound only to Gooding/Christie’s lot pages — never mirror listing photography.
6. Rare Machines is editorial — we do not inspect, authenticate, or broker; confirm everything with the venue and your own diligence.