The SCR Walked so the Yellowbird Could Fly
Say RUF to anyone, and images of the Yellowbird will likely be the first to pop up in their heads. Also known as the CTR, we can’t blame people for thinking of that car as RUF’s definitive product. Who can forget Stefan Roser’s wild lap around the Nürburgring, along with several period reviews that had nothing but praise for it.
But let’s not forget that RUF made several cars worthy of wearing that esteemed badge prior to the CTR. One of them was the SCR, and it was the company’s second model after the original Turbo 3.3. Built from 1978 to 1981, it was based on the 911SC and featured an uprated 3.2-liter flat-six that made 212 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. It doesn’t sound like much today, but given that a standard 911 Carrera from the same era made less than 200 hp, it was a big deal at the time.
RUF
The 2018 Tribute
The SCR was a success for RUF as it bridged the gap between the Carrera models and the Turbo. Which is why, for its 40th anniversary, RUF revived the car, but don’t call it a recommissioned model. It’s a true RUF vehicle from bumper to bumper and not based on a 911 chassis.
Revealed in 2018, the modern SCR boasted a bespoke carbon fiber chassis that was developed in-house. True to its roots, it packs a tuned naturally aspirated engine. This time around, it took the 4.0-liter flat-six engine from a contemporary GT3 RS, uprated it to 503 hp and 347 lb-ft of torque, and paired it with an honest-to-goodness six-speed manual. It carried a base price of around $800,00,0 with all 70 cars spoken for by now.
Pistonheads
One Careful Owner
The thing about special 911-shaped cars is that they’re pretty much guaranteed to appreciate rather than depreciate. Put a RUF seal of approval on it, and you might as well call it an investment. That’s the case with one 2018 SCR currently for sale. It’s not every day one comes across a RUF for sale, let alone this highly exclusive model.
Listed on Pistonheads, this Birch Green example is well-enjoyed for an extremely rare car. It currently has 9,000 miles on the clock, so props to the previous owner for actually driving the car from time to time. This SCR also features a front axle lift, variable exhaust system, KW V5 coilover suspension, carbon seats, bespoke interior detailing, and a generous amount of brown deerskin Alcantara trims.
Pistonheads
Extra Special
How much, you ask? You’re looking at £1,375,000, which is about $1,872,000 at current exchange rates. Yes, it’s around a million more than its base price, but there’s a reason for its asking price. See, what you’re looking at here is the very first customer example of the SCR, carrying the VIN 002. Sure, you can find another, but it won’t be carrying that special VIN.
Given its significance, we say it’s well worth the asking price. It’s not like we have two million dollars in our bank accounts right now, but well-heeled Porsche and RUF fans would probably think of it as somewhat reasonable. For the one-percenters out there, this is probably a better value than a price-gouged GT3 RS.
Pistonheads
Pistonheads
Â