Since its debut in 1966, the 911 Targa has attracted a different buyer than the purist Porsche coupe crowd. These are people who wants the open-air experience without fully committing to it. A particular 1985 example up for auction via PCarMarket, however, is about as far from a casual compromise as a Targa has ever gotten. Converted by RUF Automobile to BTR III specification in 1990, it’s the only one ever built to those standard. After a ground-up restoration personally endorsed by Alois Ruf himself, it’s now available on PCarMarket.
How RUF Became RUF
Alois Ruf Sr. founded Auto Ruf in 1939 as a general repair shop in Pfaffenhausen, Germany. The real turning point came in 1963, when Alois Ruf Jr. (then riding along with his father) watched a Porsche 356 spin out and roll into a ditch. His father pulled the driver out, got him to a hospital, then went back and bought the wrecked car from him. That 356 sparked an obsession. When Alois Jr. took over the business in the ’70s, he pointed it squarely at Porsche performance. In 1981, the German Federal Vehicle Office granted RUF full manufacturer certification, giving the company its own VINs and the ability to build cars from bare, unmarked Porsche chassis. They weren’t just tuners anymore.
The BTR III
The BTR lineage is where RUF’s reputation solidified. The original BTR, or “Gruppe B Turbo RUF,” debuted in 1983 with a RUF W09 VIN, and by the next year Road and Track had named it the fastest car in the world after it eclipsed Ferrari and Lamborghini to become the first production car to break 300 kph (~186mph). The BTR III specification, which also underpins the legendary CTR Yellowbird that hit 211 mph in 1987, runs RUF Motronic engine management with dual fuel injectors.
Applied to the Targa that’s currently up for grabs, RUF pulled the stock 3.2-liter naturally aspirated flat-six and replaced it with a 3.4-liter turbocharged unit producing 430 hp, nearly double the factory output. That conversion has never been done to another Targa ever.
What Was Done to It
The car spent 34 years with its original owner before changing hands in 2024. A professional Porsche restorer with a personal connection to Alois Ruf then took it through a complete, nut-and-bolt rebuild back to original BTR III spec. New pistons, cylinders, valves, timing chains, a rebuilt turbocharger and wastegate, fresh Koni shocks, overhauled brakes with refinished RUF CTR calipers, and a fully rebuilt G50 5-speed with a 40% limited-slip differential.
The Guards Red exterior was refinished in Glasurit with double clear coats and ceramic coating. Inside, black leather with striped velour inserts, Sabelt harnesses, a leather-wrapped RUF three-spoke steering wheel, and the original Blaupunkt cassette stereo. Alois Ruf has personally vouched for the quality of the work. Best of all, only 28,645 miles have been put on the vehicle, and just 30 since the 2024 restoration.
Spec Sheet
Model: 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa RUF BTR III
Engine: 3.4L turbocharged flat-six
Power: 430 hp
Transmission: RUF-installed G50 5-speed manual, 40% LSD
Wheels: 17″ RUF Speedline alloy
Mileage: 28,645 mi; ~30 miles post-restoration
Color: Guards Red
Production: One-of-one
Pricing & Availability
The 1985 Porsche 911 Targa RUF is currently live on PCarMarket out of La Verne, California, with bidding now above $170,000 and the auction closing April 8. A prior Bring a Trailer listing saw bids climb to $355,000 without meeting reserve, and this new owner will certainly want that eclipsed.
Recap
1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa RUF Auction
A fully restored, one-of-one 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa converted by RUF to BTR III specification is up for auction on PCarMarket, with bidding currently above $170,000 and the clock running out on April 8. It’s the only Targa ever built to these standards, carries just 28,645 miles, and has Alois Ruf’s personal stamp of approval on the restoration.
