Among RUF’s storied catalog of fire-breathing 911 derivatives, there exists exactly one outlier: a 1989 928R commissioned for the late Lee Kun-Hee, former chairman of Samsung Group. RUF has long been the standard-bearer for what a Porsche can become when the engineers in Pfaffenhausen are given license to push further. The Yellowbird proved that. The CTR Anniversary reaffirmed it. But a 928R? That one slipped under the radar entirely, and for nearly four decades, it has sat virtually untouched with just 1,568 miles on the clock. Now, it’s heading to the block at Gooding & Christie’s Amelia Island auction.
The 928 Nobody Gave a Fair Shot
The Porsche 928 has always occupied strange territory. Porsche introduced it in 1977 as a front-engine, water-cooled grand tourer meant to eventually replace the 911, and enthusiast purists responded exactly the way you’d expect: not warmly. It won European Car of the Year in 1978, drew comparisons to nothing else on the road for its fluid, almost organic shape, and offered a level of luxury the brand hadn’t touched before. Still, because it wasn’t rear-engine and air-cooled, it got written off. History hasn’t been very kind to it.
By 1989, the S4 variant had matured into an impressive machine. Its 5.0-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 produced 316 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, capable of reaching 60 mph in under 6 seconds and topping 168 mph. Not supercar territory, but compelling for a front-engine cruiser with a proper interior and all the comforts that entailed.
Where RUF Comes In
RUF Automobile’s origins trace back to 1939, when Alois Ruf Sr. opened a service garage in Pfaffenhausen. His son took over in the ’60s and started building rather than just fixing. By 1981, the German government recognized RUF as an independent manufacturer, and they’ve been building cars from Porsche bodies-in-white ever since, putting their own VINs on the result. Essentially, a RUF isn’t a modified Porsche, it’s a RUF that happens to start with Porsche sheet metal.
The firm built its legend almost exclusively on 911-based platforms. The 1987 CTR Yellowbird hit 211 mph, outpacing the Ferrari F40 and putting RUF on the map in a way that still defines the brand today. Every subsequent chapter in RUF’s history, the BTR, the RCT, the CTR Anniversary, has followed the same rear-engine, flat-six formula. Which is exactly why the 928R is such an anomaly.
A Commission Unlike Anything Else in the Catalog
Lee Kun-Hee’s massive collection at the Samsung Yongin Speedway consisted of roughly 150 vehicles, with an emphasis on technological significance and bespoke one-offs built to order by the world’s top manufacturers. The 928R was his ask to RUF, and RUF delivered it in September 1989, constructed from a Porsche-supplied body-in-white and finished in Black over a Wine Red leather interior that still looks striking in photographs.
Under the hood, RUF worked over the M28/42 V8 to extract 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, a meaningful jump from the standard S4’s figures. The car rides on RUF carbon ceramic brakes across all four corners and sits on a front and rear independent suspension with coil springs, sending power to the rear through a four-speed automatic. A plaque in the engine compartment confirms the commission, while RUF Zertifikat documents the output.
Inside, the three-spoke sport steering wheel is trimmed in Alcantara, the headrests are embossed with the RUF name, and the speedometer tops out at 180 mph. Automatic climate control, cruise control, rear-seat air conditioning, and a power sliding roof are also included. A classic RUF radio was added post-recommissioning, along with an updated exhaust that gives the V8 more presence.
The 928R’s Afterlife
After Lee Kun-Hee’s passing, RUF reacquired the car and brought it back to Pfaffenhausen, where around 2021 it underwent a mechanical recommissioning. The original wheels were swapped for 19-inch RUF five-spoke alloys to accommodate the carbon ceramic brake system. Other than that, this car is essentially as it left the workshop 35 years ago.
Spec Sheet
Model: 1989 RUF 928R
Engine: 4,957cc M28/42 DOHC 32-Valve V8 w/ Bosch EFI
Power: 355 HP
Torque: 354 lb-ft
Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic
Brakes: 4-Wheel RUF Carbon Ceramic Disc
Suspension: Front & Rear Independent with Coil Springs
Mileage: 1,568 miles
Edition: One-of-One
Estimate: $400,000 – $500,000
Auction: Gooding & Christie’s, Amelia Island, March 5, 2026
Pricing & Availability
The 1989 RUF 928R is set to cross the auction block at Gooding & Christie’s Amelia Island sale on March 5. Pre-sale estimates run between $400,000 and $500,000. Given that this is the only one ever built, bidders should expect that number to be treated as a floor.
Recap
1989 RUF Porsche 928R Auction
The world’s only RUF-built Porsche 928, a one-off commissioned by Samsung’s late chairman Lee Kun-Hee back in 1989, is heading to auction at Amelia Island with a $400K–$500K estimate. It has 1,568 miles on it and a RUF-tuned V8 under the hood.
