The Porsche world has spent four decades arguing over whether RUF builds the best 911s or whether RUF even builds 911s at all. Of course, Germany settled that one long ago, and determined the Pfaffenhausen operation is a full-fledged automaker in the eyes of the law. RUF stamps its own VINs into everything it builds. Now its rarest modern creation has surfaced for the very first time. Meet Project Dragon, a one-off commission crossing the block this November.
The Brand-New 1998 Nobody Knew About
When CTR2 production wound down in the late ’90s, a single W09 body-in-white went unused, and RUF simply held onto it for nearly three decades.
One of the marque’s most devoted collectors had been dreaming up a purpose for a shell like that since roughly the same era. He eventually brought the idea to Alois Ruf himself. The duo ended up recruiting Tony Hatter, the designer behind the 993-generation 911, to help give the project its shape.
The result is a ground-up reinterpretation of the CTR2 Sport that’s technically titled as a 1998 model, despite rolling out of Pfaffenhausen in March 2024.
Breathing Fire, the Air-Cooled Way
Out back sits a bespoke twin-turbocharged, air-cooled flat-six making 621 horsepower at 6,500 rpm. For context, the CTR2 Sport this thing celebrates peaked at 580, and that was considered borderline unhinged in 1997.
The hardware surrounding it is thoroughly modern, from the carbon fiber bodywork and integrated roll cage to the carbon ceramic brakes and Bilstein PSS10 dampers. Even the center-lock wheels are a one-time-only OZ Racing creation.
And then there’s the paint. Dragon Fire Orange was mixed for this car alone, coating the body, the wheels, and even the gauge faces, while pinstriped bucket seats carry the theme inside.
The Yellowbird Record Is on Notice
Gooding Christie’s landed Project Dragon for its first sale as Retromobile New York’s official auction house, and the timing here was definitely intentional. In case you didn’t know, the standing RUF record currently belongs to a CTR Yellowbird, a vehicle that brought $6,055,000 at the firm’s Amelia Island sale in March 2025.
Project Dragon’s estimate starts at that threshold and stretches to $8 million. With 759 miles on the clock and no reserve attached, we imagine this one will end up writing its way into the record books.
Spec Sheet
Model: RUF Project Dragon
Model Year: 1998 (delivered March 2024)
Chassis No.: W09BA0369WPR06044
Engine: Bespoke twin-turbocharged, air-cooled flat-six
Power: 621 HP @ 6,500 RPM
Transmission: Manual
Suspension: Bilstein PSS10
Brakes: Carbon ceramic
Wheels: Bespoke OZ Racing center-locks
Mileage: 759 miles
Production: 1 example
Pricing & Availability
The one and only RUF Project Dragon crosses the block without reserve at Gooding Christie’s Retromobile New York sale, held November 20 and 21 at the Javits Center, where it carries a weighty $6,000,000 to $8,000,000 estimate. Public previews run November 19 through 21, and you can head over to Gooding Christie’s website for bidder registration.
Recap
1998 RUF Project Dragon
RUF’s one-off Project Dragon, a 621HP reimagining of the CTR2 Sport built on the final factory body-in-white, heads to a no-reserve New York auction with a legitimate shot at the all-time RUF record.
