This Blood Orange RUF Rt12 Is The Ultimate 997 That Porsche Never Built

In the rarefied air of automotive tuning houses, few names command as much respect as RUF Automobile. While many shops are content slapping on body kits and cranking up boost pressure, Alois Ruf’s Pfaffenhausen operation has been creating thoroughly re-engineered masterpieces since the 1970s. And this 2005 RUF Rt12 currently making waves on Bring A Trailer is perhaps the ultimate expression of what the 997-generation Porsche 911 could be.

Born in Essen, Perfected in Pfaffenhausen

Debuting at the 2004 Essen Motor Show, the Rt12 marked RUF’s first foray into the then-new 997 platform. But calling this merely a “tuned 911” is like calling the Concorde a “fast airplane.” When this Blood Orange example rolled out of the RUF facility in April 2005, it was one of just 13 Rt12s that would ever exist – making it rarer than most limited-production supercars from Maranello or Sant’Agata.

The visual transformation is subtle yet purposeful. The revised front and rear valances, widened rear fenders with integrated air intakes, and power-retractable rear wing create a silhouette that’s unmistakably 911, but with a menacing presence that suggests something truly special lurks beneath the skin.

The Heart of the Beast

While the standard 997 Turbo was hardly lacking in power, RUF took things to an entirely different level. The twin-turbocharged 3.8L flat-six received modified KKK turbochargers, gas-flowed cylinder heads, massive 102mm Mahle pistons, and a bespoke cast-aluminum intake manifold. The result? A staggering 650 horsepower at a time when the factory Porsche 997 Turbo was making “just” 480.

That prodigious power flows through a six-speed manual transaxle to an all-wheel-drive system featuring a limited-slip rear differential. No PDK here, folks- and we’re here for it.

Engineering Beyond the Engine Bay

RUF’s holistic approach to vehicle development extends well beyond mere horsepower figures. The Rt12 rides on Öhlins coilovers featuring a hydraulically actuated Dual Ride Height System, allowing the driver to raise the front end by up to two inches at speeds below 19 mph.

The stopping power is equally impressive, with body-colored eight-piston front and four-piston rear monoblock calipers clamping down on cross-drilled and ventilated discs. Those distinctive dark gray 19-inch RUF modular wheels are wrapped in meaty Michelin rubber, with 255-width up front and substantial 305-width at the rear.

A Cockpit Built for Business

Step inside, and you’re greeted by black leather heated bucket seats with orange contrast stitching that extends to the door panels and dashboard. The body-colored accents on the center console and instrument bezels tie the exterior theme into the cabin, while the three-spoke RUF steering wheel, RUF shift knob, and drilled aluminum pedals reinforce that this is no ordinary 997.

Perhaps most importantly for the serious driver is the RUF Integrated Roll Cage (IRC), which provides crucial rigidity and safety without the aftermarket look of a bolt-in cage.

Daily Driver or Track Weapon?

When the motoring press first encountered the Rt12, it was largely positioned as the RUF you could daily drive or take to the track in the same day. With 27,000 miles on the odometer, this example has clearly been enjoyed rather than stored as a museum piece, which is exactly as Alois Ruf would have intended.

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

Currently bidding at $420,000 with two days remaining on Bring A Trailer, with recent comparable Rt12 models fetching between $397,000 and $910,000 depending on mileage and specification.

Recap

2005 RUF Rt12

One of just 13 examples ever built, this Blood Orange RUF Rt12 transforms the Porsche 997 platform with a 650-horsepower twin-turbo flat-six, six-speed manual AWD drivetrain, and bespoke chassis upgrades that create the ultimate expression of the early 2000s Porsche 911.

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