Rare 1989 Ruf CTR 'Yellowbird' Shatters Auction Records, Selling for Over $6 Million

A pristine 1989 Ruf CTR "Yellowbird" fetched a staggering $6.05 million at a recent Gooding & Co. auction, making it the most expensive Ruf and Porsche 911-based car ever sold at auction. This iconic vehicle surpassed the previous record held by the 2022 Porsche 911 "Sally Special". Only 29 of these "Yellowbirds" were ever built between 1987 and 1996, with this particular model being one of just nine finished in the original "Blossom Yellow" exterior. Further enhancing its rarity, this Yellowbird was specially optioned as a "Leichtbau" car, featuring weight-saving modifications for improved performance, and equipped with a rare Ruf-modified six-speed manual transmission. Powered by a 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine producing 463 horsepower, this Yellowbird boasts incredible performance figures for its era, including a 0-60 mph time of around 3.6 seconds. With only two owners and a mere 1,000 miles on the odometer, this Yellowbird represents a unique opportunity to own a piece of automotive history.