The 997 Porsche 911 Turbo is an absolutely fantastic car. With nearly 500 horsepower on tap, even the manual transmission version could hit 60 mph in less than four seconds according to Porsche. And even though they’re more than a decade old at this point, 997 Turbos still sell for more than $80,000. But what if the 911 Turbo isn’t fast, rare or expensive enough for you? Well, that’s where this 2007 Ruf Rt 12 comes in that’s currently for sale on Cars & Bids.
Despite it commonly being said that Ruf only made 13 Rt 12s, as the video below shows, that’s accurate for the Rt 12 R, but the Rt 12 and Rt 12 S production figures are in the 50 or 60 range. So you’re not bidding on one of 13, but it’s still ridiculously rare. And that rarity means it’s going to cost a small fortune if you want to win it. With seven days left on the auction, bidding is already nearing the $200,000 mark.
While the car is based on the 997, the engine is actually built off the 996 Turbo’s famous Mezger engine. The bored-out 3.8-liter flat-6 is also more powerful than the 997 Turbo’s engine, reportedly cranking out 650 hp and 642 pound-feet of torque. The six-speed manual transmission then sends that power to all four wheels, which should make this car ridiculously quick off the line. And it has plenty of top-end speed too, as Ruf says the Rt 12 is capable of hitting 220 mph.
Is anyone who isn’t a huge car enthusiast going to recognize that you’re driving something truly special? Probably not. In fact, a lot of people probably won’t ever give the Rt 12 a second look. If that’s a problem for you, you’re probably better off buying a Lamborghini. Those who know, however, are going to respect you way more if they see you in the Ruf.