Peak Porsche? The Ruf Automobile Story

[@BOABModels]

Gran Turismo has a lot to be thanked for, making many into car fans and raising awareness of obscure car brands like Ruf or TVR.

[@RackieD]

I was a big fan of the first Forza Horizon, which made me a fan, and im so sad they don't include them to this day. I would kill to drive ctr3 in game

[@BOABModels]

​@@RackieDoh yeah, the Forza Horizon series has had a lot of amazing obscure cars we've missed out on in Gran Turismo. Thankfully at least, Ruf are in the latest GT7.

[@dustmighte]

Test Drive had a Ruf Turbo in 1987 :)

[@krinos1]

Thanks to need for speed, who had an exclusive license for porsche. Ruf counts as separate cars, not just modified porsches. So many games used ruf cars instead!

[@platzhirschtv4770]

​​@@BOABModels just of curiosity, examples please.

[@DominatorLegend]

At this point RUF has gotten more recognition for their videogame appearances than their actual work

[@Gachaheathunter109]

Can be true, and I even had or bought one or more Ruf cars and drove them a bit on 1 or more tracks like Apricot Hill in the Gran Turismo Portable game on the PPSSPP emulator of the Playstation Portable or PSP by the way some long-but-not-so-much time ago, though I don't have them and the game as well as the emulator anymore by me uninstalling these on my tablet and myself also having Gunship Sequel as my current mobile game right now, though also it may not last long as if it can be like the previous one if you know what I mean or smth like I'm a nomad(?) mobile gamer guy who can't really be able to stay and have fun with a game that he has or might have, unlike back then before my tablet where I can pretty much stay and enjoy with the game that old me can have for a long time especially if it's Plants vs Zombies, Chicken Invaders 5, Hill Climb Racing or some strange and maybe not so well-known 3D racing mobile game that most or atleast some kiddos may have played on their devices like me with younger me being on either or even (and rarely) both a phone/tablet or a laptop/computer that I might have to let you know that it can play Adobe Flash games such as Road of Fury for example before the discontinuing of Flash by Adobe for reasons that you may have to look up by yourself ig. (Seemingly/randomly decided to drop some lore of myself unto ya bruh)

[@jdcp8976]

@@Gachaheathunter109 Jesus fucking Christ I came to hear about Ruf's history and I found the bible

[@meanlean3095]

You should checkout the Ruf yellow bird on Nurburgring from the 90s 👍

[@Gorilla_Jones]

Lol no.

[@miata0363]

People who played racing video games in the 2000s know the brand Ruf. EA (video game company) made a deal with Porsche to have a license of the cars. So either game didn't have Porsche or paid EA an extra fee to have Porsches on their games. But the other studios realized that Ruf had their own vin numbers and technically not a Porsche. So games like Gran Turismo and later Forza have Ruf on their games as a counter of Porsche.

[@0uttaS1TE]

I think most of my generation know about RUF because EA bought the video game rights to Porsche. RUF always felt like store-bought Porsche for almost every racing game that wasn't NFS up until 2015 or so. It's a mean way to put it but it was Porsche, it had the stylings and the performance, but it didn't have the name, and that name meant a lot. It's a shame because now I've grown up, RUF and Gemballa and other tuning houses are if anything MORE interesting than Porsche, especially now that Porsche is in every racing game, replacing RUF like it was a placeholder as opposed to a piece of actual automotive history.

[@michaelskoomamacher5652]

I legit thought that Porsche was a RUF ripoff thanks to their lack of vidya exposure. Took me up to NFS Most Wanted when I realize that Porsche was actually comparable to Ferrari :(

[@ophirmayer1]

I met Alois Ruf 10 years ago, a very very nice welcoming and impressive personality and business

[@adriangoede7433]

Will I ever have the opportunity to have anything like that? Ha! Of course not! But the fact that RUFs story is a family affair that had its humble beginnings in a war torn, post WW2 Germany, makes them every man's underdog. And how can you not appreciate a company like that? Great video! Thank you & keep 'em coming.

[@supremefantastic]

A story about Alpina would be nice. If you haven't made it yet.

[@jonnywalker3208]

Because BMW are 💩

[@jonlyons1033]

In the words of Meg Ryan in THAT restaurant scene: Yes YES OH GOD YES.

[@zoranmld2532]

Gemballa and Ruf are legends from 80s

[@zoranmld2532]

Ruf Yellowbird and Gemballa Avalanche

[@jimcabezola3051]

In my 7 years living in Germany, I never saw a Ruf Porsche on the Autobahn. They might have been too fast for me to catch with my eyes... This was an outstanding video. Moving on to your full interview with Alois Ruf!

[@WUStLBear82]

Back in the 1980s I was working as a tool of the US military-industrial complex. One of my colleagues was sent to live in West Germany as an on-site field rep for our involvement in the deployment of Pershing II theater ballistic missiles. He met Alois Ruf at a car event and ended up buying a Ruf Turbo. After a couple of years enjoying the car in the Bundesrepublik, he rotated back to the US and somehow managed to work the bureaucracy to bring the car back with him, although it thereafter rarely got a real workout in Maryland.

[@ylalak1826]

You are truly a professional video maker! Fantastic video and documentation of the RUF history.

[@andresteenmark-rdder2660]

What about a story about the Talbot Matra Murena. The rare French 3 seater sportscar from the 80’s?

[@dlevi67]

I didn't know Bagheera had had a daughter!

[@Bleckman666]

Ruf. Legendary. Up there with Strosek when it comes to exceptional Porsche styling! (Strosek also made some truly epic Lamborghini editions...)

[@BrenTravisMusician]

The CTR2 in Gran Turismo 3 was just so good on Complex String.

[@halitosis75]

Outstanding video. Your videos are one of a few which I watch from start to finish without forwarding ❤❤❤❤❤ Love the yellowbird❤

[@thenovello-pugh]

As a Porsche nut, many thanks for another informative and entertaining film.

[@pugwonk]

Great video! I remember watching that "sideways Stefan" CTR2 Nordschleife video on VHS in a bar in Nurburg 25 years ago. They had the tape at the bar. :)

[@SquidwardhatesEVs]

Thanks for the video mate, love the RUF Automobile history. If I ever win the lottery I will definitely buy a RUF Porsche.

[@charliemansonUK]

I thought i was in the "who the heck" brigade then realised I've seen an interview with this guy when he bought the really early Porsche as a wreck

[@PetarVN]

I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Alois Ruf in Monterey this summer. He is such a fantastic guy and a true enthusiast. The history of the RUF family and how they went from fixing cars to tuning porches to finally becoming their own automaker is incredible. To this day, I consider the original RUF CTR 'Yellowbird' as the coolest car of the 1980's and one of the most special cars of all time. Long live RUF!

[@OneDullMan]

Thanks for this, I always remembered RUF from the 1980's. I did not have a great appreciation for them at that time. Thanks for enlightening me on all they have done and are continuing to do. Sadly, my finances do not allow for a used RUF, let alone a new one. So I will continue with my 996 and dream a little each drive.

[@johnpart8229]

I'm always fascinated by how businesses start. There are many great stories around, including this one. Luck, right place/right time and people following their noses. One thing leads to another...... man overtakes a bus...fastforward to a big business and video games! Fantastic.

[@jonnywalker3208]

Now you're speaking my language!! I'm from the gran turismo generation so I LOVE me a RUF!!

[@schlomoubermann]

I remember Ruf from Test Drive II for DOS, 80's.

[@JoshuaC923]

Oh yeah Grand Turismo on the PlayStation

[@nadeemchaudhry6585]

Another fantastic video with great interview too Thank you!!

[@simonhodgetts6530]

I had heard of RUF - thanks to Car magazine in the 90s - they featured a gorgeous air-cooled 911 with matt khaki paint and ferocious bhp! Many thanks for another fascinating history!

[@tamas5594]

this is EXACTLY what i wished for! thank you for another amazing video! :)

[@mohammedkhaliedrafsan3547]

Very Wonderful Story ❤️🚗❤️

[@Nooobcub]

“Oh yes! A history of RUF automobile!” -Team🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@robkleinlangevelsloo259]

Thanks for yet another great video.

[@lokibrux]

"So if my voice makes it to the end of the video, sorry I'm feeling a little RUF" * badum tee *

[@BigCar2]

😂

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I can't stand crossover SUVs. But the Rodeo off-road Porsche looks like fun. Dakar rally anyone?😊

[@MarcelloTheBandit]

It does my heart good to hear that Ruf is doing well these days and that Porsche hasn't bought them out like Mercedes did with AMG. These two companies are better like this than they can ever be together. Friendly competition.

[@paulk1702]

Excellent story, so well told. The amount of research that goes into creating something in this level of depth should be applauded. The in car footage at the 'ring looked absolutely terrifying/exhilarating!

[@thatcheapguy525]

what a story 🙂. just goes to show how one thing can lead to another and with some tallent & tenacity much bigger things evolve.

[@7009-i1v]

Ahh the video in the background...... Amazing video. You ahould all go watch

[@aureliobrighton1871]

Thankyou for a fine documentary. I'm used to pass the road circle just at the old Ruf petrol station while going from Munich to the 'Swabian countryside' and back. And its fun to imagine as it were flocks of 'Sheiks of Araby' swarming that small and long-established premises in the quiet, westmost corner of Bavaria.

[@miguelregal8626]

Maravilloso. Desconocía todo de Autoruf, un lujo de persona el Sr. Ruf y de empresa, espectacular video. Awesome video, brilliant Mr. Alois Ruf.

[@justacarnerd98]

Interesting, been watching for a while can you do a video on Alpine and the A110.

[@garrylawless3550]

A great video and thank you for the history of Ruf. I'd seen them at car shows, but didn't really know about the company involved, so thank you again for the video.👍🏻🚗

[@thomasp.4649]

Thanks for your work , a interesting story .

[@rufctr3]

This was the story I'VE BEEN DREAMING OF FOR SO LONG! AND YOU BEING ABLE TO INTERVIEW ALOIS ASWELL. I'm so happy right now. Get well soon too!

[@tommysmith5479]

Hats off to Ruf - I'd love one of their cars.

[@K1dPhresh1]

Great video!! Thank you for the history lesson. I’ve know of RUF for a while now but never knew the story.

[@amaccama3267]

I used to work in video duplication in the 90s. I got hold of a copy of the Yellow Bird on track in NTSC. So, a quick conversion to PAL and we're watching it on our lunchtime.

[@christian_in_Spain]

Absolutely love this video

[@gregsagerer1441]

One of my all-time favorite Ruf models is the 2010 RGT-8, which has a bespoke 4.5 L flat-plane V-8 in a 997 chassis. It's one of their more radical experiments and showed their willingness to play around more with the 911.

[@edwardburek1717]

Regardless of how you pronounce RUF, say it with reverent pride. These nutters were first introduced to me through the Gran Turismo games, as they couldn't acquire the official Porsche branding. The legend only grew by watching the Yellowbird tearing round the Nordschleife, heartily recommended by Jimmy Broadbent.

[@MATTY110981]

Brilliant video.

[@RichardDevlin-er4ce]

Das ist eine erstaunliche Geschichte …or loosely translated It’s an amazing story

[@mark9978]

Very interesting. I knew of Ruf as a brand but had little knowledge of their history.

[@christophecamus8410]

Great video thanks ❤❤❤❤❤

[@johnlocke9261]

A Ruf will always be my dream car! 😊..... Beddors Ruf CTR2 both at Pikes Peak in the late 90's -13:39. Learned about Ruf before Gran Turismo in European Car magazine article!

[@dedaap]

Great video, as always. Two, possibly three cars in the video I've recently seen irl in the MAC car museum in Singen Hohentwiel, Germany, along with a few others.

[@rickintexas1584]

Great overview. I definitely learned a lot.

[@bandidol200]

Don't know if you realise, but the RuF cars appeared in the early Sony Grand Turismo Play station video games because Porsche wouldn't licence their cars to appear in the game!

[@PlatinumNath]

Almost every racing games in the late 90s and 2000s and up to 2010s probably have RUFs to fill in that Porsche gap because greedy ol' EA made an exclusive deal with Porsche that lasted for a decade and a half. Most (car enthusiasts) probably would already know.

[@Sacto1654]

The Ruf Porsches were among the best "tuner" cars out there, with amazing performance and well-put together conversions. I think Ruf's success may have eventually inspired Singer Vehicle Design to built "restomod" Porsche 911's based on the 964 model, which have been highly priased by drivers despite the $500,000+ cost for each individual car.

[@user-wh7hs2bc6m]

Hi, it s not spoken ruff it s more like roooof! But in your voice ruff and roof sound the same so i had to add more o s to stretch the Ruf roof!😊

[@Grulaz]

i wanna know about Gemballa too

[@RobertDonnyJr-c4e]

Alois Ruf jr. is an absolute legend! I’m curious about his accent, I know he’s German but he speaks English with an Irish accent?!!

[@theogantenbein7870]

13:50 I once nearly wrecked a customer’s turbo R. I didn’t expect how quick this thing will move, so I hit the accelerator pedal like on any other 993 and almost shot through the wall of the next building. Yikes 😂!

[@sanjayj1432]

I first got to know about RUF when my parents brought home an XBOX360 with PGR 3 when it was new. Then I got to know about them deeply when I bought Gran Turismo for PSP. As the 911 is a dream car for me, I had to checkout Fazination at the Nurburgring.

[@ollycollie]

Excellent film. I first read of the cars in Fast Lane and Performance Car, back in the eighties, but I knew nothing of the history behind the company.

[@patdry]

New camera? Looks great! Another excellent video, thank you for sharing.

[@BigCar2]

Same camera, different location.

[@patdry]

@ Just realized, I’ve been watching many of your older videos lately, that might explain why I thought it was a new camera haha.

[@Claudia-km9lo]

I know of Ruf because they were in Gran Turismo before Porsche was.

[@fb3824]

great watch, great story

[@neilmustow368]

Great story of RUF Automobile 😎

[@MirkoC407]

Drove a yellow Ruf 911 as flat 2D graphics on my first PC, a second hand 286, in Test Drive 2 with addon packs back in the 90es. That bus is a Mercedes O321H, looks pretty normal as built to me.

[@nintendoatarikiller]

Little off topic, but I love how viral videos in the 80s and 90s were copies of VHS tapes and making a copy for yourself before giving the 'original' back to your mate.

[@uncipaws7643]

I guess Ruf is pronounced more like Roof and not like Ruff.

[@roop298]

I always found the yellowbird quite a handful. But it could just be my heavy right finger...

[@CarPlebs]

9ff enters the room

[@djpalindrome]

It’s Roof not Rough

[@guidoschnellen4640]

Great video. Many thanks. However, you managed to pronounce a three-letter-word in an incorrect way.. a masterpiece

[@althejazzman]

Yeah I was surprised, given that he normally goes to special attention to pronounce brands authentically. I'm sure Alois is pronounced A-Lwa as well.

[@trwsandford]

The yellow bird was absolutely the dream car for all the boys in the US in the 1980's. Road and Track I think did a head to head comparison with the Callaway Corvette. The Corvette dove into the corners, but the 911 didn't just accelerate, but exploded out those corners. fckall, they were expensive then. You could buy a house with one now.

[@MartinIbert]

And "Alois" insn't "alloys" either. It's something native English speakers struggle with: the stress is on the "A" but it's short, and it's followed by two distinct vowells. AH-lo-eese. Just find a German native speaker to do it for you. (We are not exactly a sparce resource.)

[@km6832]

English speaker pronounce words in english. Get over it. Germans with pronounce it german

[@SmallBlogV8]

The Gran Turismo thread might've deserved a bit more of a mention; due to Electronic Arts securing an exclusivity deal at teh turn of the century to be the only game developer allowed to use Porsches, the rest of the gaming world turned to Ruf as the workaround, since Ruf is considered a manufacturer in its own right and offers rear-flat-6-engined German sports cars with round headlights. _Gran Turismo 2_ featured the CTR2, _GT3_ had the RGT and 3400S, _GT4,5&6_ had the BTR, CTR "Yellowbird" and all the aforementioned. Several other game series used Ruf as well, until the EA deal lapsed and the Porsche floodgates opened (in _GT7_ there are significantly more Porsches than Rufs featured). Those of us born in the '90s instead of the '80s found Ruf through gaming, rather than _Faszination,_ and it must be part of Ruf's surge in modern-day popularity.

[@KubikCv]

8:35 - are theese reflectors in bumper from Trabant 601? :D :D

[@tuomaspapumaki7101]

That new yellowbird is so awesome like allmost every RUF.

[@AxLWake]

I saw one at a car show in Brussels. It looks absolutely glorious.

[@thomas316]

Fabtastic, I've always loved RUF cars.

[@SimonWallwork]

I remember driving the Ruf Porsche on the Playstation!

[@lunabouch]

Marvelous review, it wasn’t TOO RUF to view.

[@christianhofmann7182]

Your voice is excellent to understand for me as a native speaker german even with a cold. Only one suggestion: Ruf is not spelled „rough“ but like „roof“. 👍🍀

[@davidharris3264]

Yes I remember well on the German autobahns as I came up behind a Porche in my TR6 how much they became annoyed. Moreso if I tried to overtake which was well within my means

[@bigsarge2085]

Interesting!

[@Low760]

The fact ruf can do this much shows how much the imbalance of the rich is away from the average person. Mario's brother hopefully helps influence others to fix the balance.

[@Aliens_Gonna_Get_Ya]

That new Yellow Bird… 😍😍😍😍😍

[@dappergent9422]

I've known about the RUF brand ever since the 'Yellow Bird' destroyed the Nürburgring Nordshleife in 1987 RUFs collection of 911s are just stunning. The CTR3 is in my opinion of the world's most beautifully designed cars. I'd say nicer that the Carrera GT RUF, Legend of legends.

[@gg_vard]

It's a wonderful story of a family business. But the whole EA - Porsche thing made a lot more people aware of Ruf and their great products through video games

[@Michel-r6m]

Still remember early RUF. It was a Porsche on steroids.

[@realLsf]

They made a Cayenne look good. Now, that’s an achievement 😮

[@PurpKing4377]

Sooo cool zaalways wanted to know bout these guys

[@5000khn]

The sound of 8000 rpm in an SCR 🥰

[@tamasszabo8824]

The bus at 1:48 looks like a fairly standard Mercedes-Benz product.

[@falcodog2917]

Years ago, a Yellow Bird walked away from my liter bike. It was a very, very fast car.

[@matheusmello8541]

It has been a while since a car has made me feel like the Ruf ctr3 has.

[@DavinaTheWeena]

18:59 good god it's a Noel Edmonds jumper

[@deet4895]

I learned about Ruf through Gran Turismo 4.

[@Ben-says-you-are-AWESOME]

The Rodeo is a great looking thing, a proper 'toy' for grown-ups, well, the rich ones anyway!

[@DrRock2009]

Been to the factory- was most interesting…👍

[@ajax700]

Please no distracting videos on the background. Best wishes.