A 996ucc Story
“A Door Opened in Pfaffenhausen”
By D.Delain
We entered. Like a gracious host welcoming guests into her home, she encouraged us to look around and then said, “Let me go get Alois.”
Holy Fuchs.
Moments later, Alois Ruf appeared from the workshop behind the showroom—proper, precise, unmistakably German. His blue sweater bore the marks of real work. My first impression was simple: deeply interesting. What followed was warm, engaged conversation. As it turned out, Peter knew the owner of the RUF franchise in Taiwan. The room felt smaller, more human.
Then came the question that still feels unreal: Would you like a tour of the workshop?
Another gentleman—Thomas—appeared and led us through the back. It felt exclusive, intimate. Peter and Thomas walked ahead while I, foolishly, pulled out my phone, attempting to capture the moment through video. As I entered the shop, Thomas noticed me recording and stopped me abruptly. Rightly so. A secret project car was still under wraps, destined for an upcoming show.
I apologized profusely. Peter shook his head at me—equal parts embarrassed and amused.
The tour continued, and it was extraordinary. Insightful. Electric. That hidden project car? Absolutely killer.
A few takeaways stayed with me:
Astonia, Alois, and the team were in the middle of consulting with a client on specifications for a new build when we arrived—and they paused everything for two curious strangers.
In North America, these cars are worth millions.
From my understanding, RUF pioneered the Porsche Restomod long before the term became fashionable.
RUF is the only company Porsche formally blessed to build Porsche-like vehicles—yet RUF manufactures everything itself. It carries its own VINs. When you buy a RUF, it is a RUF, not a Porsche.
That 30-minute interaction was a gift. It revealed the character and soul of the Ruf family—open, generous, deeply rooted in craft.
There are many excellent companies today that elevate Porsches to supercar standards. But to my limited knowledge in this, there is only one original—with the pedigree, the history, and the quiet confidence earned through decades of doing things the right way.
RUF.
And yes, a few favorites linger in the mind: RUF CTR Yellowbird (no kidding), RUF SCR, and RUF RTurbo.
Sometimes the best parts of a journey begin exactly where the plan falls apart.
Yup, my attempt at trying to become an influencer gone wrong at RUF Automotive.
Peter—my friend—and I spent a week crossing Italy, Switzerland, and Germany in a wonderful grand-touring companion, a BMW M8 Convertible with the carbon package. We covered serious ground, the kind of miles that deepen conversation and friendship. We also developed an appreciation for the roads, machine we were in and the spaces between destinations.
One highlight of the trip was meant to join a Porsche Factory Tour during its 75th anniversary. We assumed—naively—that after our museum exploration we could simply arrive and join a tour. We were terribly wrong. Factory tours are booked months in advance, and suddenly our plan evaporated.
With that wrench thrown into the itinerary, I suggested something else: Hay, let’s try to find RUF. No expectations—just to see it in the flesh and off we went.
Leaving the autobahn, the road became quiet, almost anonymous. The small town offered no spectacle, no signposting drama—just familiar countryside. We both wondered if we were lost. Could RUF really be out here? It felt like terra incognita.
And then we arrived.
The first impression was understated: a well-established small factory—metal and green—confident, not loud. It was a Saturday. Closed, it seemed. We parked cautiously by the front door. I walked up, peered through the locked glass, and thought to myself, Well, at least we got to see the place.
Inside, though, I noticed a small group paging through catalogs, samples laid out across tables. An elegant woman stood, smiled, and walked toward the door.
That’s Astonia Ruf, I realized.
She unlocked the door and opened it halfway and asked, kindly, if she could help. I apologized for the interruption and explained that we were simply hoping to see the RUF facility. She sensed our sincerity immediately. Without hesitation, she opened the door wide, smiled, and said, “Please, come in.”
