There are few cars that conjure teenage bedroom poster images more than a Porsche 930. With its outrageous fender flares that house distended tires and a leviathan tail on the boot, it had the aggressive looks to go with its neck-snapping, race-bred performance. It was disco-80s excess. Having returned to the US after a six-year hiatus, the 1986 Porsche 930 was a welcome sight on interstates, twisty roads and track days across the country. And it remains so today. The only problem, if you can call it that, with the 930—until it received a one-year-only G50 transmission in 1989—was that all that power was managed through a 4-speed with sky-high gear ratios. It would’t be inconceivable to drive through town at normal speeds without getting out of first gear. As such, they’re not especially drivable on a routine basis. Enter Ruf Automobile, a German tuner that’s been making Porsches not only more powerful, but more drivable since 1975. In 1983, Ruf tuned a 930 Turbo for Group B (a largely unrestricted racing class with limited homologation) and the first Ruf BTR rolled out of their facility in Pfaffenhausen. By this time, Ruf’s integrity toward what made a Porsche a Porsche had earned them tuning centers within Porsche’s authorized dealer network, whereby customers could have their cars tuned to Ruf spec. The car presented today began life as a nothing-to-sneeze-at 1986 930 Turbo and was converted to Ruf BTR3 Spec in 1987 through one of those authorized dealers. This included the BTR’s 3.4 litre 410-hp motor along with a Ruf 5-speed gearbox that made better use of its powerband. Also included are Ruf brakes, steering wheel, front air dam, and badges. Not to mention the iconic Ruf wheels. With 50,000 miles on the clock it is fresh without being overly nursed and its black on burgundy combo is a perfect expression of refined yet sinister. Find it here on Craigslist in Lexington MA for a not unreasonable $65,000.
