by Unique Ruf 928R Car Prepares for Auction
The Ruf automotive company became famous for taking powerful Porsche 911s and turning them into true road monsters. However, in the 1980s, one of South Korea’s wealthiest entrepreneurs commissioned something completely different from them. The result was a truly unique car, which will be sold next month at the Gooding Christie’s auction on Amelia Island.
Key features of this car:
Creation History and Technical Features
Unlike their usual projects, this car did not start with a rear-engined 911, but with a front-engined Porsche 928. The car, named the 928R, was commissioned by Lee Kun-hee, the former chairman of Samsung Group. Ruf took the original Porsche body and developed the car from scratch, adding exclusive details and a number of enhancements that distinguish it from any production 928.
This project began with a front-engined Porsche 928. The car was commissioned by Lee Kun-hee, the former chairman of Samsung Group.
Under the hood works a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8, refined by Ruf engineers to deliver 360 horsepower and 480 Nm of torque. This is significantly more than the original 316 hp and 430 Nm. Since the 928 was conceived as a refined grand tourer, not a sharp sports car, the additional power is delivered to the wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission, not a manual one.
Exterior Details, Interior, and the Car’s Fate
In addition to engine refinement, Ruf fitted the 928R with 19-inch alloy wheels, more powerful brakes with carbon-ceramic discs, and applied a black paint layer. The interior combines black and burgundy red leather, and also features cruise control, a power sunroof, and climate control.
The auction house reports that the 928R remained in Lee Kun-hee’s collection for many years before being bought back by Ruf itself and undergoing a complete restoration. Despite its age, the car’s mileage is only 2,510 kilometers, so it’s no surprise that its expected price is between $400,000 and $500,000.
What Awaits the Unique Ruf 928R?
The car will be sold together with its original books, tool kit, jack, compressor, and first aid kit. Given that this is a true unique specimen, it’s hard to imagine the next owner actively driving it. It is more likely to become an object of close attention at exhibitions and a topic of conversation, rather than a car for regular trips.
A price of half a million dollars for a Ruf car that is not a 911 makes this lot exceptional in itself. Potential buyers will have to decide whether this car will become an exhibit at concours d’elegance under bright lights, or whether it will actually hit the road to demonstrate its true capabilities. The low mileage and history associated with a famous figure undoubtedly shape its collectible value, but the true value of any car, even such an exclusive one, is often revealed precisely in motion.
