Jay Leno himself, arguably one of the most famous car collectors and connoisseurs in the world, loves the RUF CTR so much he has no less than 3 of them in his garage. RUF cars are iconic Porsche conversions, but if the name RUF Automobile doesn’t ring a bell, we have just the thing for you.
RUF: Love at the Red Line is a documentary that premiered recently on YouTube, which you can view in full in the video at the bottom of the page.
It’s the perfect introduction to the impressive story of a small former repair shop from Pfaffenhausen, Germany, that’s become a world-famous supercar manufacturer, while remaining a family-run business. It is, if you will, a story of how the love of the automobile can stand the test of time, almost without change.
The documentary is narrated by RUF owner Alois and wife Estonia Ruf, with Alois being the second-generation Ruf to handle the business. He recalls how his father worked on his first Porsche, after crashing his bus into it and sending it into a ditch – and how the owner of that Porsche sold it off, and the kind of interest it generated with other owners.
The RUF Automobile history actually goes back to 1939, having only gotten into modifying Porsches in the ‘60s. Ruf Sr. had also tried building his own bus before that, but success only came with the Porsche conversions. Enhanced Porsches became available in the early ‘70s, when Jr. had already assumed control of the company.
RUF employees are also featured in the documentary, offering a good look of what the business is like, since many of them have been with the company for decades. Guest appearances include car designer Freeman Thomas, Porsche modifier Rod Emory, Gran Turismo producer Kazunori Yamauchi, and collector and RUF owner Bruce Meyer.
“Over the years, the story of RUF has become marked by key moments in our history,” said RUF director Alois Ruf Jr. ahead of the film’s premiere. “This film pulls back the curtain. We want to share with the world that it has taken the work of hundreds and the passion of many more to get us where we are today. This is for the employees, the customers and the fans who helped turn our vision into a reality.”
So if you fall into any of these categories, this one’s for you.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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