Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
Whether your intention is to try to return your car towards a stock form, find some period correct aftermarket wheels or even some optional OEM wheels, there are always some great options out there to check out. Today is no exception; from the rare to see Ronal R9 for classic BMWs to the wicked OZ 3-piece wheels for AMGs, here are a few of the rare wheel sets I found for sale this week. Which are your favorite?
Lightning never strikes twice, it’s like deja-vu all over again, there’s a glitch in the Matrix; choose your phrase. Because if yesterday’s low mileage Corrado G60 didn’t get you excited for some two-door Volkswagen action, perhaps today’s even lower mile later SLC VR6 will. Although it’s much less common to see good examples of the earlier G60 model, the VR6 is equally if not more sought after with it’s great narrow-angle V6 soundtrack, slightly revised looks and spectacularly perfect Speedline wheels. Often seen in popular green, maroon or red, this is a nice departure again with another silver example, this time Satin Silver:
While there are a plethora of Porsche 930s sporting Ruf details, when you get into the real Ruf vehicles you have crested a very high mountain of performance. Rufs emerged in the 1980s as the ultimate giant killers; cars whose performance exceeded the expectations of everyone in the motoring press and every stock vehicle they came across. Put simply, there were just no cars that were faster; even Porsche’s legendary 959 was bullied by the equally revered Ruf CTR Yellowbird in a high-speed test when they were new. They were, and remain, the most expensive and most highly sought modified Porsches available. Add to that the specialized lightweight versions of the already exclusive Rufs, and you’ve got something truly special and unique:
The Porsche 930 is an absolute icon, and for some time in the 1980s it was the centerpiece of the tuning world; countless examples underwent questionable modifications and died an early death in the eyes of many. But some also underwent changes that made them icons in the automotive world. Notably, the Ruf modified cars are some of the favorites of enthusiasts for their understated aggression and brutal speed. But for most enthusiasts, while the idea of a Ruf-modified car is great, the reality of affording one is much more difficult. First, there just aren’t many true Ruf examples out there, and those that are well built original examples are quite expensive. There are plenty of pretenders to make up the difference, but if you don’t need all of the motivation of the Ruf cars you can get a substantial discount if you just accept some choice modifications to set your standard 930 enough apart to make you feel special without breaking the bank:
Here’s the question of the day: do you need an original? Perhaps, if you have quite particular taste and your pockets are quite deep, yes is the only option for you. Perhaps you don’t feel like you could possibly turn up for a track event, coffee and cars, or club car show and explain to people that your pride and joy is a replica or car that was converted in the style of the originals. But to me, if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and – as in this case – goes like a duck, perhaps it doesn’t matter that it didn’t leave the egg as a prized duckling. Ruf cars are some of the most highly sought tuner cars ever produced – and these days, a real-deal Ruf BTR will set you back a pretty penny; but then, so will a mint condition 930. 930s have recently undergone a serious spike in prices; perhaps recognition by the market that they’re a lot more car than a E30 M3 and probably should be priced below one. So what we have here is a great looking 930 that has been given a host of BTR upgrades by an authorized Ruf dealer. Is it worth the price of entry?