Published: Sep 29, 2012

Unique of the Week: 2002 RUF VW Beetle Turbo S Concept

With 225 horsepower under the hood, this modified Beetle is the only one of its kind in the world.

I know what you're thinking and it probably goes something like this: "How and why is the ultimate chick car being given its own feature write-up?" Two things about that question: One, the second-gen Volkswagen Beetle was definitely more feminine than originally intended, but it sold very well for over a decade. And two, this is no ordinary Bug. This just happens to be a one-off concept inspired by German automaker and tuner RUF. Not sure who they are?

Unique of the Week: 2002 RUF VW Beetle Turbo S Concept

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Just type a Google search for the "CTR Yellowbird Porsche 911" and you'll immediately understand why this Bug is special. RUF was founded in 1939 by Alois Ruf Sr. and was originally a service garage and gas station. It wasn't until after World War II did the small company begin to come up with car designs of its own. In 1955 RUF designed and built a tour bus that was displayed throughout Germany. Its overall positive response prompted Ruf Sr. to begin his own bus company. But it was his son, Alois Ruf Jr. who was the true sports car enthusiast.

Beginning in 1960, the firm began its most famous association: servicing, restoring and enhancing Porsches. The company's first model, a highly tuned Porsche 930, premiered in 1977. The following year was the release of RUF's first non-turbo Porsche, called the 911 SCR. Perhaps the most famous 911 that RUF worked on was the CTR Yellowbird, which had an output of 469 horsepower and weighed just 2,580 pounds. Top speed was more than 200 mph. In other words, RUF is the real deal so when we found this one-off 2002 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo S up for auction on eBay, it immediately caught our attention.

According to the seller, the 2002 “RUF Bug” was built in cooperation with RUF USA and was inspired by the performance and engineering abilities of the famous German-based tuner. It has over $115,000 and six years invested in it in order to make it truly bad ass. Power comes from a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-pot that produces 225hp and is mated to a six-speed short shift manual transmission. Added features include leather Recaro Racing seats, stainless steel door sills, and RUF steering wheel and shifter. There's only 41,200 miles on the odometer and it's street legal in all 50 US states.

The seller has started the bidding at $50,350 which is supposedly quite a bargain considering more than double that amount has been invested in it. It's had only one owner since its completion who has maintained it to very high standards. It was also featured on the April 2011 issue of Eurotuner Magazine. Whoever ends up as the new owner will have many laughs as they stop at traffic lights with people believing it's nothing more than an VW Beetle with some exterior work. If only they were able to see what's lying under the hood before it takes off leaving nearly everyone else behind in a wake of street dirt and shame.