• Porsche reportedly opened talks to buy the firm behind the Yellowbird.
  • RUF has publicly denied the report and says it isn’t for sale.
  • RUF’s manufacturer status makes it much more than a typical tuner.

Update: RUF has responded to the report from Germany’s WirtschaftsWoche and denied it. “To be absolutely clear: RUF is not for sale, and reports suggesting otherwise are false,” the company told Carscoops. On Porsche specifically, RUF says it respects the brand and shares a long history with it, but “there are no plans for Porsche to acquire RUF.” The company added that it remains “family-owned and operated, as it has throughout its history,” and that its focus stays on building RUF automobiles on its own terms.

Here’s the statement in full:

“We would like to address recent rumors regarding a potential sale of RUF Automobile. To be absolutely clear: RUF is not for sale, and reports suggesting otherwise are false.

RUF Automobile remains proudly family-owned and operated, as it has throughout its history. Our independence is fundamental to who we are as a company and has allowed us to pursue our own vision of engineering, performance and craftsmanship for generations.

We have great respect for Porsche and share a long history within the automotive world, but there are no plans for Porsche to acquire RUF. Our focus remains exactly where it has always been: independently developing and building exceptional RUF automobiles for our customers and enthusiasts around the world.

We appreciate the tremendous interest in RUF and look forward to continuing our story as an independent automobile manufacturer.”

The original story follows below.

If Porsche wants to become a more focused, higher-margin sports car maker, it may be looking to bring one of its most famous unofficial alter egos into the family. A new report from Germany’s WirtschaftsWoche’s, citing inside sources, claims Porsche is in advanced talks to buy RUF Automobile, the tiny but legendary German firm best known for turning Porsche hardware into something altogether more unhinged.

We reached out to Porsche, which declined to comment. RUF has since denied the report.

RUF

The 80-person company might be casually called a Porsche tuner, but that doesn’t quite cover it. RUF identifies itself as a family-owned automaker. Its cars have long carried their own manufacturer identity rather than simply being modified Porsches. Its greatest hit is the CTR “Yellowbird,” a wild twin-turbo creation that became an all-time hero car thanks to undeniable performance.

Read: Explore The History Of Ruf Automobile With This Epic 30-Minute Film

According to WirtschaftsWoche’s unnamed sources, Porsche initially wanted to buy Singer. The report says the California-based Porsche specialist rebuffed that approach, prompting CEO Michael Leiters to turn toward RUF and owner Alois Ruf. Sources say Ruf is willing to sell and that a deal could be close. On paper, all of this makes a great deal of sense.

Mercedes absorbed AMG, and BMW acquired Alpina. Porsche buying RUF would follow the same basic logic. Essentially, take a trusted independent known for making your cars more exclusive, then turn that credibility into an in-house luxury and performance weapon.

Still, RUF’s value isn’t production capacity. Clearly, it’s a small company and builds very few cars each year compared to Porsche. RUF’s appeal is its independence, its engineering personality, and the fact that it has spent decades making Porsche-shaped cars that Porsche itself never quite dared to build. If Porsche does acquire it, the move would come with a lot more support and capital than RUF has ever had. Until either company confirms a transaction, this remains an intriguing rumor.

Photos: RUF