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Inspired by the Bergspyder, this one-off RUF is a carbon-fiber clad Speedster throwback to the '60s based on the Type-993 Chassis
by Amrit Balraj on August 28, 2024, 06:00The 909 ’Bergspyder’ was a race car designed and built by Porsche in 1968, for dominating European hill climbing competitions. It gets its name ’Berg’ from the German word for mountain and ’meister’ for master. It is a relatively unknown model, but the technology and innovations it fostered became the base for the 908/3 racecar. The RUF Burgmeister is a modern interpretation of the Bergspyder, created from RUF’s admiration of the hillclimb legend. Based on the Type-993 chassis and resembling a speedster body, this is a car that we wanted to touch upon despite being first revealed over two years ago at the Quail. This is because the 993-Speedster is a bit of a unicorn, and several resto-modders and Porsche themselves have been taking a dig at this format off-late.
Upon first glance at the Bergmeister, you’ll notice the design cues from iconic Porsche models like the 906 and 718 RS 60 Spyder. The design is a blend of vintage and contemporary engineering, making it suitable for both street and track. The story goes that Alois Ruf had in his collection a 993 Cabriolet bodyshell from the 90s when Porsche was still making air-cooled versions of their cars. This body shell eventually became the Burgmeister, designed by Tony Hatter - the legendary designer of the Porsche 993, Carrera GT, and the GT1 racecar.
- The Bergmeister is Ruf’s tribute to the 909 Hill Climb Racecar’
- The Bergmeister features a 3.6-liter engine in the rear with 450 horsepower and 443-pound feet of torque.
- The 993-based bespoke car is adorned in white with green racing stripes, inspired by the racing livery of the 909.
Lightweight, And Powerful The Bergmeister Is Designed To Tackle Any Hill-Climb
Carbon fiber body panels, a stripped-down interior, and a lightweight engine derived from Ruf BTR2 of the 1990s contribute to the Burgmeister’s low weight. The engine is a 3.6-liter flat-six with titanium connecting rods and upgraded engine management which allows it to produce 450 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission being offered is a six-speed manual which sends power to the rear wheels, there is a limited-slip differential as well. The Bergmeister is equipped with 19-inch center-lock wheels and carbon-ceramic brakes for superior stopping power.
The interior boasts manual dials, an Alcantara-wrapped headlining, and bucket seats as standard equipment. The bucket seats are wrapped in suede and Pepita-patterned cloth. The minimalist dashboard comes with only a fog light switch, fan speed switch, and battery cutoff. According to RUF, the Burgmeister is the lightest car they have ever built, weighing in at around 2,425 pounds. Of course, the 909, the lightest race car Porsche had ever built, had an almost comically low curb weight of 847 pounds. Porsche themselves made their own tribute to the 909 back in 2019, with the Boxter Bergspyder - a one-off tribute model.
According to Alois Ruf, approximately 15 customers have expressed interest in the Bergmeister, back when it was revealed at the Monterey Car Week in 2022. The production model will likely be built on RUF’s new carbon fiber monocoque, similar to the CTR Anniversary and SCR, making it even lighter than the current 993-based prototype.
Amrit Balraj
When not reading up or watching videos about obscure and rare automobiles, Amrit spends his free time planning imaginary road trips on some of the best driving roads in the world, preferably in an old truck with a motorcycle strapped to the bed. Read full bio
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