RUF may have started out as a Porsche repair shop over 80 years ago, but the tuner has gained recognition for its development of some extreme 911s with exorbitant price tags, such as the CTR shown at last year's Geneva Motor Show. Now, a 1997 RUF CTR2 Sport is up for auction and is expected to go for a price starting at around $725,000.

This yellow-hued example is currently listed on RM Sotheby's and has had just two owners from new. It's said to be the first of a mere 16 widebody CTR2 Sport models to be built and, of course, is based on the legendary 993. It dwarfs the original in output, though, with a wild 702 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque at its disposal. That's even more power than a brand new Porsche 911 Turbo can muster.

RUF tweaked the 3.6-liter flat-six CTR2 engine by using titanium connecting rods along with a lightweight flywheel, enabling the stratospheric outputs. A short-ratio six-speed manual gearbox is fitted, and the car's wet weight is just 2,807 pounds. All that grunt was put to good use, though, as this CTR2 Sport was built to compete in the 1997 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, where it attained a second-placed finish.

Even more extreme modifications over the CTR2 included body panels made from composite materials such as the front fenders, dual rear wings, and the rear decklid, which are all visible in the pictures here. Motorsport-grade components were utilized for the fully independent and adjustable suspension. Most impressively, the CTR2 Sport was road-legal despite also meeting FIA and Pikes Peak regulations.

At the Virginia City Hill Climb, this RUF CTR2 Sport posted a trio of victories and set two all-time records, and it was driven on famous tracks like Road America, Virginia International Raceway, and Mont Tremblant. It's this colorful history that only adds to the appeal of the CTR2 Sport, which could easily have spent its life sitting in a garage.

It's sold with a history file containing period photos, race results, and even the original PCA logbook. If you want to give some much newer 911s an absolute fright and have deep enough pockets, the RUF CTR2 Sport won't disappoint. This is a car that further bolstered RUF's reputation as a respected aftermarket tuner, paving the way for more audacious concepts like the 911-based Rodeo.