Driving a car with old-fashioned halogen headlights versus one with LEDs is a literal night-and-day difference. Yes, LED lights can be annoying when they’re beaming out of a Tahoe directly into your corneas, but when you’re the one behind the wheel on a dark road you want their much higher and cleaner light output. Aftermarket LED conversion kits for classic cars usually look cheap and crappy, but legendary supercar manufacturer Ruf just released a new nine-piece plug-and-play LED light kit for the 993-generation Porsche 911, and it actually looks really good. The kit is supposed to install very simply, and includes two headlights, fog lights, indicators, and taillights as well as the 993's signature center taillight bar, all for about $8,718 before shipping.
To design this set of modernized lights for the 1994-1998 911, Ruf collaborated with Tony Hatter, the original designer of the 993. Their partnership ensured that the new LED clusters aligned with the original design ethos of the 993, and that Ruf’s lights didn’t turn out as yucky as the rest of the aftermarket light conversion kits across the various sketchy corners of online consumerism. Plus, they’re SAE approved, meet all safety criteria for legality and reliability, and the engineers who designed them say that the LED high beams are three-times brighter than the original Porsche headlights. Said Alois Ruf in a press release,
We are seeing the new year in a new light because the 993 model range is part of the RUF Neo-Classic Sports Car Program. It was my vision to equip the latest air-cooled generation of the Porsche 911 with LED lighting. We wanted to create a lighting system that prioritizes safety, visibility, and authenticity. The extensive development process was well worth it.
For simplified installation, the LED light modules are positioned in the center of the lamp cluster with a surrounding clasp in a funnel that fits into the original headlamp seat. These 993 conversions are the same design that’s used on Ruf’s production Turbo R and Turbo R Limited supercars, so upgrading your 993 will have the bonus of looking more like an actual Ruf. You’ll also be able to say your car has genuine Ruf parts on it, and though the price is high, it’s a complete kit that’s actually comparably priced to other aftermarket LED clusters.
