Two unique builds, one genius builder – CTEK’s display at this year’s Ultrace gathering in Germany will be a must-see at the new and innovative automotive event.

We are welcoming Chris Ashton from Ruffian Cars who will join us to meet Ultrace fans of car culture in Düsseldorf, and he’s bringing along two Ruffian masterpieces – the Ruffian GT40 and the Ruffian Galaxie. 

The GT40 is a reimagined 1966 Ford GT40 Mk 1 with a 5.2 litre DOHC, whilst the 1963 Galaxie brings 700 horsepower of race car to the street in the shape of a full-size American sedan.  

The GT40 is a high tech restomod that required Chris and his collaborators to develop new processes and technologies to modernise the legendary Mark 1. It is the project that put Ruffian on the map. 

At the heart of the Galaxie build was the desire to re-engineer a full-size American family car to be able to operate on the track without sacrificing street legality. 

They are seriously excellent builds by a seriously good builder. 

And they will fit right in at Ultrace, which celebrates global automotive culture and its passionate communities. Its main goal is to bring together the most extraordinary automobiles and the people shaping the culture worldwide. 

Ultrace gatherings are unique, this is not a standard car show. It is an intimate, future focused event that is carefully curated around provenance, automotive history, visionary design and innovation in engineering and materials. 

Which kind of sums up Chris and his endeavours with Ruffian. We saw it at the last SEMA show when CTEK hosted Ruffian’s Plymouth GT-1, a hot rod like no other. 

Europe, you have a treat coming to the CTEK areas at Ultrace Düsseldorf on April 25 and 26. With a thousand cars in the five halls at Ultrace, the sensational is everywhere. But at the CTEK area in Ultrace’s Future Hall, the real Ruffians simply cannot be missed. 

Learn more about Christ Ashton’s builds: the '66 GT40 – Ruffian Cars and the '64 GALAXIE – Ruffian Cars – we will see them, and hopefully you, at Ultrace.  

More from CTEK Magazine

Road trip ready: how to avoid a flat battery ruining your summer escape

There’s nothing quite like heading off in a motorhome during summer. Longer days, spontaneous stopovers, coastal roads, mountain campsites and evenings spent outdoors – it’s what motorhome life is all about. But summer adventures also place extra demand on your vehicle’s battery system. Fridges run constantly, lighting stays on later into the evening, phones and devices are always charging and many motorhomes sit unused between trips. 

Road trip ready: how to avoid a flat battery ruining your summer escape

Best portable chargers for travelling by car, camper or boat

For safe and enjoyable adventure travel by land or sea, preparation is key – pack a list of essential equipment to stay safe when on the move, including a portable battery charger that is multi-functional and robust such as CTEK’s CS FREE. 

Best portable chargers for travelling by car, camper or boat

Motorcycle Battery Voltage

One joy of motoring on two wheels is simply putting on your helmet and gloves, jumping on your motorcycle and hitting the open road. To make that happen your motorcycle has to be in good working order – and that includes the 12V battery usually hidden beneath the seat. 

Motorcycle Battery Voltage

Portable jump starters: how to choose the best one for your car

To choose the best portable jump starter for you and your vehicle, consider your engine size – larger vehicles with larger engines require a jump starter with higher power output. Compare the amperage and peak current of different models to find the right match. Safety features to protect against sparks, overloading and reverse polarity are also a plus, as is choosing a quality brand such as CTEK.

Portable jump starters: how to choose the best one for your car

Perific & CTEK: powering smarter EV charging together

The award-winning CHARGESTORM® CONNECTED 3 and 3i EV charge points are now compatible with Perific, the market-leading power management system for EV charging and heat systems.  

Perific & CTEK: powering smarter EV charging together

CTEK and Ruffian Cars Bring “Race-Bred Thinking” to Europe – Joint Debut at Ultrace Germany

Hanover, April 15, 2026 – CTEK, a global leader in battery charging solutions, is joining forces with U.S. custom car builder Ruffian Cars to showcase their offerings at Ultrace Germany, taking place April 25–26, 2026, at the Areal Böhler in Meerbusch. The spotlight will be on two extraordinary automotive icons, the Ruffian GT40 and the Ruffian Galaxie, as well as innovative CTEK charging solutions for high-performance applications.

CTEK and Ruffian Cars Bring “Race-Bred Thinking” to Europe – Joint Debut at Ultrace Germany