Twin-turbo conversions and outlandish bodykits are commonplace nowadays, with tuners like Liberty Walk each inspiring and upsetting purists in equal measure with their supercar reimaginations. But this isn’t a brand new thing. In truth, it’s greater than a couple of a long time old.
One name on the forefront of the unique charge was German tuner Koenig Specials.
Koenig Specials was founded by Willy König, whose fortunes made in publishing allowed him to pursue his true passion – racing. Competing under the pseudonym ‘Robert Frank’, König won the German Hillclimb Championship in his Ferrari 250 GT SWB, before racing other iconic vehicles through the Nineteen Sixties, ’70s and ’80s, including a Ford GT40, BMW M1 Procar, Porsche 935 K3 and Porsche 962.
Within the ’70s, after feeling just a little disheartened by the performance of his Ferrari 365 BB, König turned his hand to mechanical and cosmetic modification of varied sports cars. At first it was a side interest, but having developed a popularity for wild styling and a fastidious approach to mechanical tuning, he made it official. Koenig Specials launched in 1977.
A complete of 929 Ferrari 512 BBs were ever produced, with only a handful of those receiving the aftermarket Koenig Specials treatment. So when this stunning example appeared locally at The Classic Motor Hub, I had to go in for a more in-depth look.
The Koenig Specials 512 BB exterior upgrade leaves little untouched, with aerodynamic enhancements made to either aid cooling or reduce lift. This aspect of the automobile was designed by one other recognisable name from the ’80s tuning world – Vittori Strosek.
The diminutive 512 BB wore relatively narrow 15-inch wheels from factory, but within the Koenig Specials version they grew to 9 inches wide up front and 11 inches on the rear, shod in bulbous 225/50 and 325/35 tyres respectively.
Those more aware of Koenig Specials will notice this automobile is missing the trademark side strakes the brand became synonymous with, however it still retains other styling cues. NACA-style ducts along the sills feed air to the rear brakes, while vents within the lower front lip cool the front brakes. Huge side intakes feed the intercoolers, and dual air boxes breathe through the finned deck lid.
The 512 BB rolled off Ferrari’s production line with around 355hp from its 180-degree V12. Koenig Specials offered a couple of states of tune, starting from 385 as much as a frankly ludicrous near 700 horsepower, which this automobile has.
Due to a comprehensive rebuild and addition of dual turbos (originally finding use in aircraft, modified by Franz Albert), the Koenig Specials 512 BB could go 0-60mph in well under 4 seconds, and crack the 200mph (321km/h) barrier for those committed enough to try.
The turbos sit where the unique Ferrari rear silencers once did, while spent gasses exit out of what barely passes as an exhaust, with wastegate dump pipes alongside.
Considered one of the largest changes was the removal of the engine’s factory carburettors to suit modern electronic fuel injection and ignition systems. On this particular automobile, the ignition was recently updated again to offer a more stable spark and to take full advantage of higher quality fuel. This modification has likely increased the facility and torque output much more.
The inside is left largely standard, save for the electronic Lifeline fire suppression controller and extra gauges to observe oil temperature and boost pressures. Yes, plural – each turbocharger has its own gauge.
Not many cars have ashtrays of their sills, but this just shows how low you sit within the automobile. The long-lasting gated shifter takes pride of place within the narrow centre console, with driver and passenger in close proximity to at least one one other.
Sitting in the motive force’s seat, it’s not hard to assume what it might be like to wind out the motor along a straight stretch of road. In true ’80s fashion, you’d have a level of lag before the turbos delivered their full boost, and the audio system would have been largely a suggestion, being barely audible over the wastegate chatter and exhaust cackle on the overrun.
This automobile perfectly sums up the forward pondering mentality of tuners in that era – take an already completed model and turn it as much as 11. There are a lot of things this automobile is, but discreet is definitely not one in every of them. A lot in order that Ferrari issued a legal notice stating no Koenig Specials might be marketed or sold using their name.
Koenig Specials continued strongly into the ’90s, tuning all manner of performance cars, from Mercedes-Benzes to Jaguars. It still exists today, but is unfortunately now only a shadow of its former self.
So while modern tuning houses are doing a little moderately crazy things, remember none of that is recent – fashion goes in a single big cycle. Consider it as an evolution, moderately than a revolution. I’m undecided what we’ll see come the subsequent cycle, but the OGs are at all times hard to beat.
Due to George, Nigel and everyone else at The Classic Motor Hub for accommodating me. Click here to see and listen to this Koenig Specials 512 BB rolling out of their showroom.
Chaydon Ford
Instagram: chaycore
This Article First Appeared At www.speedhunters.com
