Twin-turbo conversions and outlandish bodykits are commonplace these days, with tuners like Liberty Stroll each inspiring and upsetting purists in equal measure with their supercar reimaginations. However this isn’t a brand new factor. In truth, it’s quite a lot of many years previous.
One identify on the forefront of the unique cost was German tuner Koenig Specials.
Koenig Specials was based by Willy König, whose fortunes made in publishing allowed him to pursue his true ardour – racing. Competing below the pseudonym ‘Robert Frank’, König gained the German Hillclimb Championship in his Ferrari 250 GT SWB, earlier than racing different iconic autos by means of the Sixties, ’70s and ’80s, together with a Ford GT40, BMW M1 Procar, Porsche 935 K3 and Porsche 962.
Within the ’70s, after feeling a bit disheartened by the efficiency of his Ferrari 365 BB, König turned his hand to mechanical and beauty modification of varied sports activities automobiles. At first it was a aspect curiosity, however having developed a repute for wild styling and a fastidious method to mechanical tuning, he made it official. Koenig Specials launched in 1977.
A complete of 929 Ferrari 512 BBs have been ever produced, with solely a handful of those receiving the aftermarket Koenig Specials remedy. So when this beautiful instance appeared domestically at The Basic Motor Hub, I had to go in for a better look.
The Koenig Specials 512 BB exterior improve leaves little untouched, with aerodynamic enhancements made to both assist cooling or cut back carry. This side of the automobile was designed by one other recognisable identify from the ’80s tuning world – Vittori Strosek.
The diminutive 512 BB wore comparatively slender 15-inch wheels from manufacturing facility, however within the Koenig Specials model they grew to 9 inches huge up entrance and 11 inches on the rear, shod in bulbous 225/50 and 325/35 tyres respectively.
These extra aware of Koenig Specials will discover this automobile is lacking the trademark aspect strakes the model turned synonymous with, but it surely nonetheless retains different styling cues. NACA-style ducts alongside the sills feed air to the rear brakes, whereas vents within the decrease entrance lip cool the entrance brakes. Enormous aspect intakes feed the intercoolers, and twin air containers breathe by means of the finned deck lid.
The 512 BB rolled off Ferrari’s manufacturing line with round 355hp from its 180-degree V12. Koenig Specials provided a number of states of tune, starting from 385 as much as a frankly ludicrous close to 700 horsepower, which this automobile has.
Due to a complete rebuild and addition of dual turbos (initially discovering use in plane, modified by Franz Albert), the Koenig Specials 512 BB may go 0-60mph in properly below 4 seconds, and crack the 200mph (321km/h) barrier for these dedicated sufficient to strive.
The turbos sit the place the unique Ferrari rear silencers as soon as did, whereas spent gasses exit out of what barely passes as an exhaust, with wastegate dump pipes alongside.
One of many largest adjustments was the removing of the engine’s manufacturing facility carburettors to suit fashionable digital gasoline injection and ignition programs. On this explicit automobile, the ignition was not too long ago up to date once more to offer a extra steady spark and to take full benefit of higher high quality gasoline. This modification has seemingly elevated the ability and torque output much more.
The inside is left largely commonplace, save for the digital Lifeline fireplace suppression controller and extra gauges to observe oil temperature and enhance pressures. Sure, plural – every turbocharger has its personal gauge.
Not many automobiles have ashtrays of their sills, however this simply exhibits how low you sit within the automobile. The enduring gated shifter takes satisfaction of place within the slender centre console, with driver and passenger in shut proximity to 1 one other.
Sitting within the driver’s seat, it’s not exhausting to think about what it will be like to wind out the motor alongside a straight stretch of highway. In true ’80s style, you’d have a level of lag earlier than the turbos delivered their full enhance, 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 completely sums up the ahead considering mentality of tuners in that period – take an already achieved mannequin and flip it as much as 11. There are various issues this automobile is, however discreet is actually not one in every of them. A lot in order that Ferrari issued a authorized discover stating no Koenig Specials may very well be marketed or bought utilizing their identify.
Koenig Specials continued strongly into the ’90s, tuning all method of efficiency automobiles, from Mercedes-Benzes to Jaguars. It nonetheless exists immediately, however is unfortunately now only a shadow of its former self.
So whereas fashionable tuning homes are performing some fairly loopy issues, keep in mind none of that is new – style goes in a single large cycle. Consider it as an evolution, fairly than a revolution. I’m unsure what we’ll see come the subsequent cycle, however the OGs are all the time exhausting to beat.
Due to George, Nigel and everybody else at The Basic Motor Hub for accommodating me. Click on right here to see and listen to this Koenig Specials 512 BB rolling out of their showroom.
Chaydon Ford
Instagram: chaycore
