The Backstory: How Koenig Found Its Niche
In the 1970s, Willy Koenig, a German racing enthusiast, saw potential where others didn’t. He founded Koenig Specials, a company dedicated to transforming high-end cars into performance monsters. By the 1980s, Koenig had become a household name among car enthusiasts, redefining luxury by marrying jaw-dropping aesthetics with functionality that pushed the boundaries of automotive engineering.
Why Koenig Cars Are Special
Here’s where it gets interesting. Unlike factory cars, which cater to a broad audience, Koenig cars are for the few. Each vehicle is meticulously customized, often featuring:
Enhanced Aerodynamics: Expect aggressive body kits designed not just for show but also for optimized airflow and stability.
Power Upgrades: Engine modifications that elevate horsepower beyond factory specs, delivering unparalleled speed and torque.
Exclusive Interiors: Think hand-stitched leather, bespoke design elements, and cutting-edge tech integrations.
Limited Production: Every Koenig car is unique, ensuring exclusivity that’s nearly impossible to replicate.
For instance, Koenig’s reimagined Ferrari Testarossa transformed an already iconic car into a beast that roared with over 1,000 horsepower—a feat unheard of at the time.
Notable Creations by Koenig
Koenig made its mark on some of the most prestigious cars of the 1980s. Here are a few highlights:
Koenig Ferrari Testarossa
Perhaps their most famous creation, this car boasted a twin-turbocharged engine that elevated its performance to a jaw-dropping 1,000+ horsepower. The aggressive wide-body kit and enhanced aerodynamics made it a true head-turner. With the Testarossa, Koenig took Ferrari's creation to another level, blending outrageous design with jaw-dropping performance.
The Koenig Testarossa retained the unmistakable silhouette of the original but amped up the aggression. Wider fenders, enormous rear spoilers, and custom aerodynamic kits made the car look ready to dominate both racetracks and boulevards. Add deep-dish wheels and optional wild colour schemes, and the Koenig Testarossa became a rolling statement of excess.
While the stock Testarossa delivered 390 horsepower from its naturally aspirated 4.9L flat-12 engine, Koenig’s modifications cranked things up with twin turbochargers. Depending on the configuration, the power output soared to an eye-watering 800 horsepower. This transformed the car into a hypercar of its time, with performance figures that rivalled Le Mans race cars.
The Koenig Ferrari Testarossa remains a polarizing piece of automotive history. Purists often scoff at the modifications, considering them a sacrilege to Ferrari's design philosophy. However, fans of Koenig admire the audacity and engineering brilliance that turned an already legendary car into an over-the-top masterpiece.
Koenig Porsche 928
The Porsche 928, introduced in 1978, was already a ground breaking car for the Stuttgart brand. It combined the refinement of a luxury GT with the performance expected of a Porsche, featuring a front-mounted V8 engine and a revolutionary transaxle layout for near-perfect weight distribution. But for Koenig Specials, "ground breaking" wasn’t enough. The tuner took the sleek 928 and gave it an aggressive overhaul, turning it into a machine that wouldn't look out of place on a futuristic race track.
Koenig transformed the 928 with a dramatic wide-body kit, characterized by massive flared wheel arches, a deep front spoiler, and a towering rear wing. These aerodynamic enhancements weren’t just for show; they helped the car stay stable at the eye-watering speeds it was capable of reaching. The bold styling screamed performance, making the Koenig 928 an instant head-turner.
Under the hood, Koenig took the already potent V8 and dialled it up to eleven. Depending on the customer’s preferences, the engine could be turbocharged or fitted with other performance upgrades, pushing the power output well beyond the stock 928’s figures. While Porsche’s engineers had designed the 928 for both comfort and speed, Koenig Specials leaned unapologetically toward raw power and adrenaline.
With Koenig’s modifications, the 928 could reach speeds that rivalled or even surpassed contemporary supercars. The exact figures varied depending on the build, but it was common for these cars to deliver over 400 horsepower—phenomenal for the era.
Like all of Koenig’s creations, the Koenig Porsche 928 was rare and expensive. Each car was customized to the buyer’s specifications, ensuring no two were exactly alike. The exclusivity and audacity of the design made it a sought-after piece for collectors and enthusiasts.
Today, the Koenig Porsche 928 stands as a symbol of 1980s tuning culture—a time when bigger, faster, and more extreme were the guiding principles. While some purists may argue that Koenig’s modifications took away from the original elegance of the 928, others celebrate the tuner’s fearless approach to automotive art.
Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that the Koenig Porsche 928 left a lasting impression. It’s a car that perfectly captures the spirit of its era: bold, brash, and unforgettable.
Koenig Mercedes-Benz SEC
The Mercedes-Benz SEC, with its imposing proportions and refined engineering, provided the perfect canvas for Koenig's extravagant touch.
The transformation of the SEC was unmistakable. Wide-body kits, aggressive fender flares, oversized rear spoilers, and deep-dish alloy wheels were hallmarks of the Koenig style. These modifications didn’t just enhance its road presence—they announced it. The interior was often decked out with custom leather upholstery, wood trim, and high-tech (for the time) gadgets, ensuring that the car's opulence matched its exterior bravado.
Koenig BMW 635 CSi
The Koenig BMW 635 CSi is a perfect example of how Koenig Specials reimagined iconic cars with their signature flair. Starting with BMW’s "shark-nosed" grand tourer, the 635 CSi, Koenig elevated the car from a sleek luxury coupe to an outrageous expression of 1980s excess.
Koenig's wide-body conversion gave the 635 CSi a more aggressive stance, with exaggerated fender flares, bold side skirts, and a massive rear spoiler. The car’s unmistakable presence was complemented by custom wheels and bespoke interior upgrades, ensuring it stood out from every angle.
Under the hood, Koenig didn’t hold back. With performance enhancements ranging from engine tuning to turbocharging, the 635 CSi gained serious power to match its dramatic looks. These modifications transformed the refined BMW coupe into a road-going missile that thrilled enthusiasts.
The Koenig 635 CSi became an icon for those who wanted something bold, brash, and unapologetically unique. Today, it remains a rare and fascinating chapter in the history of BMW tuning, cherished for its raw attitude and unmistakable style.
Koenig C62
Built on the foundation of the Porsche 962, the C62 retained much of the original car’s advanced racing technology, including its lightweight chassis and aerodynamic design. However, Koenig reimagined it for the road, crafting a hypercar with striking looks and earth-shattering performance.
Powering the C62 was a twin-turbocharged 3.4L flat-six engine, capable of producing up to 800 horsepower. With a top speed exceeding 230 mph, the Koenig C62 was one of the fastest road cars of its era—if not the outright fastest. Despite its brutal performance, it also offered a semi-civilized driving experience, with a more refined cockpit than its racing counterpart.
Produced in extremely limited numbers, the Koenig C62 was a rare gem even in its day. It offered wealthy enthusiasts the chance to experience race-car performance without the limitations of the track. Today, it stands as a monument to Koenig’s bold ambition and remains one of the most exclusive and revered hypercars ever built.
Koenig are still going today and parts can be ordered for various luxury and sportscars - https://www.koenig-specials.com/