One to Buy: 1987 Koenig Specials Ferrari Testarossa chassis FTR 001
Of all the myriad German tuners that sprung up in the 1970s and 80s, it was Willy Koenig’s company from Munich that arguably pushed the boundaries of styling and performance more than any other.
Koenig Specials famously worked its magic on domestic machinery like Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. However, it all started with Ferrari’s BB during the mid 1970s and the products from Maranello became the basis for Willy Koenig’s most spectacular creations.
After Ferrari launched the Testarossa at the Paris Motor Show in October 1984 it was only a matter of time before a Koenig version came on stream. What emerged did not disappoint. Performance-wise the resultant Koenig Competition bridged the gap to the subsequent F40 and to many it looked even better than Pininfarina’s original design for the Testarossa.
Currently on offer with Bingo Sports in Tokyo is this 1987 Testarossa that bears Koenig FTR chassis number 001.
It underwent a major conversion at the Koenig headquarters in Germany when new to include the company’s twin turbocharged engine along with uprated suspension, brakes and wheels / tyres.
Koenig also carried out a full exterior makeover; 001 features the trademark covered headlights, de-straked widebody conversion, twin pylon rear wing and enlarged front spoiler. Cooling was significantly improved thanks to much bigger vents and intake ducting.
Outside of Germany, Japan was the number one market for Koenig’s products and chassis 001 was originally delivered via the official importer, Car Craft.
Reprinted below is Bingo Sports’ description for this epic 1980s Euro tuning super special:
The 1987 Ferrari Testarossa Koenig is a limited edition, high-performance sports car built by German tuning company Koenig Specials. It features a widebody design, with flared fenders and an aerodynamic body kit, significantly different than the original Testarossa. It’s powered by a 4.9-liter flat-12 twin turbo engine that produces an impressive 540 horsepower, an upgrade over the original’s 385 horsepower. Other modifications include upgraded suspension and braking systems, as well as a five-speed manual transmission. With only a handful of these cars produced, it’s a true collector’s item and a must-have for car enthusiasts.
While the exact number of Testarossa’s modified by Koenig Specials is not clear, it is estimated that only 20-25 were built. This example was purchased from the official importer Car Craft and comes with the original Koening Competition attache case made in carbon fibre (SN.001).
Koenig VIN: KSFTR WIM88J0001
Ferrari VIN: ZFFAA17B000072799
Featured image by Ken Saito (@kenmsaito)
