A very rare Mercedes 560 Koenig Specials was sold on an auction platform.
Koenig Specials GmbH (Koenig for short) is a German tuner located in Munich that became famous by modifying Ferrari models in the 80’s and 90’s. Some of their famous achievements are a twin turbo Ferrari Testarossa with extensive mody modifications that made it look like a Ferrari F40 and was called Ferrari Testarossa Koenig Competition. It developed 1000 HP, a huge power for those times.
Koenig also tuned Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar and Lamborghini models and was one of the first tuners specialised in modifying expensive exotic models.
The company still exists today and it is interesting to note that their website has a very pixelated resolution that reminds us of the early years of the internet. And the list of Mercedes models includes very popular models such as the SL R129 or the W126 SEC (S-Class coupe of that time).
Mercedes S-Class Coupe is out of production because the new generation S-Class does not have anymore a coupe version. Mercedes has decided to invest the funds in the electrification and in the new dedicated electric platforms.
The example offered for auction on the Auctomobile website is an original Koenig model and not just a wide body kit. This Mercedes 560 Koenig Specials derived from a Mercedes 560 SEC is one of only about 100 units built directly by Koenig and has just over 20,000 km on board. The car is from 1989 and has had only two owners, both collectors.
The second owner who is from the Czech Republic and who has now put it up for sale bought it from a classic collector in Dubai. He had a lot of trouble transporting the car from Dubai to the Czech Republic because of the width and the very low suspension, the transport company did not know how to anchor it to transport it by container by sea.
Therefore, the car was transported by cargo plane which was very expensive.
Under the bonnet works the Mercedes 560 SEC’s 5.5-litre V8 engine developing 279 HP and 430Nm, mated to a 4-speed automatic gearbox. Top speed is 240 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.2 sec (0-60 mph 6.8 sec). The model is painted in Midnight blue and has a blue leather interior with natural wood inserts. The car has a wide body kit and 275/35 R18 95Y tyres fitted to 9.5J x 18 rims at the front and 335/30 ZR18 102 Y tyres fitted to 13.5J x 18 rims at the rear.
Initially, the car was put up for auction and the Brno dealer who put it up for sale asked a minimum price of 135,000 euros. On 8 June the car was sold, the dealer accepting the price offered by a private buyer.
It is a justified price for a luxury Mercedes coupe modified by Koenig that is in almost new condition and has so few kilometers on board.