Automobile Mercedes Benz 450 SLC Koenig-Specials Widebody 1973 in vendita

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Chassis No. 107.024.12.005556

Koenig-Specials emerged from one enthusiast's pursuit of automotive excellence in the late 1970s. After acquiring an early Ferrari 365 GT4 BB in West Germany, professional racing driver and 1962 German Hillclimb Champion Willy König found its factory performance lacking. He embarked on a comprehensive development program to enhance both the performance and the visual presence of his new Berlinetta Boxer. What began as a private endeavor quickly attracted attention from other Ferrari owners, who commissioned Koenig to apply similar modifications to their cars. This organic growth led to the establishment of a specialized tuning house, which soon expanded beyond Ferrari to encompass Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, and Lamborghini. Koenig-Specials' work would go on to shape the landscape of high-performance car modification throughout the 1980s and beyond.

Wearing a striking two-tone silver and red wave livery, chassis number 005556 is thought to be among the earliest C107 450 SLCs to receive the full Koenig-Specials wide-body conversion, built in-period by Willy König and his team while in the care of its first German owner. The treatment encompasses expansive fender flares, deep front and rear spoilers, Testarossa-style side strakes-the full visual vocabulary of Koenig's signature aesthetic during the firm's flamboyant early era. Gold-center, staggered 15-inch BBS wheels complete the car's unmistakable stance.

The cabin is trimmed in red leather throughout and features burl wood trim and a matching shift knob, a wood-rim Raid-branded steering wheel, a wood-grain facia Blaupunkt Modena RD 148 radio, Blaupunkt speakers mounted in the rear package shelf, and Persian-style floor mats. The 4.5-liter M117 V8, rated at 222 horsepower from the factory, has been elevated with characteristic chromed components including the air cleaner, valve covers, and coolant reservoir. The exhaust features a muffler delete which contributes a notably muscular idle and exhaust note befitting the car's outward presentation. The original steel rear trailing arms have been replaced with aluminum units incorporating anti-squat geometry.

A copy of the car's Fahrzeugbrief registration document records its first registration in Germany on 15 November 1973 as well as its list of modifications. Franz Nidetzky is listed as a registered owner from 1988, while a selection of invoices on file document continued maintenance in his care in Germany through at least 2010 by Kahl Erding, Reifen Pfleger, Kühlerbau Schneider, and Mercedes-Benz authorized service Franz Zwerenz. Austrian motorway toll stickers dated July and August 2003 remain affixed to the windshield. The car was imported to the United States in 2021, where it entered The Patina Collective and now displays just over 217,000 kilometers or approximately 135,000 miles at the time of cataloging.

The exterior bodywork from the original KS conversion shows minor cracks and bubbling in the finish in areas, while the interior upholstery shows light patina consistent with five decades of honest use, and the steering wheel exhibits spider cracks on its center. Surviving cars from Koenig-Specials' earliest commercial period rarely surface with original modifications intact, making chassis 005556 a meaningful document of a singular chapter in the German tuning tradition. It is joined by its original spare, warning triangle, and a handheld warning lamp.

Please note that while the seller has confirmed this car was started and able to idle, it has been in static storage for an extended period and should receive additional mechanical servicing prior to road use.

1973 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC Koenig-Specials Widebody | Global Icons: The Patina Collective

1973 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC Koenig-Specials Widebody | Global Icons: The Patina Collective

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