The forgotten story of the Mercedes 560 SEC Koenig Specials, the W126 that looked and drove like a supercar in the 80s

Mercedes-Benz in the W126 generation was rightly one of the most adored models that the German manufacturer has ever produced. An exceptional quality of assembly, abundant overengineering implanted in every detail, a strong presence and exceptional comfort in progress — these were the qualities that consecrated it. And the coupe version, with the index C126 and usually with the inscriptions SEC on the trunk, was even rarer and more exclusive than the four-door model. It was a model that looked so good and was so thoroughly engineered that it inspired a lot of workshops to create ultimate poses with even higher performance.

The modified versions were usually based on the top engine, the 500 SEC, then, from 1985, the 560 SEC version, which had a 5.6-liter V8 under the hood, capable of delivering 268 hp. It was a large, well-built V8 engine, very relaxed in its stock version, and that made it perfect for tuning shops, which could push it into performance increases.

There have been countless performance versions of this model. But probably the most ambitious and memorable for fans of the model remained the 560 SEC Koenig Special pose, created by the Koenig workshop in Germany. The workshop no longer exists today, but back then it managed to gain fame, even if it had only been founded in 1977, by the retired racing driver Willy Koenig. The workshop mainly modified Mercedes, Ferrari and Porsche models.

Koenig created the first kit for the 560 SEC in 1985, and the second in 1989. The car not only had more prominent bumpers with larger air intakes, but was also wider and more flared, reminding the Ferrari Testarossa cues of those years. The front fenders were significantly wider, giving rise to a protrusion along the entire length of the car, which went up into the rear fender area and also had massive intakes in the wheel areas there. But there were also versions without incisions in that back area.

These strongly flared rear wings evolved with a line that drifted towards a trunk spoiler, the rear bumper also being wider and starting from the wider area of ​​the rear wings. Inevitably, the wheels were also wider, to better transfer the increased performance to the asphalt.

Of course, it's also about increased performance, not just appearance. Koening had applied an Albrex mechanical supercharger to the M117 engine, with an intercooler, which increased the power of the V8 from 268 hp to 400 hp!

All this package came with BBS wheels, modified suspension and bigger brakes. Naturally, the exhaust system was also modified, to better emphasize the new sound of the supercharged V8 engine. The car was, thus, significantly tighter, faster and louder, and thanks to its appearance, it had become an admired legend on the middle pages of magazines, only good to hang on the walls of the rooms.

The car was produced until 1991, and estimates show that not even 1,000 Mercedes 560 SEC Koening Specials were produced.

Today they can still be found very rarely, through Europe, Japan, the Middle East or USA, where they were mainly sold, but they are usually kept in private collections hidden from the eyes of the world, and the sale prices of the cars in decent condition go from $150,000 upwards.

Few know about them. But surely the Koenig Specials is among the most seasoned, maybe even the most fascinating version that this glorious model from Mercedes-Benz has ever had!