Tuesday 2nd April 2013

Ferrari 348 TS Koenig: Spotted

Love it or loathe it, this wide-bodied twin-turbo Ferrari is certainly... ahem... unusual

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There’s a certain taboo surrounding the idea of a modified Ferrari. Messing with something as supposedly sublime as Modena’s finest is enough to cause a sharp intake of breath among any car nut – even if it just involves some gentle tweakery of engine or suspension.

Wide arches are a touch excessive...

What you see before you, however, is not gentle tweakery. This particular 348 TS has been subject to a hefty whack with the bodykit stick, combined with a socking great thump of extra power supplied by a pair of turbos strapped to the original 3.4-litre V8. Subtle, it is not. There will be those that consider it an all-out assault on the attractive lines and sonorous V8 of the standard car. But equally, there will be those that reckon it adds an amusing dollop of OTT aggression, not to mention earth-shattering performance, to what would otherwise be a fairly ‘ordinary’ (if any Ferrari can be called such a thing) 348.

Whichever side of the fence you come down on, you must admit that the 4.4-second 0-62mph time quoted in the advert is really very quick, even by modern standards. And its exclusivity is beyond reproach; the seller reckons it’s one of only two cars in the UK, and there can be few more across the rest of the globe. What’s more, if, as the seller suggests, a Bonhams value of £50,000-60,000 has indeed been placed on the car, the asking price of £34,995 seems something of a steal.

... it does have a 550hp twin-turbo, though

Of course, the bodykit does give this 348 an overwhelming whiff of ‘I wanted an F40, but I couldn’t afford one’.  Which is, frankly, not cool. We’ve seen Ferrari replicas before, of course, but usually they’re made out of Toyota MR2s or Peugeot 406 Coupes – not other Ferraris. And the not-at-all-hardcore targa top doesn’t exactly sit well with the motorsport-style slatted engine cover and deep-dish split-rim wheels; indeed, one wonders just how well the roofless shell copes with the extra twist of that turbo conversion. Snap oversteer, anyone?

We’re not entirely sure what to make of this 348, then. On the one hand, we want to deride it for being an overblown fibreglass-laden lump that’s trying to be something it’s not – but on the other, its cartoonish kit and mammoth power both give it an appeal as a snapshot of the gaudy excess of 80s supercar culture. So what do you reckon, PH – nouveau-riche nightmare or superlative supercar oddity?

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FERRARI 348 TS KOENIG
Engine: 3,405cc V8, twin-turbo
Transmission: Five-speed transverse manual, RWD
Power (hp): 550
Torque (lb ft): N/A
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1990
Recorded mileage: 8,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £34,995

See the original advert here

[365daytonafan]

It's been advertised on several sites (eBAY and carandclassic) for at least 3-4 months suggesting the selling price is on the high side rather than a bargain to be snapped up.

[TrivsTom]

Love it or loathe it, that's a lot of car for the money!

[edo]

I dont mind the engine mods, but the body manages to look like an F40 replica based on an Mr2. Fail.

[Du1point8]

Slow news day in PH towers?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[mackie1]

I like Koenig Ferraris.

[Lawrence5]

I seem to remember cutting a picture of that car out of a magazine and pinning it to the wall in my teenage bedroom.


I would

[samoht]

Given as the real F40 was a development of the 308 (via the 288 GTO and Evoluzione), it seems at least conceptually reasonable to develop a parallel evolution based upon the 348.

However, the idea of dealing with the allegedly-not-so-smart 348 chassis with an aftermarket old-tech turbo conversion does make it seem something of a potential nightmare, both on the road and to maintain. I suppose the proof of the pudding would be in the driving - I'm sure if the sellers can get a magazine feature they could probably find a buyer.

[Du1point8]

something about missing all its history too that might cause no interest.

[Cotty]

Du1point8 said:

Slow news day in PH towers?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Perhaps someone hit the [news] button on that thread and the story got boosted to the front page.

[300bhp/ton]

How can anyone spend so much modding such a car to only cover 8000 miles in 23 years? 347 miles a year on average....

[chrisironside]

If it wasn't for the fact the F40 existed this would look like a well modded car.

[kambites]

I think I prefer the looks of the standard 348.

[anonymous-user]

[Altrezia]

Looks better than a stock 348

[Hasbeen]

And people have the hide to say a Triumph TR7 is ugly!

[redlinecal]

Just looks too much like a kit car/wannabe F40 as stated.

Engine does sound fun though. Like a real life Forza Motorsport spec car.

[Aids0G]

I quite like that.......

[Cheib]

It would be a lot more offensive if it was based on virtually any other Ferrari two seater....but seeing as it's based on a 348.....

[GranCab]

300bhp/ton said:

How can anyone spend so much modding such a car to only cover 8000 miles in 23 years? 347 miles a year on average....

That just shows how useable it is - not ...

[petemurphy]

oooh sure that was in my old dream cars book i received for christmas many years ago - lovely.