The König 500 was developed and raced by New Zealander Kim Newcombe while working for German outboard-engine manufacturer Dieter König. Its heart was a water-cooled, four-cylinder, two- stroke racing boat engine, adapted for motorcycle use and installed in a frame Newcombe designed.
It competed in the 500cc Grand Prix World Championship—the premier class that preceded today’s MotoGP. In 1973, Newcombe won the Yugoslavian Grand Prix and briefly led the championship, challenging the mighty factory teams with a small-budget operation.
Tragically, Newcombe died following a crash at a non-championship race at Silverstone in August 1973. He finished the championship posthumously in second place, behind Phil Read and ahead of Giacomo Agostini. An extraordinary achievement for the Kiwi who helped build, develop and race the machine.
