A trip down memory lane
with Tiburon
4 minute read
In 1996, Hyundai introduced the Tiburon, the company’s first independently designed sports model. For many, it was the car that defined their youth. Now, nearly 30 years later, a group of enthusiasts has come together to restore a model and relive that memorable era. This is the first article in our two-part series, documenting the restoration from rusty start to a fantastic finish.
Restoring and reliving
It’s one thing to feel nostalgic about the Tiburon, but restoring a weathered, almost 30-year-old model to its former ‘like-new’ glory is quite another. For project lead Jang-hyuk Heo, the entire undertaking had a twofold goal: to give something back to the car that ignited his imagination all those years ago and to recapture that sense of contagious youthful enthusiasm and share it with like-minded project members. As a man with a deep attachment to this special vehicle, Jang-hyuk Heo has chaired a Tiburon Owner Group club in the past. Now, a Tiburon is part of his future.
Go for bold
Korea’s economic boom, known as ‘The Miracle on the Han River,’ set the stage for the launch of the Tiburon. Back then, Hyundai was seemingly light years away from reaching its 100 millionth car milestone, which it achieved last year. In fact, in 1975, there were only about 200,000 registered cars in the country – a far cry from the 25 million vehicles today. It was during this vibrant time of technical advancement and design experimentation that Hyundai’s sportscar heritage began.
The Tiburon was Korea’s first fully independent sports car, from design to engine, to platform. Kyu-hyuk Kwon, Senior Manager of Hyundai’s Brand Heritage Team
The car that broke boundaries
and won hearts
As a true game-changer, using in-house technology, the Tiburon played a crucial role in establishing Hyundai as the leading automotive manufacturer it is today. Its introduction back then as Korea’s first fully independent sports model heralded the launch of the country’s domestic sports car market. With its sleek, sporty design and a beta engine capable of producing up to 150 horsepower, the Tiburon instantly captivated and inspired an entire generation of young drivers and is credited with opening a new era for domestic motorsports and car tuning culture.
By transforming the Korean automotive landscape, the Tiburon helped give rise to numerous car clubs that united people in their passion for the vehicle. While overall sales were not as expected, the Tiburon won considerable praise at home and abroad and still boasts an impressive international network of dedicated enthusiasts.
The making of Korean motorsports
The Tiburon thoroughly shook up the Korean automotive scene - especially in the field of motorsports. Before its debut, most races in Korea were on dirt roads. Then, in 1995, the Everland Speedway in Yongin opened its doors to professional competitive racing. It was there that the Tiburon demonstrated what it was capable of and quickly became a top performer. Its popularity and winning track record soon attracted sponsors and further moved motorsport into the Korean mainstream. This led to a boom in the domestic tuning market, with enthusiasts modifying their cars to mimic the race versions they saw on TV.
A racing legend helped make it a legend
As one of Korea’s first-generation racers, Jung-yong Park was instrumental in launching the Tiburon into the rally-driving arena. In his role as the familiar face behind the wheel of the Tiburon, he dominated the early domestic racing scene. He was also the first Korean to compete in the grueling Paris-Dakar Rally in 1988, earning him legendary status in Korean motorsports.
The arrival of the Tiburon completely changed the atmosphere in Korean racing. Its superior performance made it the dominant car in the field. Jung-yong Park, Retired professor at Ajou Motor College and former rally driver
Still inspiring the next generation
Even today, the Tiburon continues to be a source of inspiration for Hyundai engineers and designers. Joon-woo Park, HQ Head of the N Brand Management Team, paid tribute to the Tiburon in a 2021 Elantra N world premiere video. The short film shows a young man whose passion for performance cars was formed by first driving the Tiburon. Later in the video, he is now a racecar driver, having graduated to the N-series. The message: Tiburon holds a special place in Hyundai’s history, and many of those it inspired went on to shape Korea’s automotive industry as we know it today.
The road toward completion
As for Jang-hyuk-Heo, the restoration of the almost 30-year-old Tiburon is a journey in itself. For him, getting it back to racing conditions is both a challenge and a labor of love. But one thing is already guaranteed – with every restorative measure, Heo can reconnect with that excitement and fresh drive he had as a young man and put it on the road.
But that’s a story for the next chapter. Until then!
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