BBK Performance: A World-Leading Manufacturer With Grass Roots

The ‘80s were a very strange time for performance. Muscle cars of the era were essentially under-powered renditions of what were once sophisticated, high-performance vehicles. This isn’t to say the models produced weren’t full of potential, just that they suffered a harsh dose of reality as consumers came off two oil crises and entered a new dawn of compact affordability and federal regulations. Luckily, for those who still cared about big, fast, capable powerhouses—but accepted the more sustainable modern packaging— BBK Performance stepped on the scene in 1988 to fill a pretty big void in the market.

Passion and Foresight

BBK (which stands for “Brian, Barry, and Ken”—the three men responsible for getting the business off the ground) was the very first company to design and develop aftermarket air intake systems and performance throttle bodies for the then-newly fuel injected 5.0L Mustang and TPI Camaro models. At that time, other players in the game were still battling it out for king of the hill with carbureted applications while BBK set its sights on conquering the fuel injected segment—a relatively new concept for performance-minded manufacturers.

Planting roots in Southern California—a mecca for performance car culture and an undeniably rad place to be in the 1980s—the guys behind BBK quickly began to make a name for themselves. Today, the company has added to its San Diego headquarters with a location in Daytona Beach, Florida—another prime location for any and all who love things that go ZOOM. Between both spaces, BBK boasts nearly 200,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art design, manufacturing, and distribution capabilities, including R&D centers that feature a total of three dyno cells staffed by highly skilled craftsmen who, frankly, just love what they do.

“BBK has lived and breathed EFI performance for over 20 years. And now, we are taking that knowledge and experience to another level by introducing new performance applications for even more of today’s modern cars and trucks,” says the company.

A Seriously Robust Product Lineup

It’s no surprise that BBK is an industry leader in performance products for Ford, Chevy, Dodge and Jeep applications. The company’s product lineup extends to over 600 offerings. All of them are still produced with the same enthusiasm and dedication that was present on Day 1, 30 years ago.

That top-tier product line includes performance air intake systems that quite literally set the standard for what we know today, as well as fuel injection upgrades like throttle bodies and fuel systems that are responsible for cementing BBK as the leading force in the EFI segment.

Beyond air and fuel, BBK provides exhaust headers, hi-flow exhaust pipes, pulley kits, suspension components, and more for all late model Ford Mustangs, Camaro, Corvette, Dodge Charger, Challenger, Magnum, Chrysler 300, Jeep, the Ford F-series & GM full size trucks. BBK has set the bar and is known for providing buyers with superior performance upgrades.

Consistent Innovation

Looking at the world’s largest source of modern-day performance products for today’s cars and trucks, in an automotive market that grows larger every day, it’s only natural to wonder, “What’s new?”

Well, at SEMA 2018, BBK showcased its all-new throttle bodies for the latest 5.0L Mustang. Already dyno-proven to give real results when bolted in place, these 85mm and 90mm Power Plus Series throttle bodies increase airflow for additional horsepower, torque, and improved throttle response right out of the box. Each unit features a brand-new 356 aluminum casting that is CNC-machined and assembled with the highest quality components. And even better, they pop seamlessly onto the car with a plug-and-play setup, so gaining the extra oomph is as painless as possible.

Also new to the product lineup are throttle bodies for the 2015-2018 Ford Focus ST 2.0L EcoBoost and the new 6.2L Camaro and Corvette LT1 models. Similarly, both offerings provide guaranteed power gains via dyno testing and are easy to install.

Grassroots Enthusiasm

We mentioned that BBK is the brand to tip your hat to when it comes to the modern design of performance intake systems. But these guys are also to be credited for the concept of bolt-in headers. We all know that late-model cars have plenty of room to spare in the cabin—but under the hood is a different story. While it’s safe to assume other innovators would have eventually developed these products had BBK not gone to market first, we’re quite certain the quality of fit and finish would have paled in comparison. BBK’s dedication to providing aftermarket parts with OEM standards, at a competitive price point to boot, solidifies its position as an aftermarket performance leader.

Additionally, BBK understands that most enthusiasts develop their automotive passion on a shoestring budget. That’s why the company sells reconditioned products at discounts up to 40% off the normal cost. It’s worth noting that in this case, “reconditioned” often means a product was simply missing some hardware or the packaging was a little banged up. Even products that were returned just because the customer accidentally purchased the wrong part fall under this umbrella—meaning many shoppers can get just-about-near-new parts at a fraction of the price.

While other businesses are quick to repackage and resell a returned product (read: damaged) at a premium price, BBK’s customer service standards would never allow it. Better yet, these returned items go through an inspection and testing process and are given a full one year product warranty. So you can rest assured that low price does NOT mean low quality. (Check here for updates!)

Learn a Little Somethin’

You can tell a lot about a person by looking at their inspirations, who they keep close, and how they treat others. The same intuition applies to businesses. A company founded by those who put family and grassroots passion first, surely extends a certain level of care to its customer base. And a company that sets out to define an industry, surely follows a particular set of standards. BBK looked at the industry it knew and respected, found where it was lacking, and went about catering to that underserved part of the market with enthusiasm, principles, and family values. As the company likes to say, “Why follow when you can lead?” Why, indeed.