Last month, Kindred Motorworks launched their first production model of their new Kindred Bronco. A small classic car company based in the very cool Mare Island in Vallejo, California not far from where Luftgekühlt 9 was held. Specializing in building new reproductions of classic cars, Kindred stands alone in their commitment to cool. Currently they have three models in their plans, the Ford Bronco, VW Bus, and a Chevy 3100 pickup. As of now, only the Bronco is in production, but that isn’t stopping Kindred from growing like crazy. The team is small like most start-ups but you can get a sense that these are truly car passionate people from their website. They describe their mission as “Kindred Motorworks builds vehicles that combine nostalgia, timeless design and character of the past with today’s safety, reliability and performance.” A simple but effective one that should make any enthusiast excited. Basically, Kindred wants to build badass old cars with modern features. What’s not to like?

In order to understand what makes Kindred so cool, we need to dive into their Ford Bronco model. Giving Singer Porsche vibes, the car is built inhouse from the ground up. It’s not a simple refresh with some new paint. Every nook and cranny of the car has been cleaned, modified, and perfected. A fresh, clean and modern interior the best part as it shows off what’s possible. With older cars, you expect them to be, well, old. With the modernization Kindred is doing, the Bronco interior looks much closer so something rolling off the current Ford production line than a reproduction. With looks and comfort checked off the list, Kindred decided to modernize the drivetrain as well. Firstly, front and rear disc brakes are a massive upgrade to the Bronco. Modern car braking performance isn’t even worth comparing to what the stock standard cars had from the 60s and 70s. But they will definitely be needed as the best part of this retro build is the Kindred Bronco has a 46-hp Gen 3 Coyote V8 hiding underneath the hood. Giving an old Bronco current Mustang performance is the kind of lunacy I can get behind. For more details on the specs, check out the Spec Sheet.

Fast, fun, and beautiful, no wonder Kindred is getting so much hype right now. They know exactly what they are doing and what the current market is looking for. Its a dangerous combination for any competitors. The only downside to this new Bronco, and it is a MASSIVE downside, is the price. Starting at $169,000, its not the most affordable car on the market. While you wont see me in one anytime soon, it seems like a bargain with old, destroyed originals getting close to 6-figures these day. Hopefully, Kindred can start producing them at a lesser cost as they start to roll out more models and get some traction with their sales. One can only hope, otherwise I’m going to need a few zeros added to my current salary before i’m knocking on their door. 

In addition to the Bronco, Kindred is release a VW Bus and Chevy 3100. Both of these option will be built with fully electric powerplants. The electric system, which will be an option soon on the Bronco, is quite impressive. With a lighter system, the old cars will have a range of 200 miles. While less than you’d probably need for a daily driver or road trip, 200 miles is perfect for a classic car. Aside from a weekend cruise or a car show, I can’t imagine anyone driving one more than that in a day. A 6-figure classic electric car is not my ideal choice for a long-distance road trip, so I think it’s the perfect happy medium. And a very important callout to electric car conversion on classics, is that there is no long an engine. I know, it seems obvious, but without the old engine, you remove the issues of classic car ownership. No carburetors, or hard to find parts to drive you insane, just the bliss of hoping in your classic and taking it for a spin without worry about if its going to make the trip.

What I love about Kindred is that they are not aligned to a specific brand or platform. They offer german or american, trucks or buses, gas or electric, anything you want. This enables them to pivot with changes in the market and bring whatever they want to the table. Imagine american like mustangs, cameros, or cobras, or european classics like e30s or even old ferraris. Could you imagine an electric version of the Ferris Bueller Ferrari GT Califonia? The options are limitless.

Kindred Motorworks is not just rewriting the story of the Ford Bronco; it’s reshaping our perception of classic cars as a whole. In their meticulous craftsmanship and forward-thinking approach, Kindred paves the way for a future where the lines between old and new blur, and the legends of the past continue to inspire generations to come. In a world where car culture is getting pushed out by boring hybrids and mega SUVs, let’s embrace the little guys who stand up for enthusiasts. Put Kindred on your radar and let’s pray they can build an empire of bas ass classic cars reproduction.