The phrase restomod has become the go-to term for cars like ours, though perhaps its not

quite the right term for the type of cars being produced nowadays? When the term first

originated many were bolting off-the-shelf newer parts to older cars, now we prototype and

engineer our own components, bespoke for the car, so the game has moved on somewhat.

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At KAMM we believe our cars should retain the same character, the same DNA, as when it

was originally produced. They should evoke the same feelings today as they did on the day

they were new. The reasons for that are wide and varied, but one of the main ones is

simple. We all enjoy a classic car - the shape, the emotion, the thrill, the style but, in today’s

world, we don’t want to spend more time fixing than driving or setting out for a drive with a

toolbox in the boot just in case roadside repairs are needed. We want the style, the joy and

the analogue driving experience, but with a touch more convenience and a healthy increase

in power and performance.

And that convenience doesn’t mean we want a modern car. Sure, some air-conditioning

would be nice, somewhere to charge a phone perhaps, and it would be great if it started

every time, had a bit more power and stopped safely when you wanted it to. Though there

are some things you will never find on a KAMM. Our cars don’t have touch-screens, we

don’t offer huge wheels, wide-arches, fancy lighting or any extra addition that doesn’t have

a reason to be there. We offer just enough to enhance the 1960s driving experience, but

with a delicate balance to ensure the car is not overly modernised.

Visually a KAMM looks like it came from the 1960s, and that isn’t easy. Not only do we

create most of our upgraded components from scratch, but we also then have to ensure

they fit without altering the visual appearance of the interior or exterior of the car. An

example of this is the brakes – we had to upgrade the brakes to suit the performance of the

car but didn’t want a wheel any bigger than 15-inch. Of course, we found the perfect

solution, but it took months of trial and error even though going to a 16-inch wheel would

have opened up a wide-range of easier options. Even though every KAMM 912c is packed

with technology, almost every part of that is hidden.

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And if you want an example of our extreme attention to detail, Try this. The gear-lever in a

912 is positioned close to the dashboard with a lever angled towards the driver. It makes for

a long-throw and the driver risks punching the dash mid-change. We spent hundreds of

hours repositioning that shift to a more driver-focused position, adding shorter ratios,

manufacturing our own short-shift and finishing with a straight carbonfibre shaft. Many

would not notice when glancing into the cabin, but drivers appreciate the detail whist

driving enthusiastically. Of course, this modification looks period-correct, too.

As for power, we like to keep that simple too. We take the original 616 motor (originally

90hp) and utilise 3-years of prototyping and thousands of dyno hours to create a 200hp,

naturally-aspirated, 4-cylinder KAMM engine, now 2.0 litres over the original 1.6. Light in

weight and revvy in nature, this motor demands the owner to drive the car, to rev, to

change gear – the driver is in control. As the car weights between 699-750kg, 200hp is

plenty, and the 4-cylinder NA motor remains true to the cars character.

To conclude, our method is simple. Thoroughly and meticulously restored the donor car.

Make the car as light and as rigid as possible. Add bespoke elements to improve driveability

and performance. Create a cabin with just enough comfort for the occupants. Design every

element to look as period-correct as possible. The result is an extremely capable, extremely

useable classic, with enough performance to satisfy any driving enthusiast who wants to

drive with classic style.

If that sounds like your sort of car, please contact us for more information.

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