There’s no feeling like hitting the open road in a vintage car—but actually maintaining one is an entirely different story, with mechanical issues, hard-to-find parts, and poor performance. Now, one company is on a mission to deliver on both the promises of classic car ownership, and the realities of it.

New California start-up Kindred Motorworks takes unrestored classic cars and gives them an inside out overhaul, turning them into modern vehicles with respect to the makers’ original visions. First up from the company are a Bronco, VW Bus, and Camaro LT, each with its beloved lines, but with head-turning paint jobs, fresh interior finishes, and, with new combustion engines, a break at the gas pump.

Bringing cars like these up to speed typically isn’t a process you can rush, says Kindred’s founder, tech entrepreneur and classic-car hobbyist Rob Howard. “I had a notebook where I kept track of everything I did on the car,” he recalls. “One day, I realized how complex it was and knew I could organize it in a much more efficient way using technology.”

In essence, he put the time in up front to reduce turnaround on the backend. According to Howard, he and his team put in more than 10,000 hours prototyping, testing, and designing each model before making them available for pre-order.

With such detailed knowledge of every aspect of that particular model and the benefit of having all specialists under one roof, Howard claims the team is able to complete a restoration in less than half the time it would typically take a local shop.

The three cars can be ordered with combustion engines, or as EVs. More vehicles, including a model based on the 1947 to 1953 Chevrolet 3100, will be launched later this year to complete the 2022 lineup.

Diehard classic car aficionados who take joy in endless tinkering might not be ready to trade up to a Kindred model, but these reimagined classics are sure to find a dedicated fanbase who want the best of both worlds: old-school style and the comfort and reliability of the new.

Preorders for Kindred Motorworks’ lineup of 2022 vehicles launch August 19.

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This California Company Is Bringing Classic Cars Into the Future