Kelmark gt car and driver

The kelmark gt was featured in the magazine car and driver in 1977 and 1979. Basically, you take a vw bug, remove the body, and put on the kelmark body, keeping the engine right where it is, and changing some interrior things. Kelmark information v8 registry celebrating our 26th. Aug 11, 2011 raymond tartaglias kelmark gt even at three decade old, it still wows them. What will happen next is building a midengine chassis. It is not an exact replica and it does not look nearly as good as some of the other dino replicas such as the karma but it definitely has its place in 1970s kit car history.

Their approach to conversion differed from the crown corv8 methods documented in the corv8 section of this site. This 1979 kelmark gt mark ii is a vwpowered fiberglass project car that has been with its current owner for 34 years. Rear view of a v8engined kelmark gt the final body design of the kelmark gt, as well as the kelmark ii, was 5 inches wider than an original ferraribuilt dino 246 gts in order to allow it to fit over a vw chassis. Todays nice price or crack pipe kelmark gt rocks two more than that.

This group is for all owners and fans from the legendary kelmark gt all over the world. He later sold the car to an enthusiast in florida who repainted it red. Jul 30, 2016 dino replica kelmark gt kit car mid engine exotic for sale. Kelmark engineering project gutenberg selfpublishing. The kelmark system mounted the engine 11 inches further back in the car than the crown conversion. The independence model was a fiberglass body kit for a volkswagen chassis, while the liberator model was more customized and could go on a tube frame, porsche or vw chassis or. The final body design of the kelmark gt, as well as the kelmark ii, was 5 inches wider than an original ferraribuilt dino 246 gts in order to allow it to fit over a vw chassis. Kelmark gt gts modular sports car kit kelmark engineering 1979. This was the tenth built by kelmark engineering, inc. The car had exterior styling that was distinctive for its debut in the beginning of 1974. Lets face it, kit cars dont have a stellar reputation. Its classic syling based off the dino 246, and the porsche 904 is always going to be a winner.

Kelmark gt toronado fast times, beautiful lines, kit cars, car and driver. White kelmark gt kit car for sale fiberglass kit car and. Mar 09, 2016 check out this white kelmark gt kit car for sale on craigslist. Raymond tartaglias kelmark gt featured vehicles kit car.

Find great deals on ebay for kelmark gt and kit cars replicas. This proved out the cars advanced aerodynamic and performance capabilities. At its introduction in 1969 the car was a flashy styling that is allegedly influenced by concept cars of ferrari. The kelmark gt was featured in the magazine car and driver in 1977 and. Don sherman of car and driver magazine drove a kelmark gt to an indicated 194 mph in the late 70s. Very little work needed to make this a nice driver. Its a lightweight fiberglass body, designed to be a cross between a ferrari dino and a ford gt40. A couple of years ago i found one on craigslist basic standard vw model at a real deal and purchased it. A stronger shaft is needed to withstand the torque of the v8 engine. Driving a 70s fiberglass car with 468 cubes under the hatch. Has a 1600cc engine and a 4 speed manual transmission that runs and drives. In search of v8 frame or blueprints kelmark gt owners group. Kelmark archives fiberglass kit car and handcrafted vehicle. Raymond has won seven car show trophies and two road races in his gt and uses it as his daily driver as well as an.

This kelmark gt body is made for volkswagen running gear, and will bolt straight to any standard beetle chassis. Aug 17, 2019 1972 kelmark gt, rearmounted type iv engine. Feb 04, 2019 the kelmark gt project is headed to texas for an epic rebuild. Kelmark is a conjunction of keller and markham, the two engineers who invented the setup. Very rare 1974 kelmark gt1 mark iii last 1 of 10 duration. February 1980 car and driver ferraris 308gt4 subaru 1600gl5.

Most were built on vw platforms, but some received a midengineering chassis with more powerful. It has period log books and texas registration from 1988. Kelmark gt with bigblock olds 455 power reincarnation magazine. Originally it was blue the other original options being white and yellow, but later i painted it yellow.

Bill porterfield, a former oldsmobile engineer, was responsible for the record breaking car. Built on a 1968 volkswagen bug, with an 1835 dual portdual carb. Jhammer1, i built my frame from a set of plans they gave me when i picked up the body. Kelmark gt with bigblock olds 455 power reincarnation. The kelmark gt is a kit car designed for volkswagen vw or corvair running gear. The style of the kelmark 1 gt coupe was copied directly from a dino 206 246. This is the car for you if you like to hide in a corner. This was an affordable way for a handy guy to build his own exotic car for driving fun and awing onlookers, especially members of the opposite sex. The car basically just sat as part of his collection and served as a conversation piece more than anything. Replicakit makes kelmark gt 1969 new parts include. Its rather large and a vision block when i saw a kelmark.

Long trips are easily made, but due to the small fuel tank, 11 gallons fuel stops are always in the plan. I restored it over the course of several years, then when it was perfect i had a nasty wreck the car rolled, both barrel and endoverend, and was totalled. According to the kelmark registry this is the only remaining 1974 kelmark gt 1 mark iii. This is a kelmark conversion, a chevy v8 mounted amidships and mated to a turned corvair transaxle. My kelmark gt is a little different, it was made from a 74 vw convertable. I personally like the kelmark gt kit car, i really do. Kelmark engineering was an us american manufacturer of kit cars, in okemos. Turn key no expense spared, over 40k cost to build. The gt was manufactured outside of lansing, michigan, and was available in a variety of kit or fully constructed forms in the 1970s and 1980s. Find the best used car deals for your search kelmark gt. Not really much to go by in the auction but it looks to be a good looking car and with a little work could. Complete rebuilt front suspension, with disc brake conversion. None of the models was produced in large numbers, but the gt was the most successful.

Kelmark gt for sale ferrari dino gt 1974 for sale in sussex. That work evolved to the creation of the kelmark gt, a kit car offered in various stages of completion, and in its ultimate iteration a midmounted engine driving through a repositioned. It focused on highperformance custom v8 drivetrain swaps, the modification and production of rear and midengined cars, and custombuilt turnkey automobiles the kelmark gt. That work evolved to the creation of the kelmark gt, a kit car offered in various stages of completion, and in its ultimate iteration a midmounted engine driving through a repositioned oldsmobile. Kelmark gt yellow body with lights lens covers door. Stunning ferrari red paint and custom interior custom built 2332cc motor built by don perrett. This was an affordable way for a handy guy to build his own exotic car for driving fun and awing onlookers, especially members of. The styling was inspired by the ferrari 206 dino gt, combining the lines of the dino with the astro ii xp880 mid engine 1968 corvette concept car.

The siva spyder is nice, the fiberfab aztec is always interesting, as is the aquila gullwing, and who doesnt love genaro rino malzonis puma gti but if you want a kit that looks like a ferrari dino, but isnt a total copy, the kelmark gt is a good bet. It was treated in the magazine car and driver in 1977 and 1979. That might be attributed in no small part to the bradley gt, manufactured by bradley automotive in minnesota starting in 1971. The main disadvantage of the kelmark conversion is that it requires the turning of the transaxle 180 degrees, flat, and connecting it to the engine with a bell housing adapter.

Mathematical calculations concluded the car topped out at 202. One piece fiberglass body on a 1970 vw chassis with removable door glass. Kelmark gt the next model iteration after the kelmark ii gt. This car is complete running and driving, and comfortably handles freeway speeds, the vw type 1 motor has been replaced with a type 4, 1800cc as would be found in a 914 porsche, with a new weber 2bbl. The rear brakes are rebuilt and the front brakes area new disc brake conversion, as well as a new master cylinder the brakes work fine but the pedal return spring needs to be replaced. My kelmark gt not for sale was built by my father many years ago. The kelmark gt is made to look like a ferrari dino. Kelmark gt kit car, including complete instructions, parts. Kelmark had split with midengineering by the time i picked up the body and i was told that they could no longer honor my original order from a year prior for the blueprints as. The kelmark gt is mainly remembered as a volkswagenpowered. But that said, i do have a couple of issues with the kelmark gt styling, first is the thickness of the a pillar. This facebook page is an extension of the kelmark gt owners group.

The carbs were just installed and could probably use some fine tuning. From the june 1982 issue of car and driver the distance from mammoth mountain to santa barbara, california, is 366 miles. The first kelmark gt was initially constructed as a v8 engine special. The car didnt have a motor, and the floorpans and frame head needed replaced, along with new wiring, brakes, and everything you can imagine of a car that has. Kelmark engineering produced these kits in the 70s and 80s. Please read full listing before bidding up for auction is a very rare 1983 kelmark gt kit car that my fatheracquired 10 years ago from indiana. Dino replica kelmark gt kit car mid engine exotic for sale. Replicakit makes kelmark gt 1969 new parts include used. Theres currently no engine in the kelmark, but the seller has well over a dozen vw parts cars on site if you wish to purchase a roller with a good motor. Raymond tartaglias kelmark gt featured vehicles kit.

Full text of kelmark gtgts modular sports car kit kelmark. Its rather large and a vision block when i saw a kelmark in person and sat in it. I restored it over the course of several years, then when it was perfect i had a nasty wreck the car rolled. This is how the car was set up when it was purchased by russ brandenburg. If i had to guess, id say this car was a replica, probably fiberglass, and probably engineless to make it easier to mount on the side of a building. Raymond tartaglias kelmark gt even at three decade old, it still wows them. And that, amigos, is quicker than a porsche carrera gt, a ferrari. Cars discover cool ford trucks would love to own one. Beautiful all the way around, this is the car youve always wanted, but just couldnt afford till now. If you want a volkswagen kit car that isnt a shameless ripoff of a timeless design, youve got a few good options to chose from. The turbine wheels are the perfect look for a car like this, and the kelmark will easily roll onto a trailer for transport.

Jun 04, 2019 1979 kelmark gt, ferrari dino replica kit car. Nov 14, 2014 if you want a volkswagen kit car that isnt a shameless ripoff of a timeless design, youve got a few good options to chose from. Oct 10, 2014 the kelmark gt is mainly remembered as a volkswagenpowered fiberglass kit car that could turn a standard beetle into a hotlooking ferrariesque sports coupe. Seller of classic cars 1968 replicakit makes kelmark gt. The kelmark gt is mainly remembered as a volkswagenpowered fiberglass kit car that could turn a standard beetle into a hotlooking ferrariesque sports coupe. Car in order to build this nice gatsby neoclassic, not your average kitcar, this is a full. The and just dropped the price on has far more presence than the bradley, but ive not seen a cimbria in person to determine how it sizes up. The kelmark gt went back to the smooth hood similar to what it used before on the kelmark 1 gt. Find the best used car deals for your search kelmark kitcar. Kelmark gt gts modular sports car kit kelmark engineering 1979 addeddate 20180106. Raymond has won seven car show trophies and two road races in his gt and uses it as his daily driver.