1974 Kelmark GT

1974 Kelmark GT (restored in 2008)

Odometer reads 6282 miles.

History - Kelmark Engineering got its start in Okemos, Michigan sometime around 1969 in the business of V8 conversions for Corvairs and Volkswagen Beetles. The company name was a combination of its founders, Russ Keller and Randy Markham, and was producing its own cars as soon as 1974 with the Kelmark I GT. The Kelmark II GT got the company closer to a commercially successful product in late ’74, as it was based on a VW platform, and looks continued to reflect the Ferrari Dino. But it was really the next model, the Kelmark GT, which netted the company some real success.
The GT was wider, enabling it to fit on a standard Beetle chassis, its glass was sourced from readily-available donors and offered in several different build configurations from builder’s kits to a full turnkey car. Beyond that, the GT was also offered in a number of special editions that accommodated upgraded power plants, like Mazda rotaries, Porsche and Corvair six-cylinders and Buick V6s. Kelmark even debuted a Toronado GT option that featured a tube chassis and Olds 425 and 455 ci V8s.
This particular Kelmark has a very special human story behind it. It’s about the dedication and drive of a 14-year-old kid to have and drive his first car and the supportive Father and Grandfather that were car enthusiasts and decided if the boy wanted a car fine, but he was going to learn something valuable in the process. Young Kelly was going to restore his very own GT car from the ground up! And that he did. Not only that, at 15, he wrote and published, at the request of a kit car magazine, a full article about the build progress. At 30, Kelly is now a Life Flight paramedic. His wife (also a paramedic) was very passionate when she said something that was one of my Dads favorite phrases, “man it rides like it’s on rails!”
I had the honor and privilege of buying his work of art after he had it 16 years. To Kelly… and all the rock solid folks like him...... Cheers!
More Karma – Look at the classic American Racing Hurricane turbine mag wheels on the car that the insides at painted orange. I did that on my first driving car 47 years ago! See the Pontiac Astre under Blasts from the Past. Also notice the Gulf Livery on the car. My grandad worked his entire career at Gulf in Port Arthur Tx. As such, Gulf and the Texas coast is very special to my family. See the Gulf Fire truck I painted with the same scheme to honor my Grandad under Other Vehicles/Yard Art.

Features - This car is built on a VW beetle chassis with a VW air cooled motor. It was ground up restored in 2008. The rebuilt engine and drive train have less than 1,000 miles on it!