Kelmark Engineering

Kelmark Engineering was an American automotive specialty shop established in 1969 and based in Okemos, Michigan.

It focused on high-performance custom V8 drivetrain swaps, the modification and production of rear and mid-engined cars, and custom-built turn-key automobiles (the Kelmark GT).

Until 1986, Kelmark Engineering manufactured kits and complete, finished, turn-key vehicles which were either Volkswagen-based or built on tubular race car-type frames.

Early on Kelmark gained a reputation as an innovator starting with V8 conversions for Volkswagen Beetles and Chevrolet Corvairs.

[2] This mid-engine conversion turned the rear-engined Chevrolet Corvair transaxle around 180 degrees and used a special bell housing and input shaft to bolt the V8 where the stock air-cooled engine would normally be connected.

The main advantage of the Kelmark Conversion is increased power and good engine placement in terms of weight distribution.

The main disadvantage of the Kelmark Conversion is that it requires rotating the transaxle 180° in the flat plane, and connecting it to the engine with a bell housing adapter.

When Corvair transaxles started to be used in high performance applications the differential again being a weak spot was modified by adding two more pinion gears.

Back then a CIDCO transaxle could be purchased, this stands for Corvair Improvement Distributing Company as owned by Bob Anderson.

In late 1974 Kelmark Engineering decided to adapt it to fit the Type 1 Volkswagen Beetle chassis.

One of these models was outfitted with a highly tuned, Chevrolet big-block 454 cubic inch engine and was tested by Car and Driver and broke the 200 mph barrier.

This special chassis utilized the Oldsmobile Toronado Turbo-Hydamatic 425 transaxle behind a 700 hp Chevrolet ZL-1, 454 big-block motor.

The Mid-Engineering chassis used Chevrolet Corvette rear suspension arms and custom half shafts to allow wide performance tires.

In these same tests, which were completed by Road and Track, with Le Mans winning Paul Frere and Formula One champ Phil Hill driving, the Ferrari Testarossa, Lamborghini Countach 5000S and AMG Hammer Mercedes-Benz 300E all failed to break 200 mph.