AS MORE CARS BECOME ELECTRIC, THERE IS STILL A NEED FOR SOMETHING THAT CONVEYS THE EXACT FEELINGS A CAR GEEK DESIRES. THE HMC CLASSIC IS EXACTLY THE SAME CREATION THAT HIT EXACTLY WHERE IT'S GOING, IN THE HEART OF A CAR GEEK.

BY JAMES HOLM

SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED, Sweden has a new car brand that will strengthen our place on the world map of unique car models that are built for people who love to drive and look at their cars. HMC Classic has done what Christian Von Koenigsegg once did with his brand – make a dream come true!
The road to where we are today has been difficult, but Thomas Kümmerling, who is behind HMCHandMadeCars, chose the hard way. Instead of getting a nationally approved car, he chose to get it EU-approved, which means it will be able to be sold in most of the world. But the road to get there is far more difficult than just getting it nationally approved. But now they have succeeded and series production will soon be underway in the small idyllic town of Vadstena on the northeastern part of Lake Vättern.

THIS IS LIKE REWINDING THE TAPE AND GOING TO THE ROOTS OF WHAT PURE ENJOYMENT BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A SPORTS CAR SHOULD BE. BUT LET ME GET BACK TO THAT

The rest of the Kümmerling family is also involved in the business, his wife Åsa and the children Jacob and Cora, and they are all involved in HMCHandMadeCars. Mrs. Åsa has many responsibilities from administration to personnel and finance. In addition, she is primarily responsible for monitoring the quality system and ensuring compliance with ISO 9001 and 14001 standards. Her expertise is fundamental to the smooth running of HMCHandMadeCars' operations and the highest quality of their products. A technician named Edvardas Lybus is also part of the team. HMCHandMadeCars and ensures that everything is manufactured, that can be manufactured “in-house”, and sat in place. Son Jacob is studying law in Stockholm and is responsible for the marketing part, he is the company's strategist focused on reaching the right target group with the brand. Daughter Cora is studying to be a mechanical engineer

BOTH HORSES & CARS
As mentioned, the future factory will be located just outside Vadstena. There, the Kümmerling family has a large farm that was primarily intended for breeding horses. Cora and Åsa also run Kümmerlingqh, where they breed horses. They train and sell these horses all over Europe and have achieved success in competitions, which is a confirmation of their passion and skill in equestrian sports, including western riding. The cabinet with trophies and awards is full to the brim. The future car factory will move into a large arena. When it comes to production plans, they are aware that the number of cars is an important issue. They strive to have sustainable growth of 100 percent per year, but decisions will be made on the exact number of cars to be built based on factors such as market trends, production capacity and customer requirements. The goal is to meet demand while delivering high-quality products. The Swedish car press, including the undersigned, has visited and test-drove the HMC Classic and we were all incredibly impressed and very amused to take the roofless roadster for a ride in the beautiful surrounding landscape. the Kümmerling family yard. This is like rewinding the tape and going back to the roots of what pure enjoyment behind the wheel of a sports car should be. But let me get back to that.

A SIMPLE CONCEPT
The concept for the HMC Classic is admittedly simple, a rich and good-sounding V8 engine, short sound base, manual gearbox, direct steering, and plenty of grip via the four fat tires that sit on each corner of the car. Originally, this model, as many of you may know, originates from the famous
the model signed Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby and his Cobra model. Carroll Shelby decided to build the Cobra when he had to end his racing career due to heart problems. The concept was simple, a big and strong V8 engine built in the USA with a lightweight chassis with a European signature.
There have been many amateur-built Cobras built, but HMC Classic should not be confused with these. HMC Classic has its roots in South Africa and a company called Backdraft. Backdraft is run by a man called Tony Martin and since 2001 when it was started, approximately 5,000 cars have been built.

The heart of the HMC Classic is a V8 engine. The engine is Chevrolet-designed and of the type LS LT1. The gearbox is from Tremec and feels reliable even when driving hard. In the chassis, a large part of the parts are produced by BMW, which is a good sign since some of the parts are also originally built for the BMW M3 and M4. Cars that can really handle being driven hard but don't give in. To sit comfortably and properly, the styles are signed Recaro. Thanks to the parts I just mentioned and their reliability, you can do without electronic driver aids such as ABS brakes, anti-skid and autobrake. The only help available is power steering, which feels good as it would have been very heavy to steer with the wide tires on.

THANKS TO THE HEIGHT AND SIZE, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE FULL CONTROL AND IT'S NOT JUST A FEELING, YOU REALLY HAVE FULL CONTROL OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT THE CAR IS DOING

WITH FULL CONTROL
When you step into the HMC Classic, you immediately feel like you're getting into a different type of car. It's narrower and in the driver's seat your legs are slightly to the left because of the location of the engine and gearbox. The opposite is true on the passenger side. But you find your place pretty quickly and the long, slightly curved
The gear lever is at the perfect height and close to the steering wheel for full control. With a push of the start button the engine starts. The classic rumble that can only come from a V8 engine is a joy for a motoring enthusiast. I roll away with the car and out onto the nice roads around the farm. It really is an absolutely perfect environment for this car. Thanks to the height and size, you feel that you are in full control. And it is not just a feeling, you really are in full control of what happens and what the car does. This is a feeling that very few new cars can convey. The sometimes winding roads spread such joy in a driver who likes to be involved in the driving and with the HMC Classic you are rewarded 100 percent. About HMC Classic will be a success is not something I even need to think about. The question is rather how many cars can be produced in the small workshop and factory in Vadstena. My theory is that there will be a lot to do when the word spreads and the car becomes known outside Sweden's borders. Something you obviously want and work on, but a journey has to start somewhere and this one starts in Sweden and Vadstena.

HMCHANDMADECARS HMC CLASSIC
Motor Chevrolet LT1-V8, Euro 6.
Effect 460 hp.
Transmission Six-speed manual Tremec T56, BMW M3 E36 rear axle.
Chassis: Backdraft, BMW M3 E36 front and rear suspension.
Brakes: BMW M3 E36.
Rims: Halibrand 18-inch.
Deck: 245/35-18 front, 275/40-18 rear.
Body: Backdraft fiberglass.
Furnishings: Recaro Retro seats.
Weight 1,365 kg.
Measurements 3,88/1,85/