Kindred Motorworks, based in Mare Island, Calif., is reviving the iconic Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus with a modern electric drivetrain, targeting affluent buyers seeking nostalgia with contemporary performance. The restomod combines vintage charm—like the 23-window configuration and Sunshine Yellow paint—with upgrades such as heated seats, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Unlike the slow-selling ID.
Buzz from Volkswagen, Kindred’s version offers robust power, solving the original bus’s lack of acceleration. The conversion requires 1,500 work hours and is priced at $275,000, with plans to build 12 units in the first year. The bus retains classic features like a horizontal steering wheel and swivel seats but replaces the primitive heater and weak engine with modern E.
V. technology. Test drivers praised its performance on highways, though the antique steering wheel remains a notable challenge.
Source: New York Times Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing