Kindred Motorworks: Steering Vintage Icons Toward a Modern Future on Mare Island in California

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Kindred Motorworks: Steering Vintage Icons Toward a Modern Future on Mare Island in California

ibby
10/26 — 2025

On Mare Island, California, Kindred Motorworks transforms vintage icons into modern masterpieces—blending classic style with cutting-edge design and tech.

Walk through the doors of Kindred Motorworks’ 100-square-foot headquarters on Mare Island in Vallejo, California and you’re immediately struck by the hum of creation. The space, once a naval shipyard, is now a cathedral of modern craftsmanship. On one side, gleaming vintage Ford Broncos in various stages of rebirth. On another, Volkswagen Buses stripped, restored, and reimagined for today.

This is no ordinary assembly line. Behind every vehicle are more than 10,000 hours of prototyping, testing, and designing to ensure the reliability and performance of a modern car. Every detail, from Italian leather upholstery and stitching to the drivetrain, has been reconsidered. Customers can choose between gas-powered builds or fully electric versions, bridging nostalgia with future-forward sustainability.

The Founder’s Vision

Kindred was founded in 2019 by Rob Howard, whose automotive love started early with Matchbox cars, Road & Track magazines, and Porsche 911 posters taped to his bedroom wall. But the real spark came in Philadelphia, working alongside his dad and brothers to fix whatever broke in their house.

Howard recalls:

“Whenever something broke, it was me, my brothers, and my dad who grabbed the wrenches, got our hands dirty, and figured out how to make it work again. That instinct—to fix, to learn, to bring something back to life, became a lifelong passion.”

That passion shaped Kindred’s ethos. As Howard puts it:

“What if restoration were streamlined, transparent, and modernized, so enthusiasts like me could spend less time chasing parts and more time enjoying the drive?”

Kindred was born from that idea, to make the dream of owning a vintage vehicle possible without the constant headaches of repair.

The Team Behind the Builds

Kindred today is more than a founder’s vision. It’s a team of over 100 employees including technicians, software developers, and mechanical engineers, all working in harmony to bring each vehicle back to life. This diverse crew embodies the dual spirit of the company: honoring classic design while building with the precision of modern technology. Their collective expertise ensures that every Bronco, VW Bus or other special project rolling off the line is equal parts heritage and innovation.

Branding and Design

The Kindred Motorworks logo captures the spirit of the company in a single handwritten wordmark. Its flowing, script-style typography feels personal and approachable, like a signature, hinting at the hands-on craftsmanship that goes into every build. Beneath it, the small, sans-serif “Motorworks” grounds the mark in modernity, balancing nostalgia with clarity. Together, they communicate the company’s mission to merge classic design with future-ready performance, keeping the brand firmly in the driver’s seat.

Branding across their website and materials leans into simplicity and trust, echoing the uncluttered geometry of the Ford Bronco and VW Bus. The identity doesn’t shout; it reflects confidence in craftsmanship and the timelessness of the cars themselves.

A Modern Classic

What sets Kindred apart isn’t just the vehicles, it’s the vision of reviving icons while respecting both form and function. Their Mare Island headquarters hums with activity, but beneath the buzz lies a philosophy of design: one that sees the past not as something to preserve in amber, but as something to reimagine for today. Kindred reminds us that the cars we love can be timeless, if treated with care, imagination, and a touch of modern engineering magic.

Explore Kindred Motorworks →