Thornley Kelham European

The British restoration company Thornley Kelham has already been the subject of some articles in our magazine. Most recently, the company from South Cerney, Gloucestershire, founded in 2009, presented a new restomod in November last year. This one was based on the Lancia Aurelia B20 GT and was inspired by a one-off that raced in motorsport in the 1950s. Thornley Kelham extensively restored this unique car after its rediscovery, taking measurements along the way. After all, Giovanni Bracco’s racing car had a significantly lowered roofline. For the Aurelia Outlaw European CSL, the team around co-founder Simon Thornley combined this look with modern production technology. Under the hood was a V6 engine from Lancia that had been boosted to 300 hp. This specification was only available for the last three examples of the Aurelia Outlaw restomod series.

From this project Thornley Kelham drew so many realizations and experience that now the “European” program is put on. Already before the Lancia Aurelia as Outlaw restomod one didn’t concentrate only on a mark, but restored predominantly European classics. On the basis of three special models they develop further restomods within the coming 12 months. The epithet “European” is meant to recall their respective importance to European manufacturers in the 1950s and ’60s U.S. market. To become part of the European range, each restomod must pass through all departments. So in addition to body and interior restoration, it’s also about engine building. Jaguar XK120, Porsche 356 and Porsche 911 are planned. The first advance orders have been placed. Construction of the first examples had already begun. Depending on the model, the price list starts at between £ 250,000 and £ 600,000, with the respective base car costing extra.

Images: Thornley Kelham