Iron Man Star Robert Downey Jr has a new assignment where he might need Tony Stark’s mechanical expertise. The actor is now focused on converting classic cars into modern innovations powered by Kindred Motorworks.
As the Marvel star has completed her tenure as Indomitable Iron Manit looks like he just needs to hang on to the character a bit longer.
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From vintage cars to modern, eco-friendly automobiles
Based in San Rafael, California, Kinship is a company led by CEO and Founder Rob Howard. Over the past two years, Howard has secured over $20 million in funding, allowing him to launch the project during Monterey Car Week. It is not just your typical business as it is backed by several major investors in the market such as Hagerty, the largest provider of classic auto insurance, and Footprint Coalition Ventures created by genius, billionaire and philanthropist Robert Downey Jr. His company aims to scale modern technologies in hopes of saving the planet.
Kindred CEO Howard has worked with cars most of his life. The founder, originally from Philadelphia, has his father to thank for his in-depth knowledge of the automobile. Over the past two decades, Howard has evolved from a car enthusiast to an entrepreneur, working on classic car restorations. The job relied heavily on cutting-edge technology, which encouraged him to start a business based on it.
The epiphany came when Howard was restoring a Chevy station wagon. The project lasted four years, giving him enough time to reflect and realize the dream he has now built. With state-of-the-art machinery, car restoration could be done in volumes while painting them a new face and improving their features, from the audio system to the seats.
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This is all possible thanks to the efforts of his team trying to build a system they call “Blueprint”. They worked for thousands of hours testing and designing prototypes, which included a rigorous amount of building and rebuilding vehicles until they were perfect. It’s not an easy process: they had to capture every part from every angle until they could use the same procedure on other mobiles, following the same shot.
Of course, the prices for these beautiful cars are also attractive. Kindred is selling a Bronco for $169,000, a Camaro for $149,000 and a VW bus for $199,000. Potential buyers can get a pre-order for a $1,000 deposit. It could be a while before they start going into production, which is most likely, according to Howard, by the end of 2024.
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Robert Downey Jr uses Iron Man’s expertise to save the world once again
As part of the RDJ project, Downey’s Dream Cars, the actor and his team will transform classic cars into eco-friendly automobiles. He and his wife will produce a series under Warner Bros. Discovery which is expected to launch by the end of 2022.
In a statement from Downey Jr. reported by TH:
“My goal is to show that it is possible to maintain the integrity of classic cars while taking advantage of new technologies and innovations to make them more environmentally friendly. I’m excited for audiences to see this series on Discovery+ later this year..”
The classic car restoration project will put Downey Jr.’s passion for the environment and climate change into action. Now that’s something Iron Man would totally sign up for!
Source: Slash Gear
