HMCHANDMADECARS.COM
we make replicas drivable.
Backdraft
HMC Classic originates from a Backdraft Roadster. Throughout a five year period, HMC Handmadecars has collaborated with TR-Tec and Backdraft Racing, developing a unique EU homologated vehicle for the whole world to admire.
"TR-Tec & Backdraft Racing: The Dynamic Duo of Tony Martin and Reg Dodd, creating high-Performance Classic Car Backdraft Roadster"
Backdraft Racing was established in 2001 by Tony Martin and Reg Dodd, both highly experienced racing drivers with several national championships to their names. Tony Martin's greatest achievement as a driver was winning the Daytona 24-hour race in 1984, along with Sarel van der Merwe and Graham Duxbury, driving a March 83G Porsche. The experience they gained from years of competing on the racetracks was instrumental in the creation of Backdraft.
Over a period of 20 years, Tony Martin and his company TR-Tec have built Backdraft Rollers in a factory located in Durban, South Africa. On the other hand, Reg Dodd has a large facility situated in Boyton Beach, Florida, where Backdraft Rollers are assembled with a powertrain and sold to American customers.
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Apart from building road cars, Tony Martin also builds Backdrafts for racing, which regularly take part in various racing competitions in South Africa. Tony's vision has always been to provide other car enthusiasts with the opportunity to experience the thrill of racing. With their experience and passion for racing, Tony and Reg have created a beautiful classic car with modern driving characteristics.
Edvardas Lubys
Mechanical Chief engineer
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Edvardas, our automotive technician, is an invaluable asset to our team. His vast knowledge of cars and ability to diagnose and solve complex issues is crucial to our success. We are grateful for his expertise and dedication.
Bengt Lidmalm
Product Development
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We are immensely grateful for Bengt's assistance in the homologation process of HMC Classic. His expertise, sense of humor, and patience have been invaluable in ensuring that the process was successful.
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Åsa Kümmerling
Vice CEO & Founder
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As Vice CEO and Co-founder, Åsa's steadfast support and unwavering determination have been the cornerstone of our journey. Her resilience and guidance have been instrumental in propelling our business forward.
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Jacob Kümmerling
Marketing & Strategy
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Our Marketing and Customer Strategy Guru. With a keen eye for innovation and a strategic mindset, Jacob has played a pivotal role in shaping our brand's success. As an invaluable asset to our team, his insights and expertise have paved the way for effective customer engagement and forward-thinking marketing initiatives
ENGINEER BENGT LIDMALM
B. Lidmalm has spent over 15 years at Volvo Cars, responsible for quality control, legal requirements, recalls, and negotiations with the NHTSA in the USA. Lidmalm also led the implementation of two complete vehicle type approvals with Swedish authorities and two partial approvals with Spanish authorities.
ENGINEER DANIEL LEDEL
D. Ledel, a computational engineer with expertise in fatigue-loaded welded structures and classical strength dimensioning using both handbook methods and FEM, has contributed to customer projects for renowned companies like Jaguar and BMW.
ENGINEER JAN WENÄLL
Engineer J. Wenäll is a highly experienced professional in the field of crashtest research. Based in Linköping, he currently works at VTI, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute. With almost 35 years of experience in the field, Wenäll has developed expertise in various aspects of crashtest research, including vehicle safety and accident analysis. His work at VTI is focused on contributing to the development of safer vehicles and improving road safety in general.
Thomas Kümmerling
CEO & Founder
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The visionary behind our journey. As Founder and CEO, his unwavering commitment and tireless dedication have propelled our project from concept to reality. With his passion as the driving force, Thomas has been the catalyst that sets us apart in the automotive world.
Cora Kümmerling
Product Development
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The visionary behind our journey. As Founder and CEO, his unwavering commitment and tireless dedication have propelled our project from concept to reality. With his passion as the driving force, Thomas has been the catalyst that sets us apart in the automotive world.
SENIOR AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER GUNNAR OLSSON
Engineer G. Olsson is a seasoned professional with a background in chassis and vehicle dynamics. He has held various roles throughout his career, including adjunct professor at Chalmers University of Technology and engineering manager at Saab Automobile AB. With his extensive knowledge in the field, Olsson is currently working in the area of chassis and vehicle dynamics, where he is contributing to the development
of advanced automotive technologies.
We are proud to be a
Family Business.
Discover the Heart of Our Business: A Proud Family Legacy. We take immense pride in being a family-owned business, as it has allowed us to infuse every aspect of our operations with a genuine sense of dedication, unity, and commitment. This familial bond has not only shaped our company's values but has also empowered us to deliver exceptional quality, personalized service, and a shared passion that resonates in every Backdraft HMC Classic we craft. Welcome to our family-driven journey of excellence.
The Kümmerlings
2018-2023
The Kümmerling family is delighted to have a business that interests the whole family. Daughter Cora is studying engineering which is a positive contribution to the family business. Additionally, son Jacob plans to become a business lawyer, which excites the family about the possibility of expanding the business and making it even more successful. Overall, Thomas and Asa are happy that their children are participating in the family business and are pursuing careers that will enable them to contribute to its growth and success.
Thomas Kümmerling, CEO and founder of HMC Handmadecars, is a seasoned veteran of the automotive industry, with over 40 years of experience working with cars. A few years ago Kümmerling decided to start his own car manufacturing company, HMC Handmadecars. After visiting Tony Martin in South Africa, Thomas decided to bring the Backdraft Roadster to the European market. Together as a team, engineer B. Lidmalm, automotive technician E. Lubys and T. Martin modified and EU homologated a Backdraft Roadster to meet European regulations.
HMC Handmadecars -
A Nostalgic Atmosphere
The assembling process is currently being performed in a factory located in Sweden. With the help of a broad amount of suppliers we are able to assemble the car to the highest standards. The car manufacturing industry is known for its fast-paced and high-pressure work environments, but working at a place like HMC, offers a welcome respite from the chaos.
Arneberga Facilities
Located 8 kilometers south of Vadstena