From the fertile mind of Tom Campbell comes the ultimate mix of science, art, engineering, and finesse. Born out of a necessity to create what had never been created before, the Cambellini started as a vision. What would a mix of classic British and Italian exotic sports cars and modern technology look like today? Tom answered that question in his quest to create something wholly original. To be a car designer in the U.S. is a tough life. You spend years toiling away in Detroit, working on the purgatory that is cup holder design, then maybe…just maybe, you get to design the next Ford family box, or the next Chrysler straight-to-rental-fleet special. For Tom, this just wouldn’t do. The Cambellini would be of a singular vision, wrought of singular hands. The designer started like so many other budding car designers; he sketched his ideas on paper. But that’s where the similarities between Tom and other car designers come to an end. The Cambellini leapt from the paper to a clay model, meticulously shaped and reshaped with his own hands like such fine pottery. Then clay led to steel, aluminum, fiberglass, leather, and rubber, all fabricated, formed, riveted, and welded by the man himself. Not everybody has all the tools to make an entire car from scratch in their shop though. Tom was no exception. But whenever Tom bumped up against a capability or tool he did not have, he made one! Many people these days in the custom car business throw money at the problem. Tom threw himself at the problem. Big car companies have to make many compromises. Not so with the Cambellini. A fully independent suspension designed and built from scratch by Tom would ensure proper racecar handling. If the engine is the heart of the car, then the rhythm of the Cambellini certainly came from a different drummer. The best engine Ford never made would sit immediately behind the driver and in front of the rear wheels. The Yamaha V6 SHO engine built for Ford’s hot sedan in the early 1990’s would fit the bill just fine, and satisfy Tom’s sense of individuality. The body? Hand laid fiberglass made using molds Tom made using a styling buck Tom made. Did I mention Tom made everything? And after years of toil and perseverance, the results of his labor of love are astounding. The instantly catchy Italian red Cambellini strikes a low, wide pose, with a slender waist and wide hips. The look is instantly breathtaking and confusing because of its distinct lines, yet the familiar influence of classics of yore can be discerned. Is it a Ferrari? A Jaguar from the swinging sixties? Is it one of the many European cottage industry supercars? No. It is much more special than that. It is the embodiment of the anti-establishment car. It is the free spirit in automotive form. It is speed, function, and fun, all wrapped up in an eye popping wrapper.
Among some info stuff a few more pics:
