AK Sportscars

AK Sportscars is a British specialist automotive manufacturer based in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. The company developed within the United Kingdom’s kit-car and replica-car industry, producing component vehicles and complete or partly assembled examples intended to recreate the appearance and character of classic sports cars while allowing customers to select mechanical components and engines. Its best-known product is the 427, an AK-branded interpretation of the AC Cobra, built around a steel ladder frame, an open fiberglass body and a range of V8 powertrains. The business was founded in 1992 by Ken Freeman and Alan Frew. Its earliest vehicles were marketed under the KF name, derived from the initials of Ken Freeman. The name subsequently changed to AK, reflecting the initials of the two founders. The company was supported from the beginning by members of the Freeman family, including Ken’s wife Lynda and their sons Dan and Jon. This family involvement became an important feature of the company’s ownership and management structure. AK’s products occupy the specialist and enthusiast end of the automotive market rather than the mass-production sector. Its vehicles are aimed at customers seeking the styling and driving experience associated with historic American and British sports cars, but who are prepared to build, commission or individually configure a vehicle. As with many kit-car manufacturers, the final specification can depend on the donor components, engine, transmission, trim and level of assembly selected by the customer. This approach enables substantial personalization but also means that production volumes remain small compared with mainstream car manufacturers. In 2009, Jon Freeman became a director after Ken and Lynda Freeman retired. He continued the family’s involvement in the company with support from his wife, Wendi. Publicly described production totals indicate that approximately 300 vehicles had been built, underscoring AK Sportscars’ status as a low-volume specialist rather than a conventional series-production marque. In 2021, AK Sportscars took over Southern GT. The transaction expanded the company’s model portfolio through the planned availability of the AK 40, a replica of the Ford GT40 originally associated with Southern GT. This move broadened AK’s offering beyond the Cobra-style 427 and connected the brand with another prominent racing-derived design. AK Sportscars therefore combines traditional family-run kit-car manufacturing with selective expansion through the acquisition of established specialist vehicle projects.

A low-volume British kit-car and replica-car specialist focused on enthusiast-built sports cars, classic-inspired styling, customizable mechanical specifications and V8-powered performance.

Product categories. Cobra-style replica sports cars · Self-build and component-car kits · Low-volume fiberglass-bodied sports cars · V8-powered specialist vehicles · Ford GT40 replicas

• 2021AK Sportscars takes over Southern GT

  AK Sportscars took over Southern GT and planned to offer Southern GT’s Ford GT40 replica as the AK 40, expanding its range beyond the Cobra-style 427.

  M&AProduct launch
  Source
• 2009Jon Freeman becomes a director after the retirement of Ken and Lynda Freeman

  Jon Freeman took over as a director when Ken and Lynda Freeman retired, continuing the family-led management of the specialist manufacturer.

  Leadership change
  Source

1. AK跑车接管Southern GT