Originally we named our 427 cars "KMP" and our 289 cars "KMPS"--"S" being for small block. Around KMPS040 we stopped the "S" designation and redid our serial numbers for all of our cars and then started to name them all consecutively--regardless of whether it was a 427, 289, Street, FIA, Willy's, or 40 Ford. It was just too confusing to have two cars with very similar numbers on them.
We kept the Willy's and the 40 Fords in the number sequence because when we made the Willy's we used a 427 chassis and that had already started in production. To keep track of workers, worker hours, etc, we just kept the serial number in sequence as if it were just another 427 car.
We only made 1 Willy's, 1 aluminum 40 Ford, and 1 copper 40 Ford. Things would have gotten really confusing so, when we completely changed the serial numbers, we started to code the serial numbers with information in them, like dates, body style, chassis type 427 or 289, stainless chassis, experimental, etc. When we make a new body style we just add a different number into the new serial numbers. As such, the serial numbers of the later cars have become quite long. But, the KMP designation stuck and all of our cars now have a "nickname" (I guess you could call it that) of KMPXXX.
KMP stands for "Kirkham Motorsports Poland."
Just as a note, we use a completely different numbering system for the Rush. New cars will also have a different numbering system.
David
