Sports Car Bodied Drag Cars.

[metalshapes]

Some pics for SinisterCustoms...

Kellison

Cheetah

Devin

[Ryan]

God, I love Kellisons... I had the chance to own a really well done Kellison with an early injected SBC in it about 8 years ago. I didn't have the cash, but I should have gotten a loan.

[Kerry]

I'm with you Ryan!!!

Didn't somebody have the basic body of a Kellison look alike on the HAMB classifieds a year of so ago? Seems like It was $800 or so. Then again my memory isn't all that hot.

[metalshapes]

Some more...

[Beach Bum]

Anyone else remember a funny car with a glass XKE body called "Snoopy"? Did a quick search but couldn't find a pic.

Oh, and Ryan, there is a Kellison for sale on that online-auction-site-whose-name-dare-not-be-spoken.

Cheers,
Kurt O.

[tub in da dirt]

the wildfire is a cool body style too
my hotrod mentor Vance Ferry has one with an old nascar motor in it and it will hang the hoops
my next project will be a super snake replica or a devin if i can find one
tk

[Tman]

I agree......Kellison=cool.

I spent hours in my dads magazine looking at those things as a kid.

[metalshapes]

E Type.

[Bruce Lancaster]

I remember Snoopy...one of those pics above is a Cad-Bandini(!) owned by a California Mayor...

[guiseart]

A good friend considered an Opel-bodied drag car for awhile, but the thinking stage was as far as it got. Kinda reminds me of those you've pictured here... that's all i got.

[brandon]

that city of industy car sam patriott (sp) was a big dollar piece....maybe a kurtis...??? been a favorite of mine since i was a kid....brandon

[metalshapes]

A couple that Raced in the UK...

[SinisterCustom]

Alex...what kind of car is this one??? Same as the one on the car trailer???
Oh, and THANKS! Love these types of drag cars!
There was a Devin SS at a swapmeet here last Feb.....didn't have my camera. Very cool.....

And that FiberGlass Trends car.....WOW!

[Tman]

Originally Posted by SinisterCustom

Alex...what kind of car is this one??? Same as the one on the car trailer???
Oh, and THANKS! Love these types of drag cars!
There was a Devin SS at a swapmeet here last Feb.....didn't have my camera. Very cool.....

And that FiberGlass Trends car.....WOW!

Cheetah

[metalshapes]

Originally Posted by SinisterCustom

Alex...what kind of car is this one??? Same as the one on the car trailer???

That looks like a lengtened Cheetah to me.
( same car as the one on the Trailer...)

The Brit Racers are a Berkley and I'm pretty sure the other two pics are both Buckley ( Sp)
( A kit car body they sold to use on a Anglia Chassis...)

[SinisterCustom]

Thanks....so this one is a Cheetah too then I take it.
I could stare at this car all day!
The Kellisons are cool....but I really like the cockpit on the Cheetahs......

[metalshapes]

Originally Posted by SinisterCustom

but I really like the cockpit on the Cheetahs......

Yeah... I love the lines on a Cheetah...

( some Road Race pics.

hopefully that wont derail the Thread too much...)

[SinisterCustom]

I haven't been to a vintage road race in a few years, but I do recall seeing one of those Cheetahs, or very similar..... 5-spokes look 'oh so right' on 'em.
Derailing the thread???? Nah, You started it....hahahaha! Post AWAY!

[bigken]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lancaster

I remember Snoopy...one of those pics above is a Cad-Bandini(!) owned by a California Mayor...

Same here, I had the centerfold of Snoopy hangin' on the wall in my basement, when I was a kid. I always dug that car.

[Bruce Lancaster]

WAAAY down on this page:
http://ferrariexperts.com/Bandini.htm

Is the Cad-Bandini...not Parriott, as noted above.
Note the size of the normal Bandinii!!

[turdytoo]

Originally Posted by brandon

that city of industy car sam patriott (sp) was a big dollar piece....maybe a kurtis...??? been a favorite of mine since i was a kid....brandon

OH I second the motion on the City of Industry Kurtis and what about that Booneville '57 Bird.

[noboD]

The Cheetah site is cool. They accept all repro Cheetah bodies without bias of whether it has Bill Thomas's fingerprints or not. If it looks like a Cheetah, it is a Cheetah.

[41woodie]

Chevy Cheetahs were meant to be Cobra Killers, I lusted mightily for one of them cause I hated Fords at that time. I don't think they were a kit car like Kellison, I always assumed they were a special production shop item similar to Shelby's arrangement.

[SinisterCustom]

Did anyone ever put one on the street???

Here's another.........

[brandon]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lancaster

WAAAY down on this page:
http://ferrariexperts.com/Bandini.htm

Is the Cad-Bandini...not Parriott, as noted above.
Note the size of the normal Bandinii!!

parriott was the owners last name ...he was the mayor of city of industy ...there was a local racer in our area that had a early ferrari street car with a big stroker small block chev...he was a big shot in top gas for a while....named norm ries ......brandon

[DrJ]

http://www.cheetahracecars.org/

So-called "Kit Cars" are as much a part of hotrodding as anything.

[Steve 38]

I've always loved the Cheetahs too. Great looking cars, and very fast. Yes, I think they were created to take on the Cobra's. They were faster, but had plenty of teething problems. One of the big issues was cockpit heat. One team actually cut the roof off theirs to solve the problem. The engine was mounted so far back in the chassis the gearbox was connected directly to the diff, from memory.

I think there were less than 30 built. Bill Thomas was trying to coax Chevrolet into building them as a GM version of the Cobra, but it never eventuated. Pretty sure the factory eventually burnt down! A great shame really.

Pretty sure they were built up as complete cars at the factory, although it may have been possible to buy kit-sets. At least one of them was converted into a road car. Must have been a buzz. They could do the 1/4 mile in 10sec!

[Steve 38]

btw, great pics Alex. Got any more?

[Justin B]

not really a drag car but here's another kellison for you, taken at pomona this weekend and owned by augy who also has an hilborn injected street drive gasser/altered nova




i would probably sell off most of my hot rod stuff for a chance at a kellison coupe (might be able to do it with a cheeta as well but def. prefer a kellison), i really want to do a semi clone of the car nolan white won the scta points champinship with in the early 60's. 18 inch magnesium halibrands, dark blue or black, but the supercharger /turbo would have to fit under the hood unlike nolans car, and it would have to have the suspension to back up the look, so you could fuck with all the vettes, lambo's, vipers etc.


one day i will own that car.

[26Tudor]

Back in Escondido, CA, in the late 1960's, there was a guy named Mike Musia, and he either owned, or worked at, the Mobil Gas Station at Valley Parkway, and Fig Street (any Cruisin' Grand folks, the place is now a tire store).
Anyway, this guy had a Bill Thomas Cheetah, and he took me for a ride that I remember vividly today, some 30 years later. We went from the gas station, up to Lake Wholford, turned around, and CAME BACK, in a little over 5 minutes..

[G V Gordon]

Someone mentioned Opels.
One GT and one Kadet

[SimonSez]

I've posted this before a few years ago, but since it kind of fits this thread, here it is again. This is the internet ad for an awesome black Kellison that was sold back in 2000 with lots of pics and info ...

http://www.californiaclassix.com/arc..._Kellison.html

[rooman]

About 6 years ago I purchased a Crossley powered Devin at an auction here in Indy (I actually went to buy a Maserati Quattroporte but it was a little too rough for the money). At the time I was collecting too many project cars and a couple of years later I sold the Devin--still kicking myself.
Sam had two Cty of Industry Specials. The first was a Kurtis 500 K which was basically a two seat version of Frank's Indy roadster chassis and the second was a bit more elaborate with a swoopy nose on the body.

Roo

[metalshapes]

Here is one of the best looking ones off them all...

The Bocar.

Built by Bob Carnes.


I know that the X1 ( first one built, so no "P" in the name), was Drag Raced in the Sports Car Class.

Very Cool Car...
ChromeMoly Chassis, Early Q/C Rear ( VW Torsion Springs Front & Rear...), Glass Body, and the last time I saw it, it had a 4-71 Blown SBC.

I have no pics of that car in action, but here are some other Bocar pics...

[SinisterCustom]

Bocar....hmmmm, never seen that one....I like it!!!!

How 'bout the Bosley??? Not a kit, as it was built by Mr.Bosley in the early 50's.....very Ferrari-like, esp the nose....Hemi powered....beautiful car!
Rodder's Journal #27....I'm sure you've seen it!
Here's a link.... http://www.americansportscars.com/bosley.html

[RodLand]

Originally Posted by Tman

I agree......Kellison=cool.

I spent hours in my dads magazine looking at those things as a kid.

Yea! me too. I had dreams of owning one of those, as a kid.

[The Fidgiter]

Yummy...

[choprods]

I have two of these aftermarket/"Kit" Vette bodies ....a 59 and a 61 [both rollers] on newer GM chassis'....
Hope to live long enough to see one or both on the street.....

I hae always lusted for an Austin Heally 3000 body to build a hotrod out of,but they are so darned hi priced it will likely never come to pass......

[jimdillon]

Came real close on a Kellison about a year ago- I played poker on the price and lost-wish I had stepped up a bit now-as for a Bocar here is one at the last Amelia Island show-it was one of the winners-one of the healthiest sounding cars at the show and there were a bunch of high dollar racecars there.-Jim

[DrJ]

I have several old magazine articles on the Bocar.
Interesting car.
Very expensive for the time.

[rattlecanrods]

Kellisons & Bosleys make me giddy!! Someday I will own one. I first saw a Bosley when I was a kid in an old hot rod mag. I think I bugged my Dad sick about it!!

[oktr6r]

Originally Posted by choprods

always lusted for an Austin Heally 3000 body to build a hotrod out of,but they are so darned hi priced it will likely never come to pass......

How about a Fiat Spider?

[Groucho]

HOLY SHIT! Dig the drag vette in the background!

Originally Posted by Justin B

not really a drag car but here's another kellison for you, taken at pomona this weekend and owned by augy who also has an hilborn injected street drive gasser/altered nova




i would probably sell off most of my hot rod stuff for a chance at a kellison coupe (might be able to do it with a cheeta as well but def. prefer a kellison), i really want to do a semi clone of the car nolan white won the scta points champinship with in the early 60's. 18 inch magnesium halibrands, dark blue or black, but the supercharger /turbo would have to fit under the hood unlike nolans car, and it would have to have the suspension to back up the look, so you could fuck with all the vettes, lambo's, vipers etc.


one day i will own that car.

[metalshapes]

Yeah... Looks familiar.

Post some better pics Groucho...

[thecarfarmer]

Where's Benno? Thought I'd heard him chime in by now... My V8MG mentor, ya' know.


Here's a pic I found; another HAMB'r turned me on to it.
Just look for the "SMP" drag racing class... you'll find a ton of this fine stuff.

-bill

[superleggera]

1954 Maserati A6GCS -- In this photo it was running a small black chevy with 6-71 blower and Hillborn injectors and the front end was a fiberglass lift-off version. Later version of the car in '65 ran twin turbos with intercooler on the dragstrip. Too bad it is restored to original condition...

[Groucho]

GREAT thread! Anyone got a pic of Snoopy? Pink E-Type Jag Funny car w/red flake stripe down the middle

[metalshapes]

Originally Posted by superleggera

Too bad it is restored to original condition...

Yeah, that is really a shame.

DAMN, that thing was cool...

[Sracecraft]

I work in a shop that restores vintage road racing cars. From sports cars to F1 and GTP cars. These kinds of unique sports cars are my boss's passion. Kellisons, Devins, Bocars, Cobras, AC Bristol, Victrious, are some of the stuff that is in different stages of restoration and or parts collecting. He has molds for Devin bodies and they keep a few around for sale. The sports cars have some interesting construction, some of them are downright primitive. I can just imagin what the men who raced these cars must have been like...brave at least!
Lots of fun to work on these cars. I think they are starting to get to me

Craig

[jimdillon]

Someone mentioned a Fiat Spyder. There was a restuarant down on Woodward where you could eat in old cars parked in the restuarant. They had several large cars out of the thirties with the interior removed and put a table in that space with some of the doors removed. I ate there a couple of times just to see what it was like.

This guy owed my dad some money and gave him his Fiat Spyder. When it was delivered it was a mess. We parked it and this guy calls up interested in buying it. Turns out it was the owner of that restuarant-he wanted to make a salad bar out of it-Jim

[Kinky6]

Anyone have a picture of the Danny Killcup roadster? IIRC, it was a Chevy six powered AH 3000; Danny was drag racing this car up into his late '70's. He passed away around 8 or 9 years ago.

[unclescooby]

I've had a few Ladawri's with V8's but I should have built this car. It was a Caribee, much like a Jamiaican and similar to a Kellison. It had gull wing doors though and they just didn't really cut it for this fat guy.

I've got shloads of great Ladawri, Kellison, and other sports car gasser pics but most of them were lifted from Gasser Madness. It's a great site.

[nexxussian]

The Cheetah is back in limited production with Bill Thomas' blessing. Of course you could buy a nice house with a garage in many places for what they want for it. Bill's shop burned down after some 19 to 27 cars were built (reports vary and the records were in the shop, along with the tooling and molds).

Kind of a side note I suppose but Bill Thomas was known as The guy to have work on the old Rochester FI. My dad had him work over one after "roughing it in." Flowed just over 1000 CFM. Naturally after all the effort of the engine build and the injection too, the guy he built it to race never showed up again.

[SinisterCustom]

That Maserati is BAAAAADDDD!!!!
Looking through old mags last night ('67-9), saw a few Kellison ads about their Scarab.....similar to a GT40. I don't have a scanner to load pics. Did anyone make drag cars outta those bodies???

Originally Posted by rattlecanrods

Kellisons & Bosleys make me giddy!! Someday I will own one. I first saw a Bosley when I was a kid in an old hot rod mag.

I don't think you'll find a Bosley.....there is only one......

[cr]

Unclescooby,

Has that Caribee body been widen? Is their chassis with mid year Corvette suspension? Looks like it could be my old road race car.

CR

[unclescooby]

I don't believe that Caribee had ever been widened but yes on the corvette chassis. I was going to stick that old 8 duece Lincoln 430 in it but I just couldn't really get my fat ass in and out of those little doors. I don't know the history but the guy that bought it from me apparently builds AC Cobra kit cars somewhere out near Oklahoma and said he was going to use this as a template and start making these too. That was two years ago so I don't know if it will happen or not.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Repli...QQcmdZViewItem
if you want another one...here is a very similar one with a 289 for $3500

[gasit]

[Himee]

I saw this cheetah at Road America during the fall vintage races.It was tearing up the track but I never seen a drag race one.

[gasit]

[gasit]

[Groucho]

[SinisterCustom]

Hey Groucho, wanna sell that issue??? I want it for the Charger road test....

[Pickle]

Here's a Victress drag car that's for sale, doubt it was a drag car in the day but it's another glass bodied special of the 50's that was made to go road racing.

http://www.cars-on-line.com/29268.html

Regarding the Cheetah, they were boarderline dangerous to race with the massive amounts of power and short wheelbase...it took balls to run it at the limit. I would guess it's much more enjoyable in a 1/4 mile blast that having to make a turn in it.

As for that Maser A6GCS...that was a crime against the automotive Gods. That car had better been put back to original condition...Yikes!

[flatheadpete]

BAd pic of a Ferrari 308 built by Bob Norwood.

[Groucho]

Sorry, no. It's one of my favorites. I remember as a kid because of that Jag. A PINK "import" funny car in the infancy of funny cars? Man, that one really stuck in my head. Years later i moved to SoCal and got deep into street racing. The owner of Burbank Service Center (famous speed shops around here) caught wind of my car's success and sponsored me. Turns out his dad, who started Service Center was the owner of that Jag. Goose bumps, small world, etc

Originally Posted by SinisterCustom

Hey Groucho, wanna sell that issue??? I want it for the Charger road test....

[xderelict]

Cruising alleys in South Omaha you can run across stuff like this.

[DrJ]

I remember seeing that Pink Jag (or an exact twin of it?) in action at Lions about a week before that CC issue came out.
That night it grenaded a rear tire coming off the line and it blew the entire body right off the car!

[UK Comet]

This one's in the latest 'Custom Car' magazine in the UK.

[39delux]

Originally Posted by xderelict

Cruising alleys in South Omaha you can run across stuff like this.

Wanna bet the owner says he is going to fix it up someday? Of course we all want to know where it is.

Tom

[metalshapes]

Vette...

[ProEnfo]

..from the HRR

CC

[Groucho]

Well THAT looks familiar!

Originally Posted by metalshapes

Vette...

[SinisterCustom]

I really dig those lil' Opels.....mini "vettes".....
Sure would be a handful.......

[SinisterCustom]

Originally Posted by Ryan

God, I love Kellisons... I had the chance to own a really well done Kellison with an early injected SBC in it about 8 years ago. I didn't have the cash, but I should have gotten a loan.

You've probably seen these before, but I thought they were worth posting.

[oldandkrusty]

Originally Posted by ProEnfo

..from the HRR

CC

I watched those little devils run down the strip at the HRR and was most impressed wuth the little MG. It flat out hauled ass! I had to laugh at the annoucer who kept referring to the 400" SBC that was powering the car. There was no way that thing had a SB in it. It had that distinct sound of a hers of angry bees. Sure enough a little V6 was under the hood. Regardless, it screwed and was one of my weekend favorites. Anyone got any further poop on this car?

[xderelict]

saw these at the OLD GEEZER SHOW.I think corvair counts as a sports car,

39delux ''Wanna bet the owner says he's going to fix it up someday?Of course we all want to know where it is."

I have not seen the cheeta thats behind the fence since the OLD GEEZER SHOW.I missed getting a photo of it at the track.The owner had it back to race day appearance for the show.It had fresh paint, red with all it's original race lettering.It was sitting next to the opel.Someone post on the HAMB that it came off the trailor on the way back to town.I've not been in that alley since the show so I don't know what condition it's in now.I'll drive by with the camera and see if it's out there.Rob Lee knows the owner from the neighborhood.Maybe we can get the skinny on what happened.

this is the cheeta behind the fence,I got this from the mid america motorplex site.

[Himee]

I don't think that is a cheetah behind the fence. A cheetah looks more like this .

[xderelict]

Your right,that isn't a cheeta,it's an Astra J.

[Larry T]

I can't tell you why, but I have it stuck in my head that the Snoopy Jag crashed and killed the driver? Anyone know if it's right or not?

[jimdillon]

Best running sport car bodied drag car I witnessed was Dave Kanners in Prontito. He was running this injected 57 Vette with a 427 Chevy with a push button clutchflite. We were running the same model with an injected 427 and a clutch turbo. First time we ran into him was at Milan in 69. We were standing at the fence and watched him pull two wheelstands and still turn a 10:60. He put us and a bunch of others on the trailer every time we ran him. Fierce competitor and a great running car-Jim

[SinisterCustom]

The car behind the fence 'appears' to be a Kellison........

[KING CHASSIS]

Bug eyed Sprite of Bill Biermans. St. Louis

[paperdog]

fiat topilino gasser in the st.paul pionneer press (minn )classifieds

[xderelict]

the car behind the fence is an Astra J.The bodies were a kit for the corvette chassi.The photo behind the fence and the red car in post 76 are the same car.

[xderelict]

we like topolinos

....

[Groucho]

Sheldon Konblett (of Service Center speed shops fame) owned/drove the car. I became friends with his son, Greg, who owned Burbank Service Center. Around the time we were friends (mid 80's) his dad drowned in a boating accident on the way to Catalina island. So, at least THAT driver didn't die in that car. I don't know anything else about other drivers/owners

Originally Posted by Larry T

I can't tell you why, but I have it stuck in my head that the Snoopy Jag crashed and killed the driver? Anyone know if it's right or not?

[Kiwi Kev]

[Kiwi Kev]

My favorite sports car pic.......

[brandon]

[QUOTE=Kiwi Kev;2056711]My favorite sports car pic.......

norm crowdey (sp) ....plain wicked ride.....ran like in the low 9's and was sorta street legal...? brandon

[sir]

...this one we called "the screaming yellow zonker"....

[chuckspeed]

that green and whitey car looks to be a Berkely, FWIW. I've been watching Ebay for the 'right' one for about 4 years - no avail. they're either completely trashed - or completely trashed. Not much bigger than a go cart - and cool as hell. Originally powered by a two-stroke; a late model M/C drivetrain would make one flat scream!

[kustombuilder]

GREAT thread. i LOVE Kellisons and i've seen some Cheetahs i'd give and unused appendage for!!

[SinisterCustom]

Never seen an Astra before......way cool.....I dig the rear 1/4's....

[Yo Baby]

Originally Posted by KING CHASSIS

Bug eyed Sprite of Bill Biermans. St. Louis

I was just wondering when someone was gonna post a pic of that little woggie.
I hope he brings it again this year and gets to run it.

[Ol' Drippy]

Originally Posted by chuckspeed

that green and whitey car looks to be a Berkely, FWIW. I've been watching Ebay for the 'right' one for about 4 years - no avail. they're either completely trashed - or completely trashed. Not much bigger than a go cart - and cool as hell. Originally powered by a two-stroke; a late model M/C drivetrain would make one flat scream!

There is a Berkely on the Detroit craigslist right now, man those things are tiny.

[monsterflake]

Originally Posted by Yo Baby

I was just wondering when someone was gonna post a pic of that little woggie.
I hope he brings it again this year and gets to run it.

i keep tellin' those guys, they ain't got a hair on their ass if they don't make some hard passes with that thing...

[BoomBoom]

Remember this one?

[metalshapes]

Originally Posted by BoomBoom

Remember this one?

Pirana...

Here is a Road Race version of it...


Link.

http://www.c-we.com/piranha/index.htm

[AHotRod]

Alex,
Are any of the bodies still in reproduction today?
Glenn

[metalshapes]

Plenty of Cobra Replicas,
there are one or two guys making Cheetah kits ( you could probably get a seperate body...),
Devin's show up on Ebay a couple of times a year ( sometimes unbuilt body's),
and Berkley's too ( Surprisingly often... Didn't know they sold that many in the States...)

There are 'Glass Replica bodies made off the Austin Healey,
and a scaled down version of the E Type ( made to fit a Ford Cortina Mk3 donor, they show up on UK Ebay every once in a while )

[Rootie Kazoootie]

Originally Posted by chuckspeed

that green and whitey car looks to be a Berkely, FWIW. I've been watching Ebay for the 'right' one for about 4 years - no avail. they're either completely trashed - or completely trashed. Not much bigger than a go cart - and cool as hell. Originally powered by a two-stroke; a late model M/C drivetrain would make one flat scream!

A couple of "reworked" Berks.

[gowjobs]

Some rear-engined Fiat-Abarths- might be fun with a small block in the middle.


A couple of newer-style ones:



And a few I started in scale:

[39delux]

Originally Posted by xderelict

39delux ''Wanna bet the owner says he's going to fix it up someday?Of course we all want to know where it is."

I have not seen the cheeta thats behind the fence since the OLD GEEZER SHOW.I missed getting a photo of it at the track.The owner had it back to race day appearance for the show.It had fresh paint, red with all it's original race lettering.It was sitting next to the opel.Someone post on the HAMB that it came off the trailor on the way back to town.I've not been in that alley since the show so I don't know what condition it's in now.I'll drive by with the camera and see if it's out there.Rob Lee knows the owner from the neighborhood.Maybe we can get the skinny on what happened.

this is the cheeta behind the fence,I got this from the mid america motorplex site.

I hope it wasn't hurt too badly. So many of these cars just sit and never get fixed up so it is sad to see one that's on it's way back get damaged. I know the feeling. My strap came loose once and I litterly pulled the trailer right out from under my '59 Vette pulling away from a stop sign many years ago. Fortunately it was almost stopped when this happened and it just cracked the front valance in a few places. I still haven't fixed it yet but I need to over winter this year. Got plans for next summer.

[metalshapes]

Originally Posted by gowjobs

Some rear-engined Fiat-Abarths- might be fun with a small block in the middle.

Gowjobs, where did you find that pic?

I'm working on a Abarth Zagato right now...

[gowjobs]

metalshapes - that's my buddy's shop. He has another double-bubble in another shop across the street that he's also restoring for a customer. A silver 750 Zagato he restored a few years ago took fourth in its class at Pebble Beach, and ever since he's been inundated with little aluminum-bodied Fiats to restore. He's just itching to build a rod again - he's sick of working on Italian crap.... lol.

Note - that Zagato in the pic is a real rarity, and is his personal car - the only 750 Zagato with documented factory discs in front. he's been thinking about taking it vintage racing before he gets around to "really" restoring it. We've also been talking about taking molds off the body before then, too.

[metalshapes]

Cool, thanks for the Info.

I have a bit of work to do on this one...

[plumpcars]

That little green and white monster in the U.K.is a Berkeley T60 as has been said ,owned and raced by Gerry Cookson back in the seventies/eighties. His son Jerry is now an official at Shakespeare Raceway in the U.K. I had the pleasure of racing against this car many times as we were both in the modified class. I ran a Cleveland powered 65 Mustang. The Berkeley ran a blown Lotus 4 cyl and it really screamed and was quick. Luckily I beat him most times!
Kellisons and Cheetahs? Two of the most aggresive looking cars of all time in my book. Superb! We had plenty of specials in the U.K. but although looking good in photos they often did not appear big enough in the flesh. Many were designed for early Anglia mechanicals so ended up being tiny but I think Allards got it right. When drag racing took off over here in the sixties many people used the bodies from specials as they were cheap and available at the time. Sometimes they looked good...other times just plain weird.
That earlier pic of the smokin' Healey also does it for me in a big way!

[denis4x4]

Jim Kellison went down to Sacramento and told the Jag dealer he'd like to demo an XKE by driving it to Lincoln CA and return it the next day. Crew worked all night covering the coupe with Saran wrap. pulled a mold and Jim returned the car none the worst for wear. Jim was one of the more colorful clients! Made big bucks doing water slides and porta-potties.

[cheetahswin64]

Hello, I'm trying to contact "SPACECRAFT" I'm looking for info on the devin bodies you mention. The email link on this site isn't working. PLease email me at cheetahswin64@aol.com Thanks !! Mike

[Sracecraft]

Originally Posted by cheetahswin64

Hello, I'm trying to contact "SPACECRAFT" I'm looking for info on the devin bodies you mention. The email link on this site isn't working. PLease email me at cheetahswin64@aol.com Thanks !! Mike

I gave your email address to the guy in charge, he will get you the info. Be patient he's off for the holiday.

[cheetahswin64]

Hello again. Thanks !! I just missed a sale of two I believe were from your shop. I have an old vette chassis I want to put a devin on and build a 50's retro sports racer. Sincerely. Mike

[KIRK!]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Kev

My favorite sports car pic.......

Hell Yeah! I like the previously posted Bugeye Sprite too.

[Tman]

Originally Posted by KIRK!

Hell Yeah! I like the previously posted Bugeye Sprite too.

Check out that blower belt whip!

[KIRK!]

I think that's a metal guard. If not...HOLY CRAP!

[Tman]

Originally Posted by KIRK!

I think that's a metal guard. If not...HOLY CRAP!

Looked again.....yer right .

[monsterflake]

Originally Posted by KIRK!

Hell Yeah! I like the previously posted Bugeye Sprite too.

you know, that's from the same shop as your 'favorite' truck, the pink freak thing...

[cheetahswin64]

Hey I can try to get pics of my buddies 57 triumph tr-3 with sbc and 4 spd !!! I believe it's for sale.

[Tinman]

Took me a while to find them, but I took these pics last November at the vintage drags out west of Phoenix at Speedworld.
This was in the pits pretty close to ShakeyPuddin's '55...
Anyone know anything about this car?

[DrJ]

Keep lookin at these pics...and lookin at the Volvo 1800S in the back yard... and lookin at these pics again... Hmmmm?

[nexxussian]

Well, it looks like a Triumph Spitfire, especially in the front (even 4 lug )but I dont recall a hatchback version.

[metalshapes]

Triumph Gt6.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_GT6

[296 V8]

That looks like the white Triumph coupe I saw in 82 cruising Van Nuys. He got a tiket for doing a wheele. It had BBC -10'' and 4'' crager SS's at the time.
Thats gotta be the same car.
One of the coolest fuckin things Iv ever sean.
After that I put a axle in my GTO so I could do the same.

[Tinman]

Thanks Metalshapes!
This car has been making smoke come out of my ears trying to figure out what it was...
...sheesh. And I call myself a car dork!

[Pickle]

Kellison dragster on ebay...just FYI.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NHRA-...QQcmdZViewItem

[tub in da dirt]

i almost bought a cheetah body at iola
a little bit too much flow though
tk

[rdefabri]

All:

Total noob here, but lurked for some time. As the owner of an E-type coupe, the Snoopy Funny Car was one of my faves then and now. I was just a kid when I first saw it (actually from the little pics we used to buy from the drags), but know a little about it.

It was built by a man named Sheldon Konblatt, who owned a California speed shop (name escapes me) - it only made a few runs from what I could find as it really wasn't as aerodynamic as first thought (I recall reading it was twitchy at the top end).

I have some pics of it somewhere, but looks like many have posted what I have (other than the little pic I bought in the 70s).

Cool stuff!

[KING CHASSIS]

Found this on we diditforlove.com

[rdefabri]

King,

Yea, that's the pic I have too...I don't recall exactly when I got it, but I know my pops bought it when we were at the drags together over 30 years ago...it had to be pre-1975 because he still owned his Austin-Healey, and he would tell me how much he screwed up that he didn't buy an E-type.

Totally cool car, and with Nostalgia Funnies getting more popular, I'd love to know where this thing ended up....

[rdefabri]

Actually, as I thought about it more (and as owner of an E-type coupe), this would be fairly easy to replicate. The Jag is a monocoque with a bolt on front-clip. You could tub/radius the rear wheel wells, gut the interior, build a cage and then create an elongated front clip. V8 conversions for Jags are common, although you wouldn't get the engine setback like Konblatt did on a full on frame.

A Jag "gasser" with a blown hemi might be cool, no? With all the rotted / crusty old Jag coupes out there, might be a neat idea...

[KING CHASSIS]

Just found this one.

[greg konblett]

My name is gregory konblett.My dad founded ServiceCenter. and drove SNOOPY,PEANUTS,AND CHICKEN LITTLE....my email...gregkonblett@hotmail.com

[storm king]

Tellya what, somebody get me a Kellison body, and I'll pull fresh tooling: give a brand new one to the guy who loans me his; in all carbon fiber, and a piece of the action on any future sales.

[Iron-Iceberg]

One Kellison for sale here.

http://www.fantasyjunction.com/used-...689fb187b6aa54

[blackout]

Just another Kellison start.

[brandon]

Originally Posted by KING CHASSIS

Just found this one.

the hardcastle car... from what i read , this must have been one fast sob..... brandon

[blackout]

The scalloped blue coupe in Groucho's photo is an X-300 GT, same body as in my post. Behind and to the left of the X-300 GT is a black Kellison J-5 that has been extensively re-built. The J-5 has a custom frame and Corvette C-4 suspension.

[41woodie]

Back in the early to mid 60's a Purple metalflake Cobra used to run pretty often at Tulsa Int'l. Strange part was is was a hardtop but not a Cobra coupe, it was more like a clip-on top like the early vettes used. Somewhere maybe I have a picture of it. Ran strong

[Weaverville Studios]

Originally Posted by storm king

Tellya what, somebody get me a Kellison body, and I'll pull fresh tooling: give a brand new one to the guy who loans me his; in all carbon fiber, and a piece of the action on any future sales.

That's a generous offer...IF someone is going to make a new tool for a Kellison body I hope that you/they consider refining two things that has always irked me about the Kellison Astra's design. The first is the lack of bubble in the windshield. One of the cardinal 'rules' of car body design is that in plan view, the wrap or bubble of the windshield should always be greater than the wrap of the nose of the car, again in plan view. The Kellison Astra has a nearly flat windshield which IMHO is incongruous with the beautiful swoopy lines of the rest of the body's design. There are some successful car designs that break this rule (1990's mid-engined Ferraris come to mind) but if we gave the Kellison Astra the proper amount of bubble to the windshield, I think it would look so much better.
I am also under the impression that the glass in the Kellison would be a bit hard to come by today as well, so if someone was to make a new tool for the body, perhaps they can account for a more easily acquired windshield, perhaps 2nd generation Camaro or maybe from a C-4, or C-5 Corvette ?

The other part of the design that has always irked me is the nearly vertical greenhouse, the side windows, sail panels etc. Again considering the rest of the body's beautiful swoopy shapes, the nearly total lack of tumblehome in the greenhouse area just doesn't look 'right'...I understand that when the car was originally designed, they used what glass was available at the time or easy to acquire, but if someone is going to make a new tool, I hope they will consider my suggestions...or not. Here's a quick Photochop that I hope illustrates my points.




If we're all willing to chop and channel virgin steel, then modifying a fiberglass design shouldn't seem like that big of a deal...

All the best-W.S.

[Dean Lowe]

Originally Posted by Beach Bum

Anyone else remember a funny car with a glass XKE body called "Snoopy"? Did a quick search but couldn't find a pic.

Oh, and Ryan, there is a Kellison for sale on that online-auction-site-whose-name-dare-not-be-spoken.

Cheers,
Kurt O.

I saw "Snoopy" run at Irwindale once. It was painted titty pink, and owned by Sheldon Konblat. I don't remember much these days, but a name like that sticks.

[Dean Lowe]

Originally Posted by brandon

that city of industy car sam patriott (sp) was a big dollar piece....maybe a kurtis...??? been a favorite of mine since i was a kid....brandon

Both of Sam Parriott "City of Industry"specials were Kurtis Kraft sports cars. The first one was blown cad powered. The second was powered by a blown 427 Ford built by Ford ace Bonnis Herd. When Sam passed there was a huge hassle with the City of Industry. Seems that when Sam was the Mayor, city funds were appropriated to build the race cars in the name of promoting the newly formed city. Sam's son, Buddy lost the cars, and they were sold to repay the city. Both are in the NHRA Museum now.

[DocWatson]

Did anyone mention Baldwyn Motions Drag Cobra?
Took a Ford fot them to build there fastest car from!!!!

[Dean Lowe]

Originally Posted by metalshapes

Some pics for SinisterCustoms...

Kellison

Cheetah

Devin

If that Kellison isn't Roger Hardcastle's, it's a dead nuts twin. Just about the time AFX was morphing into floppers, Roger teamed with Pat Aikins, and they put one of Pat's killer fuel hemis in the car. No trans, just a slider clutch. Nobody would get in it. Then they found Gary Southern. Even in the 60's Gary was considered "out there". They brought the car to the Winternats in about 65 or 66. When Gary made the first pass at over 200 the NHRA came unglued. No way was that thing going to run in AFX, or any other calss but top fuel. Old Southern said sure, why not. Damn thing went a couple of rounds. God Drag racing used to be cool!!

[fergenboysinc]

[Dean Lowe]

Originally Posted by Rootie Kazoootie

A couple of "reworked" Berks.

The white one is the car Ronnie Benham and Leonard Carr won lakes high point champion with in 99. This pic is after Ronnie sold it. Ran 237 at El Mirage.

[Dirty2]

These were at BG .

[slick64]

I love these things. This is a great thread!

[slick64]

[rosenoble]

I've got a kellison Drag car. I love it. I'm going to convert it into a pro street car. I had another that was a one off road racer.
Here are some pics.
http://kellison72.homestead.com/kellison.htmlHere

This is the drag car.

[rosenoble]

try this link:
http://kellison72.homestead.com/kellison.html

[SinisterCustom]

Just noticed in one of the pics of the Fiberglass Trends Cheetah....that it appears to be runnin' a BB Chrysler wedge....DAMN that's cool....

[BAD ROD]

Yes! My favorite is the Cobra Dragon Snake.....a sports car bodied drag car from the factory.

Mike

[RustyBolts]

I used to see a few old Austin Healey 3000s at the drag strip in Fremont in the old days. They had converted them over to big V8 power and some of them were pretty fast. I think the lady that used to own or manage the Fremont drag races had a red one that she used to race there. The roll bars or roll cages that they had to add to them when they were fast kind of killed the looks of them a little, but they were still pretty cool.

[wbrw32]

I believe that the Cad-Bandini that was thought to be owned by the mayor of City of Industry was owned by L C Kirby,Dallas,Texas..he ran it for years and the only one I ever heard of.......

[KING CHASSIS]

[propwash]

Here's a Cheetah that will be familiar to anyone that was into racing in the NW in the 60s.

dj

[KING CHASSIS]

Off Topic car. But a cool one. A local outlaw 10.5 racer.

[AxleArmada66]

This is an awesome thread!