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History The Kellison

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Ryan, Apr 6, 2009.

  1. Hopefully get up to Tanunda this easter & the Bolwell nats. Real fine cars. That Meyers rip- off illustrates a desperate attitude. I admire the fortitude & persistence of the builder of the blue L.A. car. Looks good considering all these cars started as not much more than a dream.
     
  2. racer756
    Joined: May 24, 2006
    Posts: 1,558

    racer756
    Member

    Just like this...Bad ASS
     
  3. Sorry doc for ranting so hard. Been listening about those things for years now and I just don't see it. Yes, the cheetah to me was the best ever built for body style, love those things. The kellison looks like a bradley gt next to the cheetah. I have never seen a cheetah in person so I can't elaborate on it.......( thankfully?)...............
     
  4. Sracecraft
    Joined: Apr 1, 2006
    Posts: 245

    Sracecraft
    Member

    Ryan,

    I wound up with some of Chuck Manning's files after the passing of his wife last year. Among the papers are some sketches and photos of his own sportsrod and a lot of news clippings about his racing success. These predated his involvement with Kellison, I believe. My info seems to indicate that Manning designed the first chassis design for Kellison, but there were a limited number built. I also believe Chuck manning died of cancer in 1956 or 1957. You might like to check my Manning Special album for a look at a few of the things that were in the files.
    I would be happy to share these files with you, just let me know.

    here's a link to the album http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=3372

    Craig
     
    fur biscuit and Stogy like this.
  5. Algon
    Joined: Mar 12, 2007
    Posts: 1,129

    Algon
    Member

    I don't know what ever happened to the company but since I saw no mention the Kellison coupe was later sold as the Astra. In 63 they also sold fastback style roof kits for 56-60 and 61-62 Corvette playing on the new Sting Ray though they looked much like the 54 Corvair, Corvette show car.

    These cars and those such as the Devins and LaDawri cars took some effort to put together a nice looking car from. Most of the original unbuilt cars are raw bodies right out of the mold with limited trimming and there no gel coat to doll them up. The thing is if you can find a nice one to work on, the body has long been cured out and makes a good starting point now more than when new unless there is major sun damage.

    Something interesting about the La Dawri car is that it uses a flipped up side down windshield from a 55-59 Chevy or GMC truck.

    The Jamacain mentioned came out in 68 and were often put on TR4 chassis ( mine had a 289 and a 4speed) though a VW model exsisted as well where the rear flipped open similar to a GT-40. The guy I bought mine from insisted it was a Shelby Daytona prototype, it was very hard to keep a straight face.
     

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  6. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,581

    The37Kid
    Member

    Was Nolan White's Kellison the fastest at 220+ MPH at Bonneville?
     
  7. DrJ
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 9,419

    DrJ
    Member

  8. blackout
    Joined: Jul 29, 2007
    Posts: 1,327

    blackout
    Member

    Bill Burke set a record that stood 22 years. This is a J-4.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. blackout
    Joined: Jul 29, 2007
    Posts: 1,327

    blackout
    Member

    Nolan White smashed the record with this chain driven blown K 3


    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2009
  10. Jack Daniel
    Joined: Mar 25, 2004
    Posts: 111

    Jack Daniel
    Member
    from Lavon, Tx

  11. 1lowtoy
    Joined: Dec 22, 2008
    Posts: 52

    1lowtoy
    BANNED

    Someone should make a buck and a mold and make some more kellison bodys because i want one!!!
     
  12. plodge55aqua
    Joined: Jan 4, 2009
    Posts: 1,710

    plodge55aqua
    Member
    from Alberta

    I seen a J6 on google in black.. and not the one with the funny headlights.. it was real nice.. It looked as if it was a factory unit.
     
  13. Robai
    Joined: Apr 9, 2009
    Posts: 1

    Robai
    Member

    I have an original Kellison Sales brochure in silver with black gelatin print, outstanding work. If anyone is interested in it, let me know. I found it at an antique store in Vallejo, CA.

    There was a Kellison for sale on Ebay about six months ago, in Marin. It was one of the coolest looking hotrods I have ever seen. Orange/Raw/Nasty looking in a good way.
     
  14. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,820

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That would actually be a pretty reasonable price to get into a car to race at Bonneville.

    Rogue the reason you probably haven't ever seen one is that there were only 18 made plus one that was a bit of a different model.
    Street versions were 7,500 and race versions were 13,000 in 1963 dollars.
    The cars were fast and won races but Bill Thomas had his problems with them too.
    The Kellison was affordable for the average working guy who wanted to go racing with a slick looking body or had the skills to build a nice looking street rig although not many had those skills. If they were anything like the Devin body I had it would take an extreme amount of skill as that was and still is only a fiberglass shell with no floor or structure.
    There is a pretty good writeup on the Cheetahs here http://www.cheetahcars.com/index.htm

    And like a lot of others I still lust after the Kellison J-2 and have for 45 years.
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2009
  15. Someone mentioned the DEVIN...never knew what it was...I thought is was a funky kit car body that was trying to be a corvette knock off (Boy I was wrong). There was one in KC at a resale shop that had neat old goodies from...well a DEVIN in disrepair to old shop signs and vintage knick-knacks-Just a cool place to look at dusty and crusty stuff. I think it was in a long store front off of troost or maybe by where GRINDERS is now. I cannot remember as it was about 9 years ago.

    It may be the same place where Kevin picked up a flat head motor? I just remember reading a post from Kevin and about a Flat Head...the description of the place he got it from I believe was where the DEVIN was at.

    This means nothing to anyone reading this if you are not from KC...but good to know that I may have missed another potentially cool project car!
     
  16. papastoyss
    Joined: Apr 9, 2009
    Posts: 195

    papastoyss
    Member

    There was a Kellison body drag car around Nashville Tn. in the late 60s. It was called Hobo.
     
  17. Little Wing
    Joined: Nov 25, 2005
    Posts: 7,505

    Little Wing
    Member
    from Northeast

  18. 360guy
    Joined: Sep 29, 2006
    Posts: 6

    360guy
    Member
    from Ca.

    Hi, Saw this thread. I just purchased this car. Do you have any other info on the car or how I can find more on the Oakland Roadster Show title? The car is totally stripped down of all paint. No interior/engine/nothing. Have all trim though. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Bill Hair [email protected]
     
  19. storm king
    Joined: Oct 16, 2007
    Posts: 1,989

    storm king
    Member

    Still one of my favorites, a timeless classic from day one. If I couold get my hands on one I'd re tool it and produce them again in a New York minute.
     
  20. my dad bought a LaDawari at iola this past summer. we just finished a 31 sport coupe so now it is only number 2 on the list of cas to get too. 28 phaeton then the kit car. We alread bought the suspension( 90 corvette) and we have the motor and trans. 454 with a muncie so look out. 3 years and counting
    tk
     
  21. PurHell
    Joined: Dec 17, 2004
    Posts: 375

    PurHell
    Member
    from So Cal

    I'm happy with mine....

    I had my eye out for the last 4 or 5 years and I finally brought this '57 J-4 home... Use to sport a Caddie / LaSalle and was said ta have run at Bonnie early on ( who knows )... The glass is ruff, but not too bad for 50+ years of questionable storage.. The glass is lighter than my '55 Victress but still hold'n strong .... Lot to do, but cars don't get simpler than this...
     

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  22. denis4x4
    Joined: Apr 23, 2005
    Posts: 4,196

    denis4x4
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Colorado

    I thought I was done but this takes the cake. Kellison coppied the myers? Bruce lives 4 miles from me and he is one of the best guys you could ever meet. I will never understand how a person (company?) can piss on that man, but hey.......

    Sad to see such a following of a shitty car that was produced with a chopper gun (could be hand laid, but questionable) and a zero negative mold. The body is not history , it's capatalism at it's best........

    Fuck those pos's...............


    Bruce sued Jim in Sacramento and lost. Jim told Bruce that if he'd spent the money on more chopper guns instead of lawyers, he'd be filthy rich as there was more business then either Bruce or Jim could handle.

    Jim went on to manufacturer water slides and porti-potties.
     
  23. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,627

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    People ruin things. That's one of the best things about cars... They don't ruin anybody.
     
  24. Here's one I ran across a month or so ago;belongs to a friend of mine.
     

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  25. docauto
    Joined: Dec 1, 2006
    Posts: 789

    docauto
    Member
    from So Cal

    I've still got a J-5 body, never was mounted on any frame. used to see lots of unfinished ones....
     
  26. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,870

    squirrel
    Member

    friend got a body, I gave my son the plans for the frame and he was working on putting it into solidworks. I think that's kind of funny....
     
  27. plodge55aqua
    Joined: Jan 4, 2009
    Posts: 1,710

    plodge55aqua
    Member
    from Alberta

    I could get into owning one of those... Its Neat looking..
     
  28. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,628

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

  29. blackout
    Joined: Jul 29, 2007
    Posts: 1,327

    blackout
    Member

    J4

    [​IMG]

    Astra X 300gt

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2009
    rod1 likes this.
  30. koachwerks
    Joined: Jan 16, 2006
    Posts: 368

    koachwerks
    Member

    Is this the same style as the yellow car in the back of Rodder's Journal from a couple issues ago? That profile draws me in so much it drives me crazy. For now I'll just have to keep dreaming.
     

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