The Kellison was always a dream of mine as a young man although I didn't have the money to make that dream come true This car is an outstanding example of one. Thanks for the feature.
If the sight of this car doesn't set your heart to racing, you must be dead. Pure unadulterated badass car!
The same guy that sold this Kellison to Krak also sold a Kellison on the HAMB a few years back... Orange drag car... I wonder what ever happened to that thing?
Phil Leonard of Syrarium does incredible work! Here's an article on the cars previous life. https://www.hotrodhotline.com/tom-duttreys-1961-j5-kellison#.YrxvG3bMKUk
F-glass bodys became big thing by the 1950s,some very hot designs*,*an some a bit ugly. My Dad payed for a Jabro sportscar F-glass body in mid 50s,he wanted a sportscar to race SCCA "H-Mod",took a few years to build a custom frame an all,he also made it streetible,tag/lights an all. I helped with it ,learned a lot,and by 57 it was nice enough ,he let me put it some car shows. This was all in the same time frame that I was also working by myself* on my dream hotrod,to drive to highschool later on. So we had two cars being built at the house,Dad's in the carport,and my junk out back in the tall weeds. Those that had the cool sportscar bug,but not $$$$$ for a new or used Ferrari type sports cars,these glass bodys could be got,or in some case's with even more skills custom made"then a mold done" so others could be made an sold. There were a few guys in south Florida doing that. So all of this,made me keep a eye on these things in the 50s. In later years,this game even had it's own mag. called "Kit Car"was the biggest of a few. Here's a pic,of my skinny butt,at a car show in Clearwater Florida. With Dad's "Ed Moyer Barlow" sportscar.
The Kellison was designed with an impossibly low top so it's no wonder you didn't fit in the car as I don't think anyone can unless the top is raised and restructured like in the silver car.
That really depends on the model... The J-4s have an impossibly low top, but the J-5 is like 1.5" taller. Even so, at 6'3" or so I don't fit in them. Like, I can barely even get in the car. The J-1 was made for an Austin-Healey and is TINY... but featured a double bubble top: I prefer the J-4 aesthetically as I dig the single headlight configuration. I always thought it would be cool to start with a j-4 and instead of a reverse chop, add a double bubble.
There is cool, and then there is " KRAKENBERG KELLISON KOOL " Money well spent indeed, and the shots of it, when the light was correct are tasteful !
Maybe the best looking aftermarket fiberglass body ever built but you sure didn't get much when you bought one of those bodies. They didn't come with floor or wheel wells or anything else because guys put them on a variety of chassis. Pretty much the same as the Devin bodies were around the same time.
They were one of the cheapest on the market too... I think the base package was like $450 or something?
I've always loved cars with shapes like this but figured you basically had to be a midget to get into the damn thing. It is one thing to enjoy a car by looking at it and another to enjoy it by driving it. I happen to enjoy doing both! Cool car tho.
I didn't know that... But I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that if he was a hair over 6'2" he couldn't sit in his own car without bending his neck considerably. I'm just under 6'3"... like right under... And I've sat in three J-5s with the same results. First, it's tricky as hell to get into them - even if you are short. The door opening is basically the width of the seat and you have to step around to get your feet to the floorboards while also somehow getting your ass in the seat. That's no big deal though. Race cars are hard to get into. That's charm. But once I'm in, I have to bend my neck so far down to clear the top that I can't look out the front windshield. Seriously. I'd guess you have to be under 5'10" to sit in one comfortably. Shorter if you need clearance for a helmet.
Skooch your butt forward just enough to lean your back - back enough until your head / neck is upright. You may have tuck a pillow in the lumbar part of your back but at least your head / neck is upright. Cramped …. Yes, especially with a helmet. While not in a Kellison, I’ve had some low lids similar to a Kellison. Kellison’s certainly didn’t coordinate between the head, back, butt and legs that is for sure. After a half hour screaming cramps.
That car was incredible in person! Your pictures do it justice. And fortunately, it sounds like I'd fit in one!
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