Exotic Car made to fit JUNKYARD parts?

These fiberglass bodies were built and sold aircraft mechanic, Jim Kellison, from 1958 to 1970. Dennis found this one-of-one 1965 Kellison J-5 at the Tucson Classics Car Show in Arizona.

[@leonardhirtle3645]

This car is gorgeous. The gentleman who built it is super talented. Any fool with money can buy an exotic car. This takes major skills.

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

I don’t know who had the better vision, the guy the originally designed the car or this guy that made this one.

[@toddaulner5393]

Way more reliable for sure.

[@michaelleroi9077]

The latter brings it to reality

[@michaelwhitacre8499]

It looks freaking amazing, I love how the Corvette slicer wheels accent the car

[@rayRay-pw6gz]

This is a work of art. The man knows his stuff. I hope to see this in person someday. 👍

[@danam0228]

Wow. What an amazing car, and such a great owner/co-creator/builder. Thanks for sharing this!

[@brianhomka290]

To quote Elaine Benis, "I am speechless, I am without speech." Absolutely beautiful is an understatement.

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

“Ya gotta see the baby!”

[@dukeallen432]

Bill: The doors, channels, weatherstripping and electric. Clap clap. Great color choice.

[@billmcbain2362]

Sounds like you know how difficult that stuff is on a body that never was designed to have any of that stuff.

[@robertqueberg4612]

If I were rich, younger, shorter, and less arthritic, I would love to own a car with that styling. The current owner is a man that gets what he wants, by the application of talent, work, and financial resources. Back in the middle sixties, when I was being bitten by the dune buggy bug, Kellison was selling bodies, that were bolted onto VW beetle floor pans, after removing around 14” of length. After completing one of another brand, I have the deepest respect for a guy that can start, design, and FINISH, one like this.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

Count's Kustoms, in Las Vegas, had one and they botched that one like they do everything else.

[@TheJoefussGarage]

What a wonderful 😊 story, a motivated, and talented owner, obviously refined his vision of this car, after having done one years before. Age, experience, resources and more modern running gear. This story just popped up in my feed, so randomly.. Something to be said for algorithms I guess .. God bless him...

[@zounds13]

Feeling an inordinate amount of pride for instantly recognizing it as a Kellison.

[@alleyoop1234]

You must be at least as old as me then!

[@howarddavis289]

The guy is a craftsman/artist. Beautiful work.

[@stevet5379]

Wow!!! Gorgeous is an understatement!! This is an artistic masterpiece on wheels.

[@timmcquerry6068]

My God...That's a BEAUTIFUL car!

[@joshdobson2737]

Wow.... thanks for sharing!!! To my eyes, there is a little Marcos, cobra and cheetah.....brilliant!

[@richardthompson6366]

What a labor of love, gorgeous machine.

[@Tawny6702]

The dedication in building this is unbelievable, not only just finding the parts but making them look as though it just rolled off the production line is truly amazing!

[@GorillaCookies]

I'm good friends with Jim Kellisons Grandsons. They have told me all about their grandpa Jim Kellison and his cars. One of his Grandsons I am friends with is a car nut himself albeit not quite the innovative risk taker his grandfather was

[@cheyennestandish7599]

My hats off to you Sir. Excellent workmanship.

[@jmason61]

This came up randomly. That's one of the coolest looking cars I've ever seen...& OG back to 60's? AWESOME

[@JeffW77]

Amazing car. And--second time I have heard of Kelmark. First time was in Road & Track maybe 1970. That was a great kit car. Article had words to the effect of "Passersby looked at the Kelmark and said 'Wow, what is THAT?'"

[@dreamchasergarage690]

Danny Koker of Counts Customs in Vegas has maybe the nicest Kellison out there. Beautiful cars when done well, like this one.

[@alleyoop1234]

I remember seeing them in the back of the hotrod style magazines back in the 70's ! I probably still have magazines with that ad in them !!

[@michaelking1524]

Even the chrome corvette wheels look good on this beautiful design.

[@paulbennett4548]

A beautiful restoration based on a 1949 the curves are incredible. I am lucky enough to have a 1949 model with incredible curves even after seventy four years are we supposed to be talking about cars............................

[@richcoleman469]

Unbelievably beautiful. I'll take one!!

[@allenkranawetter9482]

Beautiful

[@wallyr.7854]

Wow 😳! That car is absolutely gorgeous 😍!

[@HotRod-wv4vm]

Beautiful car and color

[@danquinnell3502]

Beautiful car indeed!

[@adamweston4152]

I have known about kellison car's for a couple of years now and I think they are one of most beautiful looking cars in the world and this is a stunning example.

[@Gamesso1slO0l]

beautiful car

[@marial8235]

That is a really pretty shape and the color really suits the car.❤

[@jeremychambers1949]

This is a felinesque classic that with better wheels would look modern as well!! Well done

[@jamiedunlap7718]

You did real good on this! Very nice and the detail is amazing.

[@royster3345]

Great looking car 👍

[@the_lost_navigator]

Model Kits for grown Boys! ;) Kudos

[@shelbygtsoo]

Super beautiful and soooooo pretty

[@plunkervillerr1529]

OUTSTANDING!

[@bigsarge2085]

So cool!

[@oldieman730]

Stunning machine, thanks for showing it.

[@Mr.Higginbotham]

Looks better than almost any TVR. Bravo!

[@derpapito1391]

That ain't too hard 😅

[@Mr.Higginbotham]

@@derpapito1391 right 🤣👍🏼

[@AaronSmith-kr5yf]

Why didn't I see that at first??? It has major TVR vibes, except this is prettier.

[@Mr.Higginbotham]

@@AaronSmith-kr5yf I agree

[@peterhodges6684]

Great lines !! I like it alot.

[@myriammorrison9840]

Nice looking car

[@bennyboogenheimer4553]

Doc, You've done it again! Just amazing.

[@chrismathes3647]

That fox on the right 😍❤️ This car reminds me of Batman The Animated Series. Sleek and Gorgeous 😍

[@krashanb5767]

Tons of skill and hard work here. The result is amazing 😊

[@jareknowak8712]

Excellent job !!

[@aliassmithandjones9453]

love the color

[@FrankStein1]

Wow, Thanks for sharing this .. what an awesome build . This guy has talent. Love the lowered frame bit. More headroom please!

[@stevelee5724]

Thats Awsome

[@the0Redneck]

And of the 600 cars 3 is situated in Denmark Europe owned by a friend of mine

[@Relic67]

Nice car. Great Channel too

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Very cool! ❤

[@99thDimension]

The stuff dreams are made of 10/10.

[@kennetharntson5912]

I rember lusting over the Kellison car as a 13 year old back in 1960.

[@tomiossi8092]

Just beautiful. Talented too.

[@paulcasarez404]

Looks like my boss's dad's design he has the blueprints hanging in his front office at our job

[@bokhans]

Impressive, a very skilled guy! ❤

[@CodeBleu724]

Was thinking the same thing. What a smart guy to Frankenstein everything to make a gorgeous, unique vehicle.

[@basbeestKT]

Beautiful mishmash of parts. Great colour choice too..

[@62_C10]

Proud papa and his beautiful baby - TOO COOL!

[@philc8575]

Absolute work of art!! One of the most beautiful vehicles I've ever seen!!! When I saw it from the front, I thought it was a Cheetah!

[@maddmaxx6730]

From trash to treasure for sure 😮

[@philprice5712]

This is the guy to make (remake) a Timbs Special. Dennis, ask him to bring that beauty back to life.

[@bondisteve3617]

Shite. Wot an absolute saga!...I'm stunned...wow. When can I pick it up! Thanks Mr. Dennis.

[@terielrand8344]

Wow, I remember the black and white advertisements in 1960's car magazines...

[@gregphillips.1312]

WOW! Good job, such beautiful Lines. Being British my dream car is a Ginetta G33 the 27 with the V8 ❤

[@georgesheffield1580]

Vaguely remember those in the mid 60's . I think R&T or SCG did an article about them or advertised them

[@epiphonium]

Dad had a Devon fibreglass body he was building back in the late 60's sounds similar.

[@DaveGringo]

Talented dude!!!

[@ianjones4071]

Hi in Melbourne Australia a guy started a company called bowels,kit cars,nagari,was his top line car ,v8,6,4,cylinders went in them,great video cheers mate 👍

[@thosdot6497]

Umm, Bolwell, not Bowels, but yes - the Mk VII and Nagari were very good looking cars, but not cheap even then, and very rare today.

[@seektruth8662]

Beautiful original design and everything you did to it is great, except for the low profile tires. Awesome car.

[@maxspeed57]

I built it one part at a time.... RIP JC

[@1954shadow]

I was thinking, “Chetah” too, at first sight.

[@questioner1596]

Beautiful car. It looks like it has a big trunk with no access hatch.

[@plumbandsquare1]

Reminds me of a Johnny Cash song.

[@pjs9346]

Never knew Keleson was from Folsom, California.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Nice!!!!!!!!!!

[@savage22bolt32]

This is so fantastic on so many levels. Personally, I know better than to start a project like this, or an airplane or sailboat. It would never get finished under my commission.

[@billmcbain2362]

You might be interested to know I did the same to a Morgan Catalina 45 sailboat while sailing Florida and the Bahamas for 5 years after retiring while the paint and interior were being done although I did all the body modifications myself. This is the first of my projects I did not also paint.

[@savage22bolt32]

@@billmcbain2362 great experiences! I get out on my motorcycles often. Hitting 70 this year.

[@emi9294]

Sacramento pride ❤

[@michaelbrinkley9323]

Look at the curves on that body!

[@jedclampett6466]

This is truly what it's all about...

[@mrbigg7255]

Gorgeous car. I’d never fit in it though. 😂

[@douglasb.1203]

I might fit in it, but I'll be calling 911 to get out of it.

[@billmcbain2362]

I am over 6 tall and 180 lb. I can still operate the pedals and wear a helmet. I designed the frame to allow me to sit between the frame rails. I routed the exhaust under the driveshaft.

[@douglasb.1203]

@billmcbain2362 You made a very classic sexy restomod that is for certain. I prematurely broke a hip thinking about getting out of this masterpiece. She's a beauty.

[@LarsonPetty]

Man, with this guy's skills, if he ain't a millionaire, he's doin' something wrong.

[@bigsarge2085]

😎

[@RetirementFund750]

It’s not my style car either way but I love seeing a great craftsman build something and it turn out like this. In my opinion the only thing that really kills it for me is the chrome 90s Corvette wheels.. something aftermarket or more time period would look better I think.

[@scottflesia363]

Same here. I was thinking American Racing Torque Thrust with black centers but I certainly don't have the skills this guy has so he gets to put on what HE likes.

[@huyra8019]

Front end is interesting would much prefer a single headlight design but wow does it look good from the sides and back

[@billmcbain2362]

It was designed in '58-59 that was a tip of the hat to current style then.

[@donelmore2540]

I wonder if Jim Kellison is a relative of mine. My maternal grandfather was a Kellison.

[@southernbreeze3278]

coool.....

[@paulcasarez404]

Yes it's confirmed my boss's dad and the original guy who built these were partners in building these my boss did the fiberglass work on the body's he now owns RV Renovators in mesa AZ

[@patsquach4080]

The. Only things. Missing. Is. Hearing it. Run. And a test drive ….

[@adamjones1843]

Beautiful. It would look cool with knock off wire wheels.

[@billmcbain2362]

I swore off wire wheels after another car I had. I drive my cars and they are a real pain to keep clean. I may eventually have to have some custom made anyway because of the required offset.

[@bigiron8831]

👍👍

[@DavidM2002]

I have a vague recollection that, back in the 1960's when so many companies were building body kits to fit onto VW bug chassis that Kellison was one of those builders. Anyone with a better memory than me who can fill in the details ?

[@billmcbain2362]

Yes eventually Jim Kellison was affiliated with Kelmark and other VW based bodies. That was what was selling.

[@goontheracoon]

he should do an 818.. but make it look older, reverse resto mods >:D

[@mattskustomkreations]

Beautiful car. Except for the wheels. Would look so much better with period style mags / road racing wheels or even Jag style wire wheels.

[@fredmclaughlin8234]

Muy resballadizo

[@evalonious]

No, this car needs to get on Jay Leno Garage! Make it Happen! Dennis Please 🙏.

[@MrCollins44]

Jay owns a J-6

[@evalonious]

@@MrCollins44 Ahhh, didn't realize. Hoping one day Jay will do a full garage tour, car by car. Would be awesome if he set up a virtual museum for the public to tour online.

[@bux49]

Corvair head lights. Corvette C4 wheels.

[@garyroth2764]

I've looked at a lot of classic cars in my life and I think I've found the best of the fleet here even though it had to be a collaboration of two creators. Not a car on the planet today that can touch it for style and execution. Don't sell it!

[@ZedNinetySix_]

Already predicted LS long before he popped the hood. Another day in 'Murica

[@BobRoden-vy8oi]

What are the headlights from?

[@zounds13]

I thought he was going to say Corvair but he said Studebaker.

[@vonbuzz9009]

The bezels with the lines running thru them are 63 T bird ,,,,

[@billmcbain2362]

Studebaker Lark with the turn signal part of the bezel removed