Yesterday I drove down to Indy with my local Studebaker buddy to look at a ridiculous Kellison Kit car. I say that because of its cartoonish styling with a roof so low it looks like an elephant sat on it.

As we approached the address of the place the neighborhood turned a bit rough looking with various boarded up windows etc. We finally reached our destination. It appeared to be a mostly vacant strip mall. We were sort of wishing we were packing but we were not. there was a shiny black S class sitting in front with dark tint. It's looks did not comfort us.

The fellow came to the door wearing blue jeans and a camo shirt and cap. He opened the door and made a wise crack as we entered about not getting shot driving there, putting us immediately at ease. We walked through a short maze of corridors and then into a large back area.

The Kellison was sitting on a lift and looked just like it did in the pictures. It looks to be a solid car with a nice interior and a good looking factory built frame under it. It has a nice looking chebby 327 (they say) and a turbo 400 tranny. The windshield is laid nearly flat and the back window is too. Getting in is a little tighter than getting into a Miata with the top up. It was a little difficult to start and once running wanted to backfire. I'm bidding on it but not sure what it will go for.

I quickly noticed that the place was filled with interesting rare and oddball cars, enough to stock a museum...perhaps as many as 50 cars all in one large room: A couple of 51 Studebakers, one a very rare convertible. At least four lotuses, three elans and an esprite, several sprites, four mga twin cams (very very rare), an mg td, a 61 pontiac drag car with a bubble top, a couple old sprint cars, an imperial, four jeep cab over pickups from the early sixties, and perhaps the most interesting was a tiny crosley based road race looking car with a Devin looking body and three carbs sticking out the hood. It had a ford flathead motor and was sharp! Also a ninety something Indy car set up for a honda motor but not including it.

There were some trucks too...International pickup and scout, ford bronco (first body style) and a fire engine.
It was enough to make my head spin!

In chatting with our tour guide I discovered he is from New Zealand originally (don't call him an Aussie ). He's been here 20 years coming over to crew an Indy car. He was crew chief for numerous teams including for Scott Dixon and Sarah Fisher.

He spent an hour with us, patiently answering questions but not pushing anything at all. A fine gentleman.

finally we called it a morning, him heading over to pick up children and us heading back to Lafayette.

A lovely early Christmas present to myself!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

And no pics!?

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Dang it I knew you were going to say that!

I left my camera at home after thinking about it. The seller has about 50 pics on his ad and I did not expect to see anything i wanted to snap.

I'll call my buddy and see if he got some on his phone.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.