KELLISON Funny Car Scrap Yard Rescue & FULL Documentary
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- Опубліковано 30 лис 2024
- This old Kellison funny car body is just a skeleton of its record-breaking, race-winning past and I'm so thankful that we were able to rescue it from a scrap yard in Kentucky. This historic drag car was once the pride and joy of Lou Abel and Earl McDaniel from Lexington, Kentucky. It was built in late 1966 and debuted at the Carl Casper Car Show in Louisville, Kentucky in early 1967. It features a Kellison J6 Panther fiberglass body with a completely custom frame. The engine for most of its life was a blown and injected 392ci Chrysler Hemi.
It raced at tracks such as Bluegrass Dragway and Mountain Park Dragway, leading up to its debut on the big stage at the NHRA U.S. National at Indy in September of 1967. This car set a national speed record on one of its first trips to the drag strip, then took home the AA/MSP victory at the Nationals with a pieced together Hemi engine. The car was designed for the AA/MSP (Modified Sports Car) class in NHRA competition, but a rule change sent it into the BB/Altered class for the 1968 season. It wasn't quite as competitive in BB/A because of being overweight for the class, but it still held its own. Eventually, Lou and Earl stepped up to a larger 420ci early Chrysler Hemi combination, but still couldn't get it ironed out to their liking.
After taking a break, and parking the car for about a year, they regrouped and put together an injected (not blown) 426ci Hemi and competed in B/Altered. It was in this configuration when the car did a giant wheelstand, and crashed down to the pavement. The impact bent the frame beyond repair, and this car's racing days were over. It was traded off for another drag car, and was never put back together. Eventually the frame was likely scrapped, but the body survived and ended up in a scrap yard in Louisville, Kentucky. That's where we found it and recently rescued it from its grave. This car's history as an NHRA record holder and race winner solidifies my desires to save it. Even though its crusty, it's still a great piece of drag racing history.
Watch us dig it out of its grave here: • Kellison Body ABANDONE...
#hotrodhoarder #dragracing #history
Another really cool story. Too cool champion, these stories will never be lost now. 👍🇦🇺
Thank you for watching Michael!
Once again you put a smile on my face brother, very cool dude 👍👍👍👍👍✅✅✅✅✅
Badass story hope someone gives it life again.
Thank you, hopefully someday we'll patch it up and make it look like something again.
You are a good spokesman for these cars. That was surely a time never to be repeated!
Thank you!
You are such a great storyteller. Thank you very much for saving this.
Thanks I did enjoy the video
Thank you for watching Steve!
Man, when you do your homework on drag car history, you got me pinned to look, learn, and listen to your stories… Old drag cars is all that I look for when go to any junkyards back home in south Louisiana… Great history lesson for me… Thanks for everything that you do…👍🏾
I agree!
Thank you for watching! I love this stuff!
That black and gold combination look awesome, it bet it look really good on the back of that black and gold Chevy ramp truck!
Oh man, that ramp truck was cool...I'm sure it was a WILD looking combination rolling down the highway.
This video was truly a trip down memory lane. I spent many a weekend at Bluegrass and Mountain Parkway. And Performance Center was the happening place. Thanks
Outstanding history on this car. You are the best at what you do. Thank you for making these videos. Because if you didn't, we'd never know what happened to these drag cars.
Thank you for the kind words, I love doing this stuff!
Really cool story, it's a shame that a lot of these cars and owners have been long forgotten but you have proved it to me many times that you can still find these cars if you look hard enough and have enough money
Yep, if you look hard enough, the history is out there. This was a good one because so many pictures, newspaper clippings and videos existed. Really helped to tell the story of this car's history.
If only this body could've been stored away properly protected. Along with so many others like this!❤😔 Thank you for all you do!❤👍
Yeah, it's sad that the body is in such poor condition, but I suppose it could be worse...they could've just thrown it all away.
WOW great story loved it man love these stories nothing like it
Thank you Tommy!
Great story, thanks for sharing!
Nice that you’ve saved a piece of history. Thanks for posting.
Thank you for watching!
This is what hooked me when I was a boy in the 70's
I love history especially old drag cars what a mean looking car it was
Oh yes, definitely mean!
Tanks for your time in this chanel
Thank you for watching Patrick!
A great Piece of History! Keep it alive!
Thank you for watching! We're hoping to patch up the body as best we can, without destroying the little bit of lettering that remains.
Great story, research, presentation and what a fantastic era for drag racing too!
Thank you for watching!
What a cool piece of Drag Racing History
Thank you for watching!
I spent many Sundays at Bluegrass and remember Lou Abel very well. He was a local hero. I appreciate the newspaper clipping of Ron Bales taking competition eliminator over Lou. I also remember Lou running on Saturday nights at Clay City. Another GREAT video but this one was really close to home. Thanks!
That's so awesome, thank you for commenting Glynn!
bad ass car old school fun please you 4™saveing it
Man that is great to bring it all back for Earl
I'm sure it's bittersweet for Earl. Those were definitely good times for him, but the condition of the body is a harsh reminder of how much time has passed.
@@HotRodHoarder Oh yeah, I bet. Well He accomplished A LOT!
Wow! This car really was awesome back in its heyday. Thanks for the history lesson. Really enjoyed it.
Thank you for watching David, I love uncovering the history on these old cars.
I think I remember a picture of this car when I was a kid. I remember the car with the tongue.
It definitely had a memorable appearance!
You do a great job of finding the history on these cars and people you are a great asset to drag racing
Thank you, I love what I do!
I've watched many of your presentations, but this is now my favorite one to date. Granted, having Earl available to complete the details that are not in print already, you did an excellent job of bringing us from the machines beginning to present. Hopefully. there is a better resting spot in its future.
Garlits loved the 392 hemi. When Dodge first came out with the 426, he couldn't get it to put out the numbers of the 392, so he told Dodge he didn't care if he lost their sponsorship, he was going back to the 392. On a weekday morning at Byron, IL test session he told his crew he was going to blow up the 426, so he advanced the timing 20°, after the burnout it was making so much noise his crew thought the engine was going to let go at anytime, so they wouldn't get near it to do the final adjustments like they normally do, but that pass, I believe gave Garlits 2 tenths of a second quicker, and he knew he'd found his new combination. But thanks for the history on this car. It running 3 different rods and pistons at one time is nuts! Just shows the versatility of the 392.
Great story, noticed part of eye ball too,keep up the good work
Thank you!
Good morning! As always another great drag racing history lesson!! Be safe!! God Bless!!
Thank you for your continued support Michael!
Another great vid, I too wish these cars could tell their stories. Keep being their voice, they're thanking you for it👍
Thank you Charles!
Wow. A Mercedes Benz AMG GT in the 60's... History repeats its self....
This car, would be so cool restored, back to its racing glory. I love the pre, funny car stuff, and the real experimental things racers were coming up with, in the 60's, and early 70's. Thanks for sharing.
That was such a nasty car! So great to find all the videos and still photos...very well researched and told.
Thank you Alan!
I'm surprised the body held up for so long. I know fiberglass is tough, but wow! It was still largely intact! I got a kick out of those eyes, teeth and tongue 😄😄 Thanks for sharing!
If it hadn't been for the aluminum panels on the inside, the body would've probably collapsed years ago. Thank goodness it had a little extra support.
Excellent story! Especially enjoyed the photos, but most of all, the videos! That thing was a handful!
Great job I love the old videos
Thank you, this was a fun one to put together.
That was a awesome story man. That car is so cool looking black with the gold wheels. Thanks for taking the time to put the story together. Later man ✌
Thank you for watching Don! I love the gold wheels...just a killer looking drag car in that configuration.
Very nice I wrk for the son of kellisons partiner and we do fiberglass all day my boss is wizard with fiberglass
I knew Jim Kellison in the 50's, his fab shop located on Sutter Street in Folsom California where I went to school. he worked hard and usually just one other person working with him but it seems most of the time he worked alone. he hand laid and used the chopper gun to make his cars thinking they would be on the road a long time as they were made as street cars. even into the early 2000's there were Kellison bodys at homes of the would-be builders in the Sacramento area.
Jim's personal J-5 had a '57 tri power Olds engine and hydro, BTW the back window in the Kellisons was pirated from the back window of a Hudson. he made the body to conform to the shape of the glass.
That’s incredible
That is really awesome, thank you for sharing!
This was fascinating! Thank you. I was born in '68.
The picts of the cars, and some of he details brings back memories of growing up in the eaqrly days of hot rodding.
Those double 90 headers...one of those yeah that'll work
Great story. I'd love to see that car at a track again.
You are the drag racing archeologist!
Thank you Doug!
Awesome history. Great job once again.
I really enjoyed this video. 😁👍
Awesome video. Good to have found someone that knew the history behind this car.
Thank you Don, I was thrilled to have help from Bob Rogers and Earl McDaniel. Couldn't have done it without them.
ABSOLUTELY, one of your best, love this history, you are the man!!
Thank you for the kind words Robert, I love this stuff!
Great job for saving that body Sir!! 👏💯🤘🏻
Thank you for watching!
Pretty cool would have liked to see it back in it's heyday
Me too! I loved being able to find so many pictures of it though.
That is one beautiful body... as far as the shape/lines go! The fact that it's a real early, flip top, funny/not so funny car is cool AF!
As always, great job! Really enjoy these history lessons. Keep em coming!
Thank you Bryan!
Cool car!, now that's what I call, actually worth saving, so many channels are "saving" cars that no one wants, then or now, lol, I'm talking mostly about those who save old four-door cars, I can't even think of a rare 4-door car that would be worth saving as an example, lol, great save, and thanks for sharing.
I love how they stuck with the hemi power through out the history of the car. Such a great rescue. I hope you do something awesome with the car 👍👍😎🤟
I thought that was pretty cool too. Most drag cars eventually have a Chevy engine at some point haha. Glad they stuck with the Hemi.
I haven't talked to Bob Rogers in a few years but we were friends back then and part of a Mopar car club.
I knew Earl thru Lou and his speed shop.
Two really great people and I am glad you tracked down more history on this car.
The T bucket made a trip to Indy one year as well.
That's awesome, glad I could bring back some memories.
Wouldn’t expect anything less from you. Thank you for your dedication to vintage drag racing history and sharing it with us.
That black and gold combo with the matching ramp truck was so cool 😎
Thank you for the kind words and thanks for your continued support!
Love the history of these cars 🚙
Thank you for watching Don!
Thanks for sharing this history. A very interesting drag car indeed.
Thank you for watching Mikey!
i wish i still had my old funny car from the late 70.s it had a LS 6 454 small block won a lot of races with that car we put it together in 1975
Really appreciate the effort you put into running down the history of these cool cars and the stories that go with them.
I truly love doing this stuff!
Another great story of a great car. You tell it well!
Thank you Rick!
What a cool find
Thank you for watching!
Wonderful story. I really enjoyed this
Another great video.... love your story telling and style..... can't wait for the next one!
Thank you Dan!
Badass bro,🤘👍
Thank you for watching!
Another epic episode well done !!!!
Thanks George!
Nice '49 Ford "Tudor" two door sedan!
Love this story.
Thank you for watching!
Such an amazing car!! Thank you for all the wonderful stories!!
Thank you for watching David!
You did an Awesome job with your research
Thank you Rob, I'm obsessed with researching these old cars. I have about 5 other research projects going on right now...always trying to find old pictures and info.
Very good 👍
Thank you for watching!
Man amazing how you find them but best of all i dig the story's....🙂👍🙏
Thank you, it's definitely an obsession of mine to dig up these cars and find all the history.
Great story!
Thanks Mark, hope you're doing well!
Super cool that you ended up finding the true story behind it! Keep up the great work😎
Thanks Jimmy!
Love these stories!
Thank you for watching Magnus!
Fantastic history 👏
I see even back then a blown 392 stripped down was a pure winner lol and still is
Thank you
Thank you for watching Dan!
Another great storie...
Thank you William!
well done!
Another great video! Great to see some history on this car. Bobby Rogers has a vast knowledge of ky drag racing especially from Bluegrass dragway and Mt Park dragway. I have seen this car many times on dvds that he had made. They play continuously in the shop.
That's awesome!
Another great story. It's to bad the body isn't in better shape.
Yeah, I'm pretty bummed that it's so rough. My dad is very experienced with fiberglass and we've talked about patching it from the inside, so that we can keep what's left of the old paint and lettering.
I wish you and family a happy Christmas,Nigel. 🎄🎄🎄👍👍
Thank you Nigel! Merry Christmas to you as well!
Awesome
Thank you for watching!
great stories here, thanks.
Great coverage!
Thank you for watching!
Killer old car
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the Great work you do !!!
Thank you Derick!
Great true history !
Thanks Eddie!
Well done!
Thank you Ron!
Another awesome video.👍
Thank you for watching!
Another great video
Thank you for your continued support Edward!
Great vid!!!!! 👍👍👍
Thank you!
Pretty cool I love the history on old drag cars me and my son build those type of cars
Thank you John! I wish my dad and I had more time to work on our projects. Part of the problem is that we have too many projects...
Great video 👍 Loved that you saved it nicely done sir
Thank you for watching!
Great research & rescue
Very cool Merry Christmas 👍👍
Beautiful story!... Wishing a great Christmas to you and your family.
Thanks Kenny, Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Very cool, I really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work.
Would be neat to see it back in running condition again
Love your videos, so interesting.
That's an amazing find