Vehicle Description
1975 Kellison J6 Panther
"Although hundreds of kit car companies have cranked out fabulous
fiberglass flyers over the years, only a fraction of them built
more than a handful of cars before slipping into oblivion. One of
the few companies to leave a mark on the industry was Kellison
Engineering, started in 1958 by former Air Force pilot Jim
Kellison, who built the handsome J4 coupe. Kellison made a
staggering number of models, some of which he designed, some he
bought from other manufacturers." Hot Rod May 2005
For consignment, a 1964 Kellison J6 Panther roller on a Volkswagen
chassis. Our consignor saw this car when he was 10 years old in
Northern Indiana and vowed to buy it one day. Forty years later, he
rediscovered the car and fulfilled his promise. Although quite a
few were produced, they don't come up for sale often.
Exterior
Add paint job to your project list as the silver and maroon paint
here is faded, peeling, and checking heavily. But it is the shape
of the Kellison after all, that makes it especially unique. The
long straight hood leads to a E-type shaped cabin accented by side
intake ducts and leading to lifting rear haunches that create a
defined shoulder, all flowing to a Stingray-esque tail, right down
to the quad tail lights. A raised center line on the hood becomes a
pointed hood bulge, and the roof line includes a raised center
line, visually enhanced with a maroon stripe. Front window trim is
missing and that's okay because the windshield is cracked and will
need to be replaced. 14-inch aluminum slots are what the car
currently rolls on making this project maneuverable.
Interior
A myriad of materials make up the rough interior including red
velour on hollow doors, a material that also covers the side walls
all the way to the back. Glossy black vinyl bucket seats flank a
transmission hump covered in orange loop carpet, and it's possible
this was red that has just faded. An elementary hand brake and
basic wood knobbed shifter rise above the shag here while the
instrument cluster has a machined metal overlay surrounding four
gauges and a row of indicator lights. Texture fiberglass painted
black makes up the rest of the dashboard in which an AM radio is
embedded along with slim switchgear and a clock. The back shelf is
covered with the orange carpet while the roll bar and headliner
retain the red velour, and it's all pretty rough.
Undercarriage
Plenty of surface rust and project-like patina underneath. There's
a transaxle present and the frame has advanced surface rust while
the suspension consists of a transverse torsion bar in front and
swing axle with trailing arms and torsion bar in the back.
The sky's the limit with where you want to go with this vintage
fiberglass sports car! There's lots of information at
kellisoncars.com and a small but fervent group of enthusiasts. Roll
up your sleeves, this one is definitely a project.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
