1962 Kellison J5 Coupe

Kellison Engineering & Manufacturing Company was a California company founded in 1954 that specialized in fiberglass body cars.

The cars were powered with many engine and drivetrain combinations. This example is powered by a 327 cubic-inch Chevy engine with a four-barrel carburetor and a four-speed manual transmission. The engine and gearbox were moved back approximately 18 inches from the stock Corvette location, providing better balance and handling with 49/51 weight distribution. The running gear comprises General motors components, including the 15-inch alloy wheels.

The current owner acquired this car from a Pawn Shop in Beverly Hills, California, on Rodeo Drive nearly 20 years ago. It recently finished a year-long restoration to bring it back to its former glory. The dry weight of the vehicle without fuel or driver is 1,840 pounds.

This was the only J5 Drop Nose Coupe produced. It was built as a concept car to transition from the J5 to the J6 model. The nose of the car is lower than the typical J5 models, and the air intake for the radiator is not as small as the J6 models. The windshield slope was also changed to meet the new Federal DOT sightline requirements, which added some much-needed headroom in the vehicle as compared to the earlier J5 model.