DLB | Cars

Some Of The Fun Ones

My '79 Trans Am CP Project-

This is my current '79 Trans Am that I ordered new with the 301 V8, 4 sp, & 4 wheel disc brakes. The car received a bored & balanced 455 w/ DNE 5 sp. & 2.41 Posi rear gears many years ago. It has topped 175 mph and gotten 19 mpg on trips. I don't have a 1/4 mile time on it. I'm adding a 'glass front clip, roll cage, slick, racing tires and taking it autocrossing in CP class while keeping it legal and driveable on the street. Click on the picture to go to a detailed photo journal of this project.
Turlock, CA. - 8/93

My First - '67 Honda S-800 Coupe -

My new 1967 Honda S-800 Coupe w/ left-hand drive, aluminum DOHC slant 4 cyl., 4 carb., needle-bearing crankshaft motor and 4-speed.
It produced 70 hp at 8,000 RPM, weighed just over 1400 lbs. I got it up to 106 MPH while blasting along the coast north of the base one night shortly after it arrived from Japan. I paid $1,300 new for it, delivered to Okinawa. I still have the dealers estimate form.
Kadena AB, Kadena, Okinawa, Japan. - 8/67

It's Evolution -

The S-800 has become a serious autocrosser. At this time I was Competion Chairman for the Tokyo Sports Car Club and designed most of the courses for our on-base open-to-the-public autocross events. I entered events at Fuji Speedway, here at Tachikawa AB, and at many other sites.
The car took Fast Time of Day at several events against Porsche 911's, Z-28's, factory Datsun 2000's & Z's, Prince GTB's, Isuzu, Mazda, Honda, Suzuki, and Toyota factory race cars and always ran competetively in class.
Tachikawa AB, Tachikawa, Japan - 7/70

Partial Back View -

I'm standing, talking with my girlfriend, as a friend's wife looks on. From here you can see the added rollbar and the 16 gal. gas tank I added to increase the cars range over the factory 8 gal. tank. Gas at the time was 18 cents per gallon on base vs. $1.10 per gallon off base.
Pop's Yoshimura built the motor in his home garage into 850 cc's, 115 hp @ 9,500 rpm. He hand lapped the twin-cam profiles himself and added the Honda factory race suspension (torsion bar.)
You can also make out the 13x10 rims and Dunlop race tires on the back. The fronts were 13x7. This year (and newer) had a normal solid-axle type rear end. Prior years came with a chain-driven indepentant rear end. The chain, in a sealed oil-filled housing, came back from the solidly mounted axle to each rear wheel which was suspended.They weren't up to the stresses of racing and were prone to leaks.
I was part way through converting to Plexiglass windows when this was taken. The car was driven daily to work and to events.
Tachikawa AB, Tachikawa, Japan. - 7/70

'76 Trans Am -

I order my '76 TA with the 400 V8 & 4sp. I added the Keystone Snow Mags shortly after purchase. Headers, dual exhaust & carburator mods got it to run 15.03 1/4 mile times as pictured at Bandimere Speedway.
I belonged to the newly formed Trans Am Club - West (TAC-W) and started the clubs involvment in Autocrossing and Rallyes. We hosted many events over the years that were open to the public and were also active in Drag Racing and Car Shows.
I was thinner when this picture was taken in front of the first home I ever bought after returning from Japan in 4/76.
Denver, CO. 9/76

It's Evolution -

I gradually turned my '76 into a streetable, competitive autocrosser. Here I am running with a L89 427 Chevy motor that I put in after trashing the stock 400 motor and also a 455 SD in one month. I hadn't figured out yet how to keep oil to the bearings during cornering with the slick tires shown here. The front rims are 15x11 and the rears are 15x14 with GoodYear race tires. Here I am running one of the courses I designed for TAC-W for one of our open autocross events. We also rented Continental Divide Raceway, and Second Creek Raceway to run high-speed road course events for the public.
Denver Coliseum, Denver, CO. 8/78

Red Stallion -

This Cobra replica kit, the Stallion, was created by Jim Kellison in Lincoln, CA as a spin off to the Arntz Cobra.I built this one along with a partner, Dan Sumerel as Colorado Cobra in Lakewood, CO.. It has a 500hp 454 Chevy w/ a DNE 5sp & 3.00 gears.It ran high 12's in the 1/4 mile as pictured at Bandimere Speedway in Denver.The body is all fiberglass. The F. susp. is Mustang II and the R. is a 9" Posi Ford. The brakes left a lot to be desired as did the 10 gal fuel cell on my trip between Denver and the Street Machine National's in Indianapolis. A lack of side windows was a problem when I crossed Kansas in a rain storm. The car had a softtop that provided limited cover.
Indianapolis,IN. - 6/79

Blue Stallion -

This is the first customer Stallion ever built. We ordered the first three producd by Kellison. It has a 400hp 454 Chevy w/ TH400 automatic & 3.50 gears.You can see the beautiful Connely Leather (this one with velour inserts) interior that each car came with. Our Stallions each contained a Don Mathew's custom 300 wt. sound system with 12" woofer behind each seat. You could hear & feel the music at any speed. Windows weren't provided because of the full side crash protection bars in the doors. The car was faster then a genuine 289 Cobra but didn't handle nearly as well because of it's 3,300 lb. weight.
Denver, CO. - 9/78

'79 Trans Am -

This is a Trans Am I owned and a friend, Paul Hossack bought and converted into what you see. The motor is an actual 302 Can Am Chevy motor out of a McKee chassis. It has downdraft webers, a roller cam, and ton's of go-fast parts and a 4sp. With a 4.11 rear gear it could lift the front end off the ground on launches aroud town using street tires.We but it together in a bodyshop we owned.
Denver, CO. - 8/80

'78 Jaguar Project -

Did you ever have a great idea that didn't quite work out? If you've seen the movie "Money Pit" about a house project this is the automotive sequel. I still have this project. That's a 427 Chevy motor in a Jag XJ6 that has become a 305 Chevy with smog regulations. If I can make it another 5 years it may be exempt with the new laws. The car now has fully flared fenders, front air dam, new paint, and "needs some work." The 15x10 Centerline wheels were stolen while on my '79 Trans Am. The car now has the 15x8 wheels shown in the '79 TA picture. The car has 45,000 original miles on it -- none in the last many years.
Denair, CA. - 5/87

		Some Of The Fun Ones
		My '79 Trans Am CP Project-
		This is my current '79 Trans Am that I ordered new with the 301 V8, 4 sp, & 4 wheel disc brakes. The car received a bored & balanced 455 w/ DNE 5 sp. & 2.41 Posi rear gears many years ago. It has topped 175 mph and gotten 19 mpg on trips. I don't have a 1/4 mile time on it. I'm adding a 'glass front clip, roll cage, slick, racing tires and taking it autocrossing in CP class while keeping it legal and driveable on the street. Click on the picture to go to a detailed photo journal of this project. Turlock, CA. - 8/93
		My First - '67 Honda S-800 Coupe -
			My new 1967 Honda S-800 Coupe w/ left-hand drive, aluminum DOHC slant 4 cyl., 4 carb., needle-bearing crankshaft motor and 4-speed. It produced 70 hp at 8,000 RPM, weighed just over 1400 lbs. I got it up to 106 MPH while blasting along the coast north of the base one night shortly after it arrived from Japan. I paid $1,300 new for it, delivered to Okinawa. I still have the dealers estimate form. Kadena AB, Kadena, Okinawa, Japan. - 8/67
		It's Evolution -
		The S-800 has become a serious autocrosser. At this time I was Competion Chairman for the Tokyo Sports Car Club and designed most of the courses for our on-base open-to-the-public autocross events. I entered events at Fuji Speedway, here at Tachikawa AB, and at many other sites. The car took Fast Time of Day at several events against Porsche 911's, Z-28's, factory Datsun 2000's & Z's, Prince GTB's, Isuzu, Mazda, Honda, Suzuki, and Toyota factory race cars and always ran competetively in class. Tachikawa AB, Tachikawa, Japan - 7/70
		Partial Back View -
			I'm standing, talking with my girlfriend, as a friend's wife looks on. From here you can see the added rollbar and the 16 gal. gas tank I added to increase the cars range over the factory 8 gal. tank. Gas at the time was 18 cents per gallon on base vs. $1.10 per gallon off base. Pop's Yoshimura built the motor in his home garage into 850 cc's, 115 hp @ 9,500 rpm. He hand lapped the twin-cam profiles himself and added the Honda factory race suspension (torsion bar.) You can also make out the 13x10 rims and Dunlop race tires on the back. The fronts were 13x7. This year (and newer) had a normal solid-axle type rear end. Prior years came with a chain-driven indepentant rear end. The chain, in a sealed oil-filled housing, came back from the solidly mounted axle to each rear wheel which was suspended.They weren't up to the stresses of racing and were prone to leaks. I was part way through converting to Plexiglass windows when this was taken. The car was driven daily to work and to events. Tachikawa AB, Tachikawa, Japan. - 7/70
		'76 Trans Am -
		I order my '76 TA with the 400 V8 & 4sp. I added the Keystone Snow Mags shortly after purchase. Headers, dual exhaust & carburator mods got it to run 15.03 1/4 mile times as pictured at Bandimere Speedway. I belonged to the newly formed Trans Am Club - West (TAC-W) and started the clubs involvment in Autocrossing and Rallyes. We hosted many events over the years that were open to the public and were also active in Drag Racing and Car Shows. I was thinner when this picture was taken in front of the first home I ever bought after returning from Japan in 4/76. Denver, CO. 9/76
		It's Evolution -
			I gradually turned my '76 into a streetable, competitive autocrosser. Here I am running with a L89 427 Chevy motor that I put in after trashing the stock 400 motor and also a 455 SD in one month. I hadn't figured out yet how to keep oil to the bearings during cornering with the slick tires shown here. The front rims are 15x11 and the rears are 15x14 with GoodYear race tires. Here I am running one of the courses I designed for TAC-W for one of our open autocross events. We also rented Continental Divide Raceway, and Second Creek Raceway to run high-speed road course events for the public. Denver Coliseum, Denver, CO. 8/78
		Red Stallion -
		This Cobra replica kit, the Stallion, was created by Jim Kellison in Lincoln, CA as a spin off to the Arntz Cobra.I built this one along with a partner, Dan Sumerel as Colorado Cobra in Lakewood, CO.. It has a 500hp 454 Chevy w/ a DNE 5sp & 3.00 gears.It ran high 12's in the 1/4 mile as pictured at Bandimere Speedway in Denver.The body is all fiberglass. The F. susp. is Mustang II and the R. is a 9" Posi Ford. The brakes left a lot to be desired as did the 10 gal fuel cell on my trip between Denver and the Street Machine National's in Indianapolis. A lack of side windows was a problem when I crossed Kansas in a rain storm. The car had a softtop that provided limited cover. Indianapolis,IN. - 6/79
		Blue Stallion -
			This is the first customer Stallion ever built. We ordered the first three producd by Kellison. It has a 400hp 454 Chevy w/ TH400 automatic & 3.50 gears.You can see the beautiful Connely Leather (this one with velour inserts) interior that each car came with. Our Stallions each contained a Don Mathew's custom 300 wt. sound system with 12" woofer behind each seat. You could hear & feel the music at any speed. Windows weren't provided because of the full side crash protection bars in the doors. The car was faster then a genuine 289 Cobra but didn't handle nearly as well because of it's 3,300 lb. weight. Denver, CO. - 9/78
		'79 Trans Am -
		This is a Trans Am I owned and a friend, Paul Hossack bought and converted into what you see. The motor is an actual 302 Can Am Chevy motor out of a McKee chassis. It has downdraft webers, a roller cam, and ton's of go-fast parts and a 4sp. With a 4.11 rear gear it could lift the front end off the ground on launches aroud town using street tires.We but it together in a bodyshop we owned. Denver, CO. - 8/80
		'78 Jaguar Project -
			Did you ever have a great idea that didn't quite work out? If you've seen the movie "Money Pit" about a house project this is the automotive sequel. I still have this project. That's a 427 Chevy motor in a Jag XJ6 that has become a 305 Chevy with smog regulations. If I can make it another 5 years it may be exempt with the new laws. The car now has fully flared fenders, front air dam, new paint, and "needs some work." The 15x10 Centerline wheels were stolen while on my '79 Trans Am. The car now has the 15x8 wheels shown in the '79 TA picture. The car has 45,000 original miles on it -- none in the last many years. Denair, CA. - 5/87