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Jim Kellison's Personal
429 Stallion - Limited Edition
Kodak Full Color Photographs |
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Stallion #1
Jim Kellison's Personal Car |
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The design of the bullet proof chassis was started in the spring of 1976. Kellison had always liked the body style of Carrol Shelby's Chin Model Cobras, however he thought the chassis was too flexible as the doors popped open on hard cornering. So, Jim designed a 5" longer chassis. His chassis had 6,000 lbs. per degree inch twist frame stiffness, plus, built-in side crash and rollover protection.
By making the chassis wider and five inches longer, he was able to make the doors 5 inches longer so you could get in and out of the car with the top on. Plus, he was able to move the engine, in relationship to the wheel base, 5 inches further aft, which gave the car much better handling characteristics than the original Cobra. The rear fenders are 4" wider, so the car would accept 12" tires in the rear, and the front fender flares are 2" wider to accept 10" tires.
Jim Kellison, Sr., gave Jim Kellison (his son) the car as a graduation present when he received his wings from the US Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The car was stored with his Dad when Jim Jr. flew fighter missions with the 101 Air Cav in Iraq. Jim Jr. is now the chief executive officer and comptroller of the Diamond Palace SuperStore. He likes Dad's Stallion, but he would rather be flying choppers.
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click here to see press release about this car
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Photo #1.1
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This photo shows Jim Kellison's car, serial number 1, at its first official showing at the California state fair on August 18, 1977 at the Cal-Expo State Fairgrounds in Sacramento. Two Stallions were sold at this fair. The yellow lighting caused the silver Stallion to look yellow in this photo. |
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Photo #1.2
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All in a hard day's work!
This lady brought her airplane with her to take a ride in Jim's Stallion. They traded rides. Jim, who has been rated pilot since the Korean war, took her twin stove pipe for a hair raising ride, and she took him for a hair raising ride in his silver steed. She was a fast lady. |
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Photo #1.3
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This shot, with the wonderful scenic background, was taken at Beale Air Force Base. Jim still keeps some of his Air Force friends in mind and was asked to be a judge at the SR71 Squadron chili cook-off. Not one to pass up a free meal - he went! The whole squadron showed up in force, along with a special spy-type photographer. |
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Photo #1.4
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This front shot and the above side shot was a gift to Jim for being a judge at the chili cook-off. The photographer made a fortune that day, as he took orders for the pictures he sold to the officers and enlisted guys from the squadron. Jim spent the next two weeks signing photos for the guys. |
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Photo #1.5
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Here is a top shot of the cockpit (Office, as the pilots say). This is the standard black Rolls Royce Connelly leather interior that was standard equipment in the 50 to 60 thousand dollar stallions.
The interior still looks as good today as it did 20 years ago. Top quality leather and the best nylon thread insured that. |
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