Description
In 1958 Austin Russell Hull II bought in kit form chassis J4-005. It was one of the first Roadsters to be built. It was bought from the factory as a Roadster. As his daughter Cari Jester recollects in a letter in 2007 held on file:
“My father built the car to be a drag racer and Bonneville type car. We lived in Warsaw, Indiana at the time where my parents ran Hull’s Speed Shop. I was a young girl at the time and helped my father sand and paint the car. The car was built with a Small Block 283 Chevrolet engine, a T-10 four speed manual transmission and a quick-change rear axle. The box type frame was reinforced with safety tubes.
The car was his pride and joy and he kept it for the rest of his life, leaving it to me in 1989. I kept the car for several years hoping my son would be able to use it, but this never happened.”
In May 2004 Cari sold the car to well-known historic racer, Dean Butler on the promise that he would get it running and race the car. Having prepared it in his race shop in Cincinnati, Ohio and the car was then raced in Europe where 50’s sports racing was thriving by successful Allard racer, Albert Otten.
Dean Butler and Martin Walford raced the Kellison with great success between 2006-2011 with class podiums in BRDC Historic Sports Car Championship, Nürburgring Oldtimer, Spa Francorchamps ADAC, Pau GTSCC, as well as several invites to Goodwood Revival Sussex Trophy.
The car was granted FIA HTP in 2006 although these have now elapsed the car raced at 2024 Goodwood Revival under Goodwood Papers. The car features with a lead photograph in November 2024 edition of The Automobile.
Chassis J4-005 is has been raced for the last 5 years as a club racer by the current owner who is now retiring from 40 years of being connected to motor racing at all levels. The car is race ready and eligible for many prestigious race series including Goodwood Revival.
