Don Ellis

Don Ellis' 1955 Ford Thunderbird of Portland, Oregon. Ellis was a member of the Ramblers of Portland car club, and the Thunderbird was restyled by several of the guys in the club. The build was started in 1958 and completed in 1959.

Don Ellis of Portland, Oregon. Don was a member of the Ramblers of Portland car club.

Fast Movin' Daddy

In 2020 Ron Ellis told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that his dad had several fast cars back in the 1950s and the 1960s. In addition to a customized 1955 Ford Thunderbird that was featured in Rod & Custom June 1959, he also had a 1932 Ford and a Don Ellis' 1953 Jaguar XK-120. The '32 ran a blueprint 1959 Studebaker V-8 with a Jimmy 471 blower and it was a regular at 118 1/4 mile with an ET of 12.1. Ron recalled that his dad had the overhead cams modified in Coventry, England. "There was an Englishman race mechanic in Beaverton who super tuned this Jag. It did a respectable 1/4 mile Et 14.9 at 89 MPH. Incidentally, this Jag got me my first speeding ticket, 140 mph down the Sunset Highway. I was fined $ 25.00 by Justice of the Peace in Beaverton, Judge Francis Cook said I should start driving slower, I haven't changed too much." Don also had a modified 1953 Lincoln with a McCullough supercharger, cam, and heads that clocked in at 88 MPH ET 15.1.

Don Ellis' Cars

Don Ellis' 1955 Ford Thunderbird