Andre Gessner built this unique Special around the Chrysler Hemi engine and an Allard chassis.   It shared a Mike Larkin- fabricated body with the Sorrell-Larkin Special.

A real innovator, Gessner went on to create his front-wheel-drive "Front-Runner Special" that was the inspiration for Mickey Thompson's front-drive Indy cars.

Thanks to Mike Larkin for the photo of the Twareg!

(Photo from Ken Hammond)

Note Jim Chaffee's "Pink Elephant" in background.

(Photo from Ken Hammond)

"I knew Andre when he lived in Seal Beach, CA in the 60's. He was great with all of us kids.

He worked for Shelby at the time and would let us drive the GTs and Mustang high performance vehicles that he would bring home.

I remember when he built 'The Front Runner.'  Andre was a great guy!

(9-24-11)   More from Ron Holmstrom:

"Andre inspired a bunch of us young Seal Beach surfers and taught us how to "turn a wrench." (AND how to drive really fast cars.)

I felt really comfortable when I bought my '85  5-0 Mustang convertible and cruised across Nevada Highways to Vegas at an honest 130 MPH, knowing how to correct steering and just have fun with the speed. All thanks to Andre."

All photographs and text are the property of Mike Larkin and are protected under United States and international copyright laws.  All rights are reserved and the images and/or text may not be digitized, reproduced, stored, manipulated, and/or incorporated into other works without the written permission of the photographer, Mike Larkin.