Ol' Yaller

[Shelby101]

Picture of car on website

 

 

During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Max Balchowsky, owner of Hollywood Motors in Los Angeles, was well known in racing circles for building the Ol' Yaller series of racing specials. These unmistakable race cars were hand built by Balchowsky and showed his racing genius. They competed successfully against some of the best offerings from Europe. Max's cars were triumphant over the Ferrari and Maserati V12's, the Jaguars, Porsches and the Scarab

 

Balchowsky built nine Ol' Yallers. Many were sold to or driven by some of the biggest names of the day, including:

 

#2 was driven by Dan Gurney, Carroll Shelby and Bob Bondurant

#3 was sold to movie producer Haskell Wexler

#5 was driven by Dave MacDonald

#9 was driven by Ronnie Bucknum

Ol' Yaller Mk VII was built in 1961 and sold as a rolling chassis to Don Kirby of Rochester, New York for $4,500. Don installed a fiberglass body, 327 cubic inch Chevrolet V8 engine and four-speed transmission and went racing. Don raced in various SCCA and USRRC events such as the USRRC Round at Daytona in 1963, the Canadian GP at Mosport in 1963 and the Road America 500 in 1964 where it achieved 4th in class.

 

 

 

Number VII is one of two race cars with the Borg Warner T10 4-speed transmission and the only Ol' Yaller race car with Chevy power and an independent rear suspension. It is a purpose-built racing car with space frame. It has the second- best race history to Ol' Yaller Mk II, but is by far the best looking of the nine cars.

 

 

 

The provenance of this car will gain it an entry into some of the most prestigious race events in the country. Number VII is fresh from a $150,000 restoration executed to the most exacting standards and is awaiting its first race outing. It has road registration and is rally eligible and has participated in the Colorado Grand. The ownership history from Balchowsky to current is complete and unbroken. The car has a large history file with documents and photos.

 

 

 

For more information, please contact Grand Prix Classics by email at info@grandprixclassics.com,

 

 

 

 

 

[Shelby101]

Web site

 

www.grandprixclassics.com

[twobjshelbys]

I think one of the Ol' Yeller cars went to Barrett Jackson a couple of years ago. Look through my topics there might be pictures of it.

[Frank S]

Here's one photo with VII in the background. I think I might have ignored it in the presence of a real Ol' Yeller at this Concours d'Provenance (cars that actually raced in the 1950s, or cars like cars that raced in the 1950s) at the old Paramount Ranch race course site.

 

 

Here's a shot of a real Ol' Yeller (II) with Buick Nail-Head engine kicking up dust and smoke:

 

 

 

See some more of the Fabulous Fifties non-organization's cars on this 2005 occasion:

 

16 April 2005 Paramount Ranch

 

 

Mr Shelby is a non-member of the Fabulous Fifties non-organization, and attends many of their functions; here he is talking with Alice Hanks, widow of Indy champ Sam Hanks at the holiday dinner, Petersen Automotive Museum, 2002:

 

 

 

If you were a Southern California racing fan in the 1950s, or a fan of the racers of that area and era, you might want to contact the non-organization's non-membership non-chairman, Art Evans, for information on how to not join the non-organization: agevans@yahoo.com. Tell him I sent you.

 

Frank Sheffield