1961 Balchowski Old Yaller Mk VII at the Bonhams

1961-2003

1961-2003 Vehicles

1961 Balchowski Old Yaller Mk VII

1961 Triumph Italia 2000

1962 Austin-Healey Sprite

1962 Autobianchi Bianchina

1962 Maserati 5000 GT

1962 Mercedes-Benz 220 Series

1962 Morgan Plus Four

1963 Maserati 3500 GTi

1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III

1963 Thews Motors DKW-Porsche Special

1964 Lincoln Continental

1964 Mercury Comet

1965 Lotus Cortina

1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III

1966 Lotus 47 Europa

1966 Porsche 906

1968 Fiat Abarth 1300

1989 Aston Martin V-8

1995 Bentley Continental R

2003 Lola B03/51

Information on the 1961 Balchowski Old Yaller Mk VII

More photographs of the 1961 Balchowski Old Yaller Mk VII

Max Balchowsky was born in Fairmont, West Virginia in 1924. He never had a proper high school diploma nor did he receive training in engineering. He was self-taught and would eventually become one of the best builder of race car 'specials' in the United States. He learned his trade racing hot rods on the dry lakes of El Mirage, Bonneville and the streets of Southern California before turning his skills to road racing against sports cars imported from Europe and England.

Beginning in 1957, Balchowsky and his wife, Ina, designed, built and raced a limited number of these 'specials' which were named 'old Yeller' (Yaller). They were painted pale yellow. The parts were sourced from many places, mostly junkyard parts, and equipped with powerful V8 engines. The cars were driven by Balchowsky, Dan gurney, Bob Drake, Chuck Daigh, Billy Krause, Carroll Shelby and Ronnie Bucknum. The cars were certainly the 'underdogs', as most of the cars had more financial backing and resources. Nevertheless, the Ol' Yaller's often outpaced these more expensive cars. In total, Balchowsky built nine cars and/or chassis which were simply known as Old Yallers MK I to MK IX.

This example is the seventh chassis built (MK VII). It was sold to Don Kirby of Rochester, New York in 1961 for $4,500. Kirby fitted the car with a Chevrolet fuel-injected engine, possibly a Bangert fiberglass body and then went racing during the 1963 and 1964 seasons. It raced at USRRC Daytona 200, the Pepsi-Cola Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport, SCCA Virginia International Raceway, and SCCA Divisional at Virginia International Raceway during the 1963 season. It was at the Road America 400 the following year.

In 1964, the car was sold to Stan Kolowski, and a succession of owners followed. Those owners included Tim Thompson, Tom Palmer (in the late 1960s), Dennis Manning (1980), and Michael Gray (in 1990).

The next owner was Jimmy Dobbs who actively participated in vintage races and rallies. Tom Dean became the next owner who commissioned a professional and total frame-up restoration in February of 2004. Upon completion, it raced at the 2005 Monterey Historics. In 2009, another frame-up restoration was undertaken. Just prior to completion and before coming to Bonhams auction in 2011, it was purchased from the Dean Estate.

In 2011, this car was offered for sale at the Quail Lodge Sale presented by Bonhams. It was estimated to sell for $250,000 -$375,000. As bidding came to a close, the car would leave the auction unsold, as its reserve had not been satisfied.

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