1962 Balchowsky Ol Yaller VIII Sports Racer

From 1956 to 1963, Max Balchowsky created a series of 'Ol' Yaller' racing cars, regarded by some as 'junkyard specials.' This was a notion that Balchowsky worked hard to perpetuate, but in reality, it was far from the truth. Though some of the components were sourced from production machinery, many were created by Balchowsky using his own engineering ability. His meticulous attention to detail and his skill made his racing specials more than just 'junkyard specials'; they were potent racers. He machines his own manifolds, developed an oil anti-surge system, devised a high-performance ignition system, and created well-balanced, hand-built engines.

Ol Yaller II earned 16 overall race victories, with seven of those during the 1957-58 seasons. Legendary drivers such as Dan Gurney and Carroll Shelby were among the list of elite drivers who piloted the Ol Yallers.

Ol Yaller VII was built in 1962. Where most of his earlier cars were built on a tube-frame chassis, this car was built atop a Jaguar E-Type monocoque. The E-type chassis was shortened, fitted with 1959 Pontiac lower A-arms at the front and Jaguar upper arms and his own fabricated upper units at the rear, retaining the Jaguar lower arms. Buick drum brakes were added, and an aluminum body was built to encapsulate the car. It rode on chrome knockoff wire wheels and was powered by a 327 cubic-inch Chevrolet V8 engine with a single four-barrel Holley carburetor mated to a T-10 four-speed gearbox. This engine was a change from the traditional Buick V8 powerplant.

It was created for his friend Haskell Wexler and raced by Wexler in the SCCA West Coast Championship series. The car ran rather successfully, often finishing near the front of the pack. Even in vintage events, it still finished at the top of grids, often ahead of Ferrari Testa Rossa, Corvettes, and Maseratis.

In the late 1960s, it was modified by customizer Dean Jeffries and became a show car. Richard Pekkonen purchased the car in 1966 and later sold it to Grand Strand Amusements in 1972. In the early 1990s, the car was purchased by Gordon Apker, who commissioned a restoration to bring it back to its original glory. Balchowsky himself supervised the work.

In 2008, this vehicle was offered for sale at the 'Sports & Classics of Monterey' presented by RM Auctions. It had an estimated value of $350,000 - $450,000. The lot was sold for $1,650,000, including the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2009