Car Balchowsky Ol' Yaller Mk VII 1961 for sale

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To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The Monterey Auction event, 13 - 15 August 2026.
Offered Without Reserve | $250,000 - $300,000 USD

A highly important artifact of grassroots motorsport history
The seventh of just nine Balchowsky Ol’ Yallers constructed
Participant in numerous period races, including the 1964 Road America 500
Fully restored in 2009 by Palhegyi Design of El Cajon, California
Ideal for a host of vintage races and rallies

Affectionately known as the “king of engine swaps,” Max Balchowsky developed a knack for swapping big, powerful engines into small European cars years before Carroll Shelby and his Cobra. Beginning in 1957, Balchowsky started designing and building a series of homespun racers to compete against the period’s top marques. Named “Ol’ Yaller” for their pale yellow paint schemes, these cars were designed on the shop floor, assembled using spare parts, and equipped with Buick “Nailhead” V-8 or powerful Chevrolet V-8 engines. When not driven by Balchowsky himself, some of the period’s top names piloted his creations to victory, including Dan Gurney and Carroll Shelby. In all, Balchowsky built nine cars, which were simply known as Ol’ Yallers Mk I to Mk IX.

The Ol’ Yaller offered here, Mk VII, was completed in 1961 and sold new to Don Kirby of Rochester, New York. According to interview notes with Mr. Kirby, the car was delivered with a Devin fiberglass body and without an engine but was specifically configured to accept Chevrolet power. Kirby subsequently installed a competition-prepared 327-cubic-inch fuel-injected Chevrolet V-8 and entered the car into SCCA competition, campaigning it throughout the 1963 and 1964 seasons. Notable results include a 5th overall finish at Virginia International Raceway in October 1963, followed by a 15th overall and 4th in class result at the Road America 500 in September 1964.

Following the 1964 season, the car passed to Stan Kozlowski, beginning a long succession of enthusiast ownership. In the early 1990s it was acquired by Jimmy Dobbs, who campaigned it in historic events including the 1991 Colorado Grand, among other vintage races and rallies. In 2009, a comprehensive restoration was commissioned from Palhegyi Design of El Cajon, California. The work included a rebuilt engine by Watkins Engine Development, a new fiberglass body, and extensive upgrades to the braking, cooling, and safety systems, complemented by the fitment of Borrani wire wheels.

Representing a rare and significant example of early American ingenuity in competition engineering, this Ol’ Yaller offers an exceptional opportunity to acquire a highly important artifact of grassroots motorsport history.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo26/.