1959 Balchowsky Buick Special

Achievements of the 1959 Old Yeller II Buick Special

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The 1959 Old Yeller II Buick Special has been racing almost continuously since 1959 with only a short break of four years. It was driven by some of the most important race car drivers of its day and has won major Sports Car races as well as breaking track records along the way. The legendary drivers of the Old Yeller II in 1960 were Dan Gurney (two times), Carroll Shelby (two times), Bob Bondurant, Bobby Drake (first Birdcage Maserati driver in the USA), Billy Krause (first Cobra driver for Carroll Shelby), Paul O Shea (National Champion Mercedes 300 SL) and Max Balchowsky.

The exciting true American "Underdog" and Americana story of Ina and Max Balchowsky building a home built Special also known as the "Junkyard Dog" that challenged all of the Factory Teams from Europe at all of the major International Sports Car Grand Prix Races with the biggest purses attracting all of the greatest international drivers... beating them at their game... and then put on the mufflers again, took off the electrical tape numbers, removed the tape from the headlights.... and then drove the Old Yeller II Buick Special back home to Hollywood Motors along the Freeways of Southern California in the setting sun... and having fans honk along the way.

Milestones and Highlights

  1. Special invitation to Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance - Special Category - "Road Racing Hot Rods"
  2. Buick Bugle Magazine January 2004 - Cover and feature story of the Old Yeller II
  3. Amelia Island Concours Award - DuPont Registry "People's Choice Trophy" at the Concours d'Elegance
    DuPont Registry "People's Choice Trophy"
  4. Winner of the prestigious Rolex Phil Hill Monterey Cup Trophy, 2006. Raced many times at the prestigious Monterey Historic Races
  5. Bruce McLaren Perpetual Trophy, 2010 - New Zealand Motor Racing Festival Tribute to Bruce McLaren - Winner... first racing event and became the largest attended Historic Racing event in the New Zealand - Old Yeller II was the featured car.
  6. Special one hour Documentary film on the Speed Channel, on the Old Yeller II, shown globally
  7. Feature race car at the first Tasman Revival Meeting Races in Sydney Australia in 2006 at Easter Creek Raceway - Featured in Buick Club of Australia newsletter
  8. Feature race car at the Second Tasman Revival Meeting Races in Sydney Australia in 2008 at Eastern Creek Raceway - Featured in Buick Club of Australia newsletter
  9. Book - Buick, 100 Years - History of the Old Yeller II Buick Special
  10. Special invitation from Lord Charles March to race the Old Yeller II Buick Special at the prestigious Goodwood Racing events 8 times
  11. Featured at the Art Center Concours d'Elegance
  12. Featured at the Los Angeles Concours d'Elegance, Ventura Motorsports Concours d'Elegance and Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance
  13. Recently raced in the Tasman Revival Meeting Races in Australia and the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing
  14. Raced at the Goodwood Revival Meeting Races - Sussex Trophy Races September 2011



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