Max Balchowsky’s Previous Yeller II is a traditional racing underdog, and never simply because it is named after a well-known film canine. Featured on the most recent episode of “Jay Leno’s Storage,” this homebuilt particular beat pedigreed Ferrari and Maserati sports activities vehicles again within the day.

In-built 1959, Previous Yeller II was one in a collection of specials constructed by Balchowsky, a California-based mechanic and race driver, and it was raced regionally by legendary drivers like Dan Gurney and Carroll Shelby. It is now within the care of Dr. Ernie Nagamatsu, who appeared within the episode explaining the automobile’s historical past and quirks.

Previous Yeller II is the final word expression of perform over kind. Its large grille homes a radiator from a Studebaker truck, chosen by Balchowsky to deal with cooling points with the automobile’s Buick “Nailhead” V-8 engine. The Goodyear whitewall tires aren’t a trend assertion; Balchowsky selected them as a result of that they had a softer rubber compound than standard racing tires of the interval.

Because the styling implies, Previous Yeller II was cobbled collectively utilizing components from many various sources. The Buick engine drives the rear wheels by way of a Muncie 4-speed transmission, the type utilized in interval Corvettes, Leno famous. The suspension makes use of Jaguar XK120 higher A-arms and Studebaker decrease A-arms, all with holes drilled into them. That was for “crushability,” permitting components to deform and take up crash forces, Nagamatsu mentioned.

That is not the one intelligent engineering characteristic of this automobile. Balchowsky additionally put in a nerf bar on the driving force’s facet, however with plenty of clearance between the bar and the driving force’s hip. That provided higher safety than most race vehicles of the interval, Nagamatsu mentioned. The engine can be mounted far again within the chassis to enhance weight distribution, which seemingly helped Previous Yeller II win so many races towards purpose-built sports activities vehicles.

Watch the total video for extra particulars on this essential piece of racing historical past, and to see Leno drive it on the streets of Los Angeles.