Max Balchowsky's 1959 Old Yeller II - Jay Leno's Garage
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- čas přidán 25. 06. 2024
- Dr. Ernie Nagamatsu gives Jay the legendary opportunity to share the same driver's seat as Dan Gurney, Carrol Shelby, and many more racing icons in the innovative, and incredibly swift, Old Yeller II.
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Hosted by legendary comedian and “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno, the series explores our obsession with all things automotive. From classic cars to supercars and everything in-between, Jay is hitting the road to discover the most exciting, weird and wonderful vehicles ever made and meet the passionate people behind their wheels. Each one-hour themed episode features a mix of stunts, challenges, reviews, and celebrity interviews that showcases the colorful history of the automobile. Whether he’s exploring the story of an iconic brand, road-testing the newest super car, or investigating the latest automotive innovations, there is no wheel Jay won’t get behind to tell the story of our love affair with the car.
About Jay Leno: Acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much-in-demand corporate speaker, lovable TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic, and philanthropist…it’s no wonder that Jay Leno is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in show business.”
Max Balchowsky's 1959 Old Yeller II - Jay Leno's Garage
• Max Balchowsky's 1959 ...
Jay Leno's Garage
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Dr. Ernie.....you can really feel his enthusiasm and passion. Seems like good people to me.
It's in his hair.
True
So cool of him to bring the car by the shop for Jay(and all of us) to check out.
Absolutely a cool guy..........not just anyone will let you drive an irreplaceable car...........always a treat to watch an episode of Jay Leno Garage..........you just never know what will show up or what Jay will pull out of his own collection.........what a treat.........👍👍👊👊
Great guy, great car. Thoroughly enjoyed this.
I hope jay lives to be 115.What would we do without his iconic collection and history lessons...love this channel.
I hope Mr.Leno will find the fountain of youth.
He doesn't look very healthy lately
@@Brutes23 p
@@user-zy3nv1jy1m Hey, man... I'm freakin' 80 within a month or so. Don't say crazy stuff like that. If you are a doctor, you'd know what I am saying.
@@BruceNitroxpro Calm down Bruce, we all gotta go some time, ya know
I had the honor and pleasure of seeing and touching this car in person in 2019 at Barber Motorsports Park during their Historics event. Dr. Ernie had it out on the track racing with the other cars. He was not sandbagging it, he was full out. If I remember correctly, that was the first time he had the car out that year so he was just giddy to be behind the wheel at a racetrack. Dr. Ernie is an absolute joy to speak with and he will talk to you as long as you will stand there. He was letting anyone who wanted to sit in the seat and try on Max’s helmet. He has a ledger that he has people sign when they view the car. He and his wife are such amazing people to look after this car and keep it alive.
Touch
@Jimmy Morrison wow, that is just awesome. Thanks for sharing. I love the "he will talk to you as long as you will stand there" - Ernie seems like a great guy. I wonder if he came to the US from Japan with his parents?
No one deserves that car more than that guy. Delightful.
One of the best guests you've ever had on this channel. And one of the best cars.
He is a wonderful man, it is impossible not to see that.
I agree. He is one really cool guy and what a great piece of history. Ugly as hell but very fast!
@@kudraadk I know im in the minority, but i think its beautiful.
Max Balchowski is who prepped the 2 Mustang's and 3 Chargers for the movie Bullitt along with too many other movie cars to list.
I want an in-car video of the Dr.'s races.
Like everyone says, at this point I forget Jay was even a comedian--he's an automotive expert curator--it's amazing to think there's only a handful of people on this earth that is on his level in automotive collecting and knowledge. He's a world treasure at this point.
Ditto
Not long ago he did a stand up gig here where I live. Dude is hilarious. I like how he was so successful as a comedian but he says "I had to figure out a way to make enough money to buy the cars I wanted" or something to that effect. Cars always came first.
@@stephencox4509 I've heard that he was already doing well before taking over full time at the Tonight Show. He was able to bank every paycheck he made from that. Amazing
@@ravenfn831 hell yeah! He would go on letterman and carson and kill. If you ever get the chance, check out his appearance on the joe rogan podcast, he has some great stories about the old days. Super funny.
Totally agree. A great comedian. But I believe this is his best work. Love this channel.
Years ago I attended the Monterey Historic’s at Laguna Seca, Ernie and his beautiful wife invited me to sit in this car. They even let me wear a Von Dutch striped helmet that was worn by Billy Krause. I can not express the utter joy I felt being surrounded by so much history. I’ll never forget that kind gesture. He and Jay are cut from the same cloth, true ambassadors of the sport.
We’ve know Ernie and his family for many years. The nicest and kindest people you can ever know, in a lifetime. We love them dearly. Old Yeller could not have a better ambassador.
Thanks for that information. It's so great when good people have good success.
Loved his massive cheese as he walked out for his introduction 😋
For those of us who love it whenever Jay presents a car with a great story this may be one of the very best of the bunch. Great to see it's being taken care of by the good doctor, plus he has some snazzy shoes too! Thanks for yet another winner, Jay!
I think I saw the Doctor driving a green Aston Martin race car at the Laguna Seca vintage races 15-20 years ago.
@@bendeleted9155 That sounds like a fun time.
@@simplesimon755 it's great! Especially walking through the garage area and displays. Bring earplugs.
I bet he even wears socks with those snazzy shoes.
and he wears socks...
Read about this car in Shelby's autobiography... Never would've imagined this thing was still around.
Have to check that out! Thanks! Hard to believe also that Sterling most just recently passed away
Ho
@@TheNextGoogification It's a great book, look up "The Carroll Shelby Story." It makes a great prequel to "Go Like Hell," which is about the development of the Ford GT40 and the 1966 Le Mans.
@@rossvoorheis2391 Thanks !
Jay, thanks for all the videos, you're awesome.
I haven't seen Leno rave so much about any car as he did this one. And what a lovely man Dr Ernie.
Jay tells you "This is one of the best cars I've ever driven."
Permission to die happy.
As soon as I saw that guy walk into frame with his red shoes and that quiet smile I knew he was going to be cool as hell. Did not disappoint.
70yr old Japanese guy with Matching red belt and shoes & a dentist like doc holiday
Ernie's smile is contagious!
He fixes smiles for a living. Or did.
Good advertisement for his dental 🦷 practice 😂
It totally is :D
I know Old Yeller II and Ernie as a long time Crew Chief and knew Max as a good friend. So many funny stories of the drivers and Max keeping the tale of just an old junkyard DOG ! Max's was experimenting with re-capped tires trying to have a soft compound that would last! He would tell his competitors, he couldn't afford new tires so he bought recaps ! When his tire connections told him that these "soft" compound tires were being recalled because they wore out too fast! Max went to the dealers and got many of the tires for FREE! Max told his competitors, when asked "WHY" white wall tires? Max would reply - "They were FREE!". Max would put new spark plugs in the trash cans in front of his competitors! Wait for them to show up and do a dumpster dive in front of the them!!! Put the plugs in his car and then beat them!
Women at the time weren't allowed in the pits! So Max would have his wife Ina, drive the car to the track and tell the race officials - "That's My mechanic!" . To upset his competitors, sometime he wouldn't show up to his car until to the start of the race, leaving Ina by herself to prep the car! Taking off the mufflers, adjust the air in the tires, adjusting the carbs, filling just enough fuel for the race and taking off any unnecessary street equipment! To show his competitors that his car was so easy to drive, Max would have an elderly neighbor lady, drop off his Old Yeller II at the track! RIP Max & Ina
The enthusiasm and chemistry between the two of you and the car is infectious. 2 guys loving it.
I hope I don't end up crying at the end of this Old Yeller.
Take more then a bullet to put down that dog.
What an awesome machine. Nobody does this type of video better than Jay.
the ending of this video though.... so much love.
I did 😂...
Best doggone car in the west...
Dr. Nagamatsu. Thank you, you are a true testament to our hobby, men like you with the zeal and enthusiasm allow those of us who watch on the sidelines, grateful for your dedication. I always enjoy when Jay has such wonderful people who have a real,passion for Motorsport on. Thank you again.
This story and the Dr. deserve a longer documentary film. Can you imagine the dinner table conversation you could have with him and his wife? This is a piece of American history that needs to be recorded.
Thank you so much for this memory. In 1959, I went to Daytona Beach to see my first sports car race. I was attending Stetson University in DeLand and wanted to see the opening race at Daytona International Raceway. At 82, I can still see the most famous race cars 'rounding the curve on the backside of the track as they came off the banked track to the infield loop. As I think back, we were on the outside of the curve watching the drivers struggle mightily to avoid running us down.
In addition to the Ferraris and D-Jags, we saw the Scarabs, 'Birdcage' Maserati's, Aston-Martins. I remember Old Yeller and a Bocar. The Bocar was another custom built with a Chevy block and a 6-71 Jimmy blower driven off the crank and mounted in front of the engine beyond the front axle. In cornering, the torque was so great that the car swung back and forth like a shark tearing loose a piece of meat, pivoting on the front wheels as the rear broke loose.
There was every make and style of car at that race, but the 'junkyard dog' stood out as it out-dragged everything out of the corner. While the sound of the European engine was silk and satin, Max and Ina's creation always sounded as if it was losing parts all over the track. Memories of times long ago but thankfully still recalled by presentations by you and your 'Garage' show. Thank you, again.
Wife welded the chassis?! She’s a keeper!
aMEN
Totally!!
Where can I find a women like that?
@@rossilake218 no where anymore
Considering the era when the car was built, his wife could've been a Rosie the Riveter for the war effort. There were A LOT of female welders in the period.
Retreads were called MayPops when I was growing up. May pop today, May Pop tomorrow, May never pop.
Drive 'em fast, drive 'em slow. Quick off the line, and quick on the stop, but don't cut 'em too sharp, 'cause the mutha fuckas may pop 👍
In MA it was illegal to have recaps on the front axle. We used Bandags on the rear axles of our trucks. I sold a lot of them..
They still make retread truck tires. I had a set of retreads on a 3/4 ton truck years ago with never a problem but they were not suited to high speed use.
@@mrdanforth3744
No completely so. Local track stock car tires are recaps, as are a whole bunch of fleet tires. Skuffed and revulcanized carcasses. They last pretty well, really.
I remember asking a flight line type why the jets never touched when they did touch and goes. I was told they were using retreads on the 30 million dollar F16's and they had limited landings.
For some reason I got choked up at the end of the video. So cool to see Jay enjoy and appreciate the car so much. He’s driven nearly everything with wheels. To see him so awed by a car is an amazing thing. Thanks Jay and crew as always.
This guest knocks it out of park. Thanks for showcasing a bygone era.
Thanks Dr. Ernie for saving this iconic 50s automotive masterpiece in such an original state, few men like you in todays world.
It was so gracious of the previous owner to give him last right of refusal. I'm sure the guy with the trailer was plenty disappointed, but it went to a good home.
Dr. Nagamatsu living the vintage sports car dream.
Ah so
I met a lady that has a few pictures of this car on her wall.She said her husband helped with the carburetors. One picture was signed by Max saying see you when we turn 70. Really cool listening to her stories about this car.
I saw this car at the Riverside Raceway in the early 60"s. It did well during the race and he exited the raceway onto the main road just ahead of me! Great times!
Even though I had only lived in California for 2 years when it the Riverside Raceway closed it was sad to hear it was closing. I was only at the track once, 1988 for NASCAR. It's my understanding that the Riverside Raceway was closed because of the noise, the neighbors decided they didn't like the traffic and noise in their new homes just on the other side of the fence.
Being able to build your own race car for the equivalent price of a cheap econobox, be able to have it take on and beat Ferrari, Jaguar, Mercedes and Maserati prototypes at a race circuit and then be able to drive it home on the road after the race just sounds like heaven to me. I wish it were still allowed by modern government regulations. I’d do it in a heartbeat.
You can do it still...drag racing snd road racing people do this. A lot in AMA too
Dr. Ernie's a genuine hero for keeping that lovely old bucket out there, doing what it was intended to do. If that car has a soul then it's happy.
I can't speak for anyone else, but my most serious interest in the history of automobiles coincided with the covid years - if not for Jay, I think I would have gone crazy. What a great way to pass the time in isolation. Thanks, Mr. Leno.
I love Ernie and I love Jay. I saw Ernie at Goodwood in 2018 with this car and have seen him and Max, Bob, Dan and Carrol at shows over the years. My dad shot 8mm film of this car running at Riverside back in the day. I promised Ernie I would find that footage, still haven't located it but I haven't forgotten! If you ever are done with the car, Jay is the obvious next owner.
Thank you Mr. Leno (Jay) for taking us for a rip in Old Yeller and to Dr. Ernie for bringing it to us so that it could happen. What a great story from a couple of true car nuts. When You blurt out "Geezus!" I then know that thing is setting you into the seat. Hahhaha!
Thank you Dr. Nagamatsu for your enthusiasm and stewardship. . . This is a great story that I'd never heard. Sitting where the giants sat indeed!
I was born right around the same time that car was built. I was early in November 1959. I love the story about this car. What a great piece of American history. Thanks for sharing that with us.
Jay, if this good man isn't one of your best friends, he sure needs to be, you guys are so natural together when you talk shop.
I love how a car can bring people from all walks of life together. Thank you Dr. Ernie for preserving and keeping Old Yeller alive. Thank you Jay for another great story!!! 😁
It sounds like a CNC machine running. Epic
Next to the CNC machine is a 3D printer . Jay is going to make his own copy.
This guy’s great. Glad jay didn’t interrupt him too much. What an icon
Heck, Jay interrupts himself, lol.
As Jay said, you have to appreciate Dr. Ernie for treating this wonderful piece of history the same way Jay treats his cars: they need to be driven and seen, and not stuck in some museum! Thanks for letting us enjoy this amazing automobile!
That car is the definition of "don't judge a book by it's cover"!
I think the car is beautiful, and is exactly what you'd expect to find under the skin.
@@gizzyguzzi but it's appearance belies it's performance. That's what makes it special. A time when big budget and exquisite refinement didn't guarantee a win.
"It really has a soul to it."
Truer words were never spoken.
What a fantastic piece of kit.
Not gonna lie, I miss the Sunday night drops of jays videos, always felt like a treat before Monday morning.
Adolf??
@@MichaelandCathy1999 Wojciechowski?
Was thinking the same thing last night at like 11:55
What a beautiful soulful machine. I just love the rat look of it. It has such a naughty character to it. Sounds absolutely amazing. Thanks Jay. This video made my day ♥
You know it is a really special car when Jay doesn't want to get out of it.
Exactly! I was watching Jay and thinking, you just want to take it home with you... 😄
Impressive, most impressive. What an amazing slice of Americana.
You can feel the love these men have for this car...
Which one???😂
This was such a great time for racing, when a guy could design and build his own car, out of pretty much off the shelf parts and ingenuity, then go out and beat the professional race teams like Ferrari and Maserati. Fantastic.
This engine was torn down by me at JMS Racing Engines about a year ago. Can confirm the engine is basically stock expect the intake and carbs. Amazing built engine refurbished by and even more amazing shop. Thanks to jimmy shine for bringing it in.
Expect?
i always ( since '73) thought that car was beuatiful. to see it again, thank you both
A real Hot rod, race car always has a nickname. Glad its still around
Ernie is such a lovely and generous person ... Bravo!!
Max was the man I tell you what, and Dr. Ernie is quite the gentleman. What a fascinating automobile. Max worked on many iconic movies including Bullitt and Vanishing Point.
Jay, you are a whole lot more than a comedian, sir. That is probably the coolest car you have ever had on the Garage show. Thank you. And thank Dr. Ernie!
He's not much of a comedian
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder! This is one of the nicest looking purpose built race cars I have seen. I'll be looking for it at the historical races. God speed gentlemen.
I think he chose the nailhead over the hemi because they had almost the same torque (hemi was + 10 ft-lbs) and the buick motor was 100 lbs lighter.
Good enough reason for sure.
actually the 392 in 58 was rated at 430 ft lbs and thats the ultra rare efi 390 hp model. the 401 nailhead was 445 and 325 hp with a single 4 barrel. dealer installed dual quads bumped it to 345 hp and around 465 ft lbs. i would guess even more with the strongbergs full headers and the offy intake. 401 started in 59. 58 was the last older hemi. the biggest plague to a nailhead is what it gets its name from though. it cant get enough flow to make big hp numbers so thats where it loses out in higher revs.
now the 426 hemi made 480 but those didnt come around to 66 so it wasnt a thing at the time. however the 425 with dual quads made similar tq but again alot less hp. there was a higher comp rare nailhead that idk if specs was ever published. it was sold as race cars only like the rare w block 427 chevy had. i think the number built was in the teens but i would imagine its torque would be in the 500 range and would break 400 hp. i would have liked to saw what buick would have done if they kept the nailhead platform but they stopped production in 67 in favor of the big block buick. i could imagine though if the nailhead had made it to a stage 1 config with a new head design you really may have seen something that put the 455 stage engines to shame. i get why though the nailhead uses a odd trans bolt pattern and was alot harder to fit in the frame rails of the later cars since gm was going to more universal on trans and frames.
I believe you are correct. Max built the first Old Yeller in 1955 and the Buick was the lightest, large displacement V8 available at the time. That was the year Chev introduced their V8, which was lighter but smaller displacement, and later on Max did build some specials with Chev engines.
@@mrdanforth3744 well in 55 the biggest buick was the 322 nailhead. still lighter than the rest. the 331 caddi prob was the most power engine at that time but it weighed alot more than the buick. the sbc 265 made similar hp as 322 but alot less torque. plus the sbc chevy was slightly heavier as well. nailhead was a great design minus low flowing heads. if anyone ever designed a aluminum head for the engines it would be a screamer but its 68 yo engine that not alot where produced compared to the chevy ford or mopar stuff and only used for 13 years.
this "Old Yeller" video has a better ending
Jay Leno is such an American treasure for preserving these stories and history. Thanks Jay!
I love the "dirt wall" tires
Thanks to Ernie, Jay and crew for this awesome video!
The sound when he pulled off in third is one of the best engine sounds I've ever heard.
I keep thinking I saw the best show and then the next one is better yet!! What great work and great cars and even better history!! Love it!!
I will never forget celebrating this Old Yeller II in Goodwood at the Revival - so great times!
Insane history on this car.. It was active in racing when I was a kid and I have followed it well over 60 years. I just love the relationship the current owner has with the car.. as a dear friend of Max, and custodian of the archive... a true enthusiast.
That was nice of the Doctor to share this with us.. Thank you!
My new favorite episode! Awesome car.
This may be up there with McQueen's XK-SS in terms of coolness. Definitely the top-two coolest cars Jay has had on the show.
Only briefly touched on in this clip, but Balchowsky prepped the cars for Bullitt.
@@dipren443 interesting!!
@@dipren443 Yes Balchowsky knew McQueen well.
Its cool, but not XK-SS cool
@@christopherbyrne18
Umm. I think it’s way cooler than what a team of Jaguar designers, engineers and post-production customizers did.
Jay is so humble, so much more the just a ( comidian ) a true automotive historian. Thanks Jay for sharing your knowledge with us !!!!
and good human being
Love this channel. No drama, just pure humor, entertainment and car education.
I like the lines of this car. It sure is a sharp one. It was a neat treat to hear about this.
This is great, love seeing 2 enthusiasts who really love and have a real passion for everything about this.
Now that I have heard this, I cannot think of anything more American than this car & it's story.
100%
A heap of trash that'll blow your socks off. Makes me extremely proud to be an American.
You only heard the real sound of the car for a few seconds at the end...The helmet mic that was used during the ride didn't do it justice in fact it was horrible..Two completely different sounds from helmet mic to pulling into the garage
@@sidhawkwind8179 I meant hearing the story. A husband & wife team building a race car to beat the world, out of parts they sourced & assembled. Then succeeding.
I was totally enamored (as a teen in the late 70s) with old fiction racing story underdog books from the late 50s snd 60s at the library.
And this is a true story with the same plot and setting. Awesome.
I could hear and feel the 'torque pull' on this car, when you ease off the gas...
and the engine has a little surge before backing down. Doesn't make sense I know.
What a magic time (and place ) to be alive! Now we have social media... yech!
Props to Ernie for going after Old Yeller and spending plenty of time in the drivers seat to this day.
I actually like the way it looks. It’s a beautiful machine.
Grew up with sportcar specials and their brutish look and love it...there are some late model Chrysler products with similar appeal
So amazing to see this great race car still alive and tangible. Truly incredible
Beautiful piece of history.
Heck yeah, I loved them Buick nailhead engines, a lot of the old drag racers liked them too! Nice Jay!!! Man you can hear that thing, it wants to go!
What a nice man.
Thank you Dr. Ernie. Great job keeping Old Yeller Mark II alive at the end.
What a great custodian to this amazing car.
Thank you for sharing this with the world.
Beautiful sound, rough around the edges. Perfect car.
You only heard the real sound of the car for a few seconds at the end...The helmet Mic didn't do it Justice
Perfect collectible, driver , you dont want something perfect and keep it in the garage
As soon as I saw it,I wondered if it was a Shelby prototype.Awesome history.Thank you for sharing it.
It's dumb. The dentist is senile
I thought it was going to be a Briggs Cunningham car.
That was fascinating all around... car, owner, and history!
Wonderful memories! Being 5 years older than Jay and living in Santa Barbara at the time, I watched several of the Old Yellers at SB and Riverside between 1959 and 1963. It was easy to see the engine back them because anyone could walk into the pits and stand around while they worked on the car between races.
No body brings the history and personality of automotive history to life like Jay Leno. It is because he is the genuine article. He appreciates the passion and skill that people bring to it.
The late 40's and 1950's was a time when backyard sportscar specials were built, raced and loved. The Old Yeller was one of the high points of this time. Being nine years older than Jay I remember the time very well and with great fondness for the special cars Thank Jay and Dr. Ernie
Jay has that look of "I shouldn't be surprised at how perfect this car drives, but I'm shocked at how perfect this car drives!"
This the best episode ever.
So happy to see how happy Jay is in this episode.
EVERY TIME I think Jay has come up with the Best of All Time he comes up with another one! Absolutely PRICELESS!!
Yo, that car sounds like a freakin' animal!! And I don't know what y'all mean by ugly!! Jag style rear, Cobra inspiring front, that car is BEAUTIFUL, and Ivve ALWAYS loved nail-heads, great engine. That car is, all out, amazing. I love it!
What a joy! Amazing car, amazing people. Seems like every legend in the early American race community had a finger in this.
What a great episode. I met Dr. Nagamatsu at Road America in July of 1995 and again in 2000. One of the most down to Earth gentlemen I've ever been around that has some very nice cars. He would answer all questions with the same enthusiasm and tell stories that kept your attention riveted because of all the detail. So glad he gets this much deserved attention and recognition. Thanks Jay!
This thing is what cars are all about!!!
Years ago a local car dealer had a car on their used car lot named Old Yeller. I think it was a Chevelle. I had read about Max Balchowski and the car named Old Yeller years ago. Jay’s video refreshed my memory.
I saw this Cool Car at Lime Rock on more than 1 occasion! History in 3D!!
What a time capsule. Absolutely amazing. I have two Datsun Z cars and BRE and Peter Brock's name comes up a few times a month. That guy has had a LIFE !
Oh and Jimmy Shine cameo !
That's very California, now isn't it ?