The Shelby American (Winter 2021)

The SHELBY AMERICAN Winter 2021 16 Max Balchowsky and CSX2203 Dr. Ernie Nagamatsu, “the Flying Den- tist,” found some old photos taken after he had just purchased CSX2203. The original owner was a close friend of the legendary Max Balchowsky, a former racer (Old Yeller modifieds in the 1950s), stunt driver and preparer of movie cars (he performed the modifications to Steve McQueen’s “Bullitt” Mustang). Balchowsky helped Nagamatsu buy the car from its original owner in 1978. The car had an interesting history. Bal- chowsky maintained the car for his friend, over the years adding an automatic trans- mission, a hood scoop, custom roll bar and air conditioning. The unit was mounted in the glove compartment with an aluminum plate with louvers replacing the glove box door. Balchowsky used the car in three movies, including “The Love Bug” and “Spinout.” These photos show Balchowsky (in the coveralls he was famous for wearing when he was racing) shepherding the car at an open track event at Willow Springs. Bal- chowsky was happy to take the wheel and with Nagamatsu aboard, put the Cobra through its paces. Subsequently Naga- matsu decided to vintage race the car and it was race-prepped by Dave Dralle/Dralle Engineering in Torrance, California. It re- ceived a full-race 289 engine with Webers, reinstalled four-speed, competition ex- haust and body modifications similar to those on Cobra LeMans roadsters – larger side vents, flared fenders with 6.5˝ and 8.5˝ Halibrand six-spoke wheels, an oil cooler scoop and a shortened, bottom-hinged trunk which was necessary when the car acquired an aluminum hardtop from CSX2138. The car was repainted white with twin blue stripes and extensively vin- tage raced on the West Coast. Nagamatsu shipped the car overseas where he vintage raced the car in England at the Goodwood Revival, France, Aus- tralia and New Zealand. When Balchowsky was racing his Buick V-8 powered Old Yellers in the late 1950s he was famous for taunting (and beating) high dollar Ferraris and Maseratis. He flaunted the fact that he was racing on a shoestring, using recapped white wall tires (which he discovered had the perfect rub- ber compound for racing).