By Dean Larson

I always find it exciting when I come across a custom car build that takes some time to figure out; when they cause you to think instead of being able to easily put it in a box as a Cobra, a Corvette or a 1965 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty-Special Brougham. Ludicrously long car names aside, I recently came across this unique carbon fiber-bodied roadster on eBay that made me think for a minute, and I’ll admit, I’ve really come to enjoy this car after studying it inside and out. Described only as a “Cobra-style, Old Yeller race car,” this roadster requires some unpacking right out of the gate.

After the 1950s film Old Yeller earned its culture-defining status in America, the name was given to a pair of race cars driven by Max Balchowsky. Old Yeller the junkyard dog, and Old Yeller II were ratty scrap yard racers powered by Buick Nailhead V8s. Max and Old Yeller II became heros on racetracks across the country, where they regularly competed against the latest European sports cars from Jaguar, Ferrari, Maserati and more. While race fans revered Max and the American ingenuity used to compete with nothing more than know-how and scrap yard parts, the fact is that Old Yeller II was a great car by anyone’s definition. In 1960 alone, the car won six out of the 15 races it entered. Yeller raced competitively for nearly 20 years, and was driven by some of the country’s best drivers, including Carroll Shelby, Bob Bondurant and Dan Gurney. Fortunately the racecar received a better afterlife that the fictional hound it was named after, and the car was fully restored in the early ’90s.

So how does this all relate to the custom roadster for sale on eBay? Well, it doesn’t really seem to. The seller explains that the car may have been built as a modern version of the Old Yeller race car, but the parallels seem limited given the body style and powertrain selections. We’ll never know as the builder passed on years ago, but either way, it doesn’t detract at all from the final product.

So what is the final product then? This roadster strikes me more as the ultimate Austin Healey 100 on steroids. For one, the car is titled as a 1955 Healey 100-4, indicating that there’s probably some small piece of original Healey in there which should simplify things at the DMV. It’s also not too difficult to pick up the Healey 100’s basic shape within the proportionally enhanced composite body. The angled bodylines on the doors, the sloping rear section and tall front fenders all point back to the Healey 100. There are a few elements of the car’s design that probably lead the seller to use the phrase “Cobra-style,” including the wide-mouth oval grill opening, three-point roll hoop, widened bodywork and large wheel diameter, but that seems a bit more incidental.

Whatever the builder’s inspirations were, it’s clear he built one badass racer. The steel chassis looks to be very well designed, and (potentially) overbuilt. Square stock, likely 2 inch by 3 inch, forms the foundation of the chassis, and the front and rear sections are well reinforced and triangulated. A rigid firewall, driveshaft safety loop and steering column bushing are all built into the chassis, showing impressive forethought.

A significant amount of work also went into the rear axle. It’s a traditional solid axle, likely a Ford 9-Inch, but it’s supported by coilovers instead of leaf springs. A pair of radius arms and a Panhard rod keep the axle located under the vehicle. The axle center section is unique though, and a small disc brake is mounted on the driveshaft yoke. It’s not immediately obvious whether this brake aids the hub-mounted discs under normal braking, or if it serves as a parking brake.

The rest of the car’s mechanicals continue to show a high degree of planning and purpose. Four Weber carburetors feed a 383-cubic inch small block Chevrolet, which should be pump-gas friendly with a 10:1 compression ratio. Front accessories are driven by heavy-duty belts and AN lines are used throughout the car. Behind the firewall, a clear Lexan panel shows off a well-organized fuse panel, ignition system, master cylinders and fire extinguisher.

The seller is unclear on the origins of the enhanced bodywork, but we’re sure someone invested a boatload of time and/or money, as the entire thing is carbon fiber. And the shapes aren’t simple either. The entire front section has complex enclosed structures and the carbon fiber weaves are lined up with care and clear coated. Step inside the otherwise sedate cockpit and you’ll find yourself surrounded by more carbon fiber on the doors and behind the seats. The dash is well designed and the instrumentation couldn’t be better. The whole setup is purpose-built, yet very tasteful. It’s also worth noting that the carbon fiber work in the interior matches the rest of the bodywork, suggesting that one person (possibly the builder) did all the work — an impressive feat.

As I’ve explored the details on this Healey-esque roadster, I’ve found myself smitten. I’ve never seen anything quite like it, and the car only gets better the deeper you dig. It’s really a shame the seller doesn’t know more about the builder, as the car is an impressive achievement that likely took years to complete. Maybe the car just has me under its curse, but I’d dare to say it’s even a bargain at just $48,500. Show me a more unique carbon fiber-bodied track car with a street title, and I might change my mind. But for now, I’ll maintain that this car is at least $30,000 undervalued.

Check out the listing here on eBay.