LOT 813 ¤
c.1959 'Super Shaker' Bonneville Streamliner Engine no. 7
Sold for US$39,200 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 813¤
c.1959 'Super Shaker' Bonneville Streamliner
c.1959 'Super Shaker' Bonneville Streamliner
Engine no. 7
Engine no. 7
*Legendary 'Super Shaker' Streamliner, built by renowned hot rodder Bill Burke
*Raced in 1959 Bonneville Nationals achieving 151.78 mph
*Fully restored to its original glory in 2008 by Jerry "Weeks" Baker
*Cover car for Hot Rod and Rod & Custom magazines in 1960
*Accompanied with large history file, featured magazines and Bonneville trophies
*Retains its original fiberglass streamliner body
THE CAR OFFERED
This legendary Harley-engined, streamliner top speed machine was the brainchild of veteran hot rodder, Bill Burke of San Gabriel, California. It competed in the 1959 Bonneville Nationals, where Burke eclipsed a speed of 151.7 mph, a very respectful time for the era and considering the engine size. The car competed in the F/Streamliner class where it achieved the impressive speed utilizing a Harley Davidson V-Twin Knucklehead engine. The engine, starting life as a 61 cubic inch displacement, was bored and stroked to a 90 cubic inch size, along with modified cylinder heads with a custom camshaft work in conjunction with a pair of custom Riley carburetors. This trick setup was the recipe to its successful run at the 1959 Bonneville Nationals.
Burke was well known in the hot-rodding world and had a great reputation for building successful high-speed cars including a large number of belly tankers. Using all of his knowledge, he set out to build a lightweight, purpose built, no compromise high speed highly aerodynamic racer. The result was this highly slippery, streamlined no frills racecar you see here. The car featured a Burke built, lightweight fiberglass body connected to a modified lightweight chassis, believed to be from a Cooper race car. This gave the car a total weight of approximately 600 lbs dry. With the success and uniqueness of the car, it captured the attention of the biggest rodding magazines of the time; it graced the cover of Hot Rod Magazine in their January 1960 issue as well as the cover of Rod & Custom Magazine in their August 1960 issue, both magazines will accompany the car.
The car traded hands in the late 1960s to Jim Deist, a pioneer in racing known for making some of the best racing safety equipment. After a long period in Deist's hands, the car was sold to Jim Mann in 2001. The car was later sold to Joe Baird and apparently traded hands to another buyer after that, when it was finally purchased by Jerry 'Weeks" Baker from Indianapolis in 2004. Baker would then commence on a multi-year restoration to bring the car to its original configuration. Finished in its wonderful, original yellow livery complete with the appropriate Mooneyes disc wheels, the cars presence brings large levels of nostalgia. After the restoration was completed, the car attended the 2008 Bonneville Nationals, where it received the honor of being the first car to leave the line and open the entire competition.
The car entered the Richardson collection in 2019, where it has lived ever since in a climate-controlled collection and living in its own display case. The car will be accompanied by its matching racing helmet, a history file which contains restoration photos, miscellaneous documents, the aforementioned vintage magazines, as well as its 1959 trophy from Bonneville. A truly rare opportunity to own a legendary Bonneville car rich in both history, ownership and nostalgia. A wonderful addition to the most discerning collections.
Footnotes
Sold on a Bill of Sale
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