Whatever the case, this is one impressive looking red rocket. According to the seller, the 17-liter powerplant produces well over 200 hp and is strong enough to propel the red monster to speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h). It is a six-cylinder, T-head unit that require three spark plugs to ignite all the fuel and air it digests with each stroke. It comes mated to a three-speed transmission, and uses massive double chains (one on each side) to drive the gigantic rear wheels.
The engine was built by none other than Joseph van Blerck, a Dutch engineer who was born on August 17, 1876. He was a very skillful and innovative engineer who came to the United States in 1904 and worked for Henry Ford in Detroit. Around the year 1906 he formed the Van Blerck motor company, which would become one of the prominent producers of marine engines during the late 1910s.
This Gary Wales built Van Blerck Speedster is the only example ever created. In 2008 it was sold at the Huston Classic Auction presented by Worldwide Group Auctioneers for $288,200 (€217,400) including the buyer's premium. Now it can be yours for the low (starting) price of $199,000 (€150,000), but only if you decide to bid for it on eBay. Only question we can ask is: How does Jay Leno not own this already?
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