Looks very authentic, but isn't. It's a replica that doesn't just say so. Digging online unearths all sorts of information, 1915/2005 Van Blerck

17 liters? Big deal. The biggest I've come across was 28 http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/01/people-wonder-what-largest-displacement.html

For a write up from the last time it was for sale:

http://www.nextautos.com/aftermarket/ebay-auction-of-the-day-1915-van-blerck-special which states it's been built by Gary Wales, and talks about the last time this was on Ebay and sold for $288,000 at an auction when the Ebay listing failed to make a sale

So why is it there again so soon? Just 2 years since the last time in Jan 2008, and after the current owner claims to have spent considerable time and money recently to perfect the mechanicals on this beautiful machine . Not a good sign.

For the current ebay listing http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/17-liter-engined-Custom-1915-chaindriven-Monster-racer-/160514613218?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item255f6a9fe2#ht_7087wt_960 which in the comment section the current seller states that Gary Whales built 3 of these and the first link skirts around how much is real 1915, and how much is new and built to look old.

Ah Ha! Concept Carz come through with the info again! (Great website) http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z15255/Van-Blerck-17-Liter.aspx states that Auto Enthusiast and Pebble Beach award winner Gary Whales made it. There is also a great gallery of photos at Concept Carz

It was just at auction in August of 2010 by Russo and Steele in Monterey http://www.finecars.cc/en/detail/car/91319/index.html which used the same gallery that the current Ebay listing has.

The Monterey County blog toook a good close up look at it, and posted a gallery you won't see on the dozens of repeat and recycled news clip blogs that are everywhere today, http://www.blogmonterey.com/2010/08/12/the-five-coolest-and-most-outrageous-cars-we-saw-at-russo-and-steele/ it is #2

Looks like the car isn't unique in getting recycled on ebay. So are the photos. No one used anything but the same photo... must be "robot" websites that just repeat all they find, and never contribute original material. Why would anyone waste time on that sort of blog?

Why is it that some cars just keep getting flipped for profit, or investment potential? Don't these lose profit for most owners? Don't they ever find owners that are going to keep and enjoy them?

The previous owner also owned and sold a 1927 American La France hot air balloon basket retrieval car... yeah, that takes a bit to wrap your mind around... but how else would they go fetch their hot air ballons in the 1920's? http://www.victorycars.com/inventory_details.asp?InventoryNum=953

Via: http://carnut1.blogspot.com/ but all the homework of digging up it's rapid flipping auctions and sales are my own waste of time.

For another incredible creation of Gary Wales, similar to this, but based on a LaFrance Speedster see

http://www.tomstrongman.com/ClassicCars/LaBestioni/Index.htm