Parnelli Jones' Baja Race "Big Oli" Ford Bronco is for sale.

The historic 1969 Ford Bronco "Big Oly" driven by motorsports legend Parnelli Jones in the Baja 1000 will be offered in Mecum's 34th Annual Original Spring Classic Auction this May in Indianapolis, the company's founder and president Dana Mecum announced Thursday. The sale will take place at Mecum's 34th Annual Original Spring Classic Auction in Indianapolis this May, company founder and president Dana Mecum announced Thursday.

Jones is "one of the most diverse and successful drivers in motorsports history," Mecum said.Jones, who was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1992, won the Indianapolis 500 in 1963, the 1971 and 1972 He is best known for winning the Big Oly desert race, the Baja 1000.

"His other most notable career moments include being the first Indianapolis 500 driver to qualify over 150 mph in 1962, winning the race in 1970 and 1971 as team owner with driver Al Unser Sr. among others," Mecum said.

Big Ollie's history began when Jones turned down fellow racer Bill Stroppe's offer to run with him in the Baja 1000 event in Mexico.

Unhappy with the rejection, Stroppe told a friend that "Jones is not man enough to run off-road." Stroppe's statement was just the right provocation to get Jones to join him and enter him in the 1968 Baja 1000 in a mostly stock Bronco.

Not surprisingly, the unaltered bronco did not work, so Jones set out to build the most special bronco, Big Ollie, to win future Baja 1000s.

Together with Stroppe mechanic Dirk Russell, Jones built a faster and stronger lightweight bronco with a tube frame and body made of fiberglass and aluminum. They powered the custom Bronco with a 351/390 hp Ford Windsor V8 engine mated to a modified Ford C6 B&M full race transmission.

Other features include a chromoly space frame, extreme shock absorbers and suspension travel, a large custom wing, and a spool rear end for improved traction.

The custom Bronco was completed in time for Jones and Stroppe to run in the 1970 Baja 1000, sponsored by the Olympia Brewing Company (which became known as Big Ollie). Big Ollie unfortunately broke an axle and was forced out of the race, but the Bronco made up for it by winning the Baja 1000 in 1971 and 1972.

"The Baja 1000 is known as the most prestigious and toughest off-road race in the world," Mecum said.

"Big Oly also won the Baja 500 Mint 400 in 1973, cementing its legacy as the most important Bronco-inspired vehicle ever built and the vehicle that may have contributed most to the eventual commercial sales success of this model line.

The Big Oly's appearance at Mecum "will be another historic moment for the winning Bronco, crossing the block from Jones' personal collection, along with other impressive vehicles, including an F1 race car, and a selection of cherished memorabilia from Jones' private office. It will be.

"The entire Parnelli Jones Collection will join approximately 2,000 other vehicles and a large group of road art pieces to be offered at the annual auction," Mecum stated.

For more information on this 1969 Ford Bronco "Big Ollie" and the other offerings from Jones' private collection that will pass through Mecum's auction block this May, visit Mecum's website.

Written by Racheal Colbert, this article originally appeared on ClassicCars.com, an editorial partner of Motor Authority.