1956 Kurtis Kraft 500S Roadster

Like all of the cars built by Frank Kurtis, the 500S is a healthy slice of the American automotive pie. Kurtis Kraft Midgets, based in Los Angeles, CA, created a new, uniquely American sport, but the Kurtis chassis had dominated the Indianapolis 500 for nearly two decades. According to historian Alan Girdler, from 1950 until 1964, every winner of the 500 was either built by Frank Kurtis or directly influenced by his designs. As the heritage shows in this example, the 500S profile is pure Indy Roadster, and its chassis is an Indy car design right down to its torsion bar suspension and quick change rear end. The build quality and details of each of the 500s are also worthy of an Indy car, showing it was planned by a man who had done this sort of thing many times before. Fewer than 30 of the 500S models were ever produced. Many, like this example, were sold as kits with complete chassis, wheels, and suspension parts. In this particular instance, Cadillac motor mounts accompanied the kit when ordered by the original owner, Darrel W. Johnson of Ferndale, MI. Although started by Johnson, it remained unfinished for many years until purchased by Warren Wetterlund of California, who commissioned its completion of John Wyals and noted hot rod builder Roy Brizon. As was the custom of the time, a lighter Chevrolet engine was substituted for the original more powerful Caddy. Everything on the body and suspension panel layout was left as Kurtis intended for its original customer in 1956.