1960 Kurtis 500J Bowes Seal Fast Special news, pictures, and information

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Monoposto
Chassis Num: KK500J-119

This was the first Indy car with a Dean Jeffries pearlescent white paint job.

The Bowes Seal Fast Special was originally built by Frank Kurtis in 1959 as that designer's first 'laydown engine' design. The car owner /chief mechanic was George Bignotti, who would win the Indy 500 seven times during the next twenty years. Legendary dirt track driver, Jud Larson drove the car at Indy in 1959, finishing 29th after becoming involded in Mike Magill's lap 45 crash.

Don Freeland had a great race in the car at Milwaukee, finishing 3rd in the June 100-miler.

For the 1960 season, Bignotti had Quin Epperly rework the car, designing new framework, front suspension and bodywork. This new Epperly/Kurtis was assigned to twenty-five year old A. J. Foyt. Foyt qualified 16th for the 1960 Indy 500, but went out of the race in 25th place with clutch failure. The rest of the season yielded a 4th, 3rd and two 2nds, contributing to Foyt's first National Championship season.

The restoration work was done by Roger Beck, Ron Duwe, Warren Percel, Tom Smith, Ross Cummings, Brian Madden, David Wallace and Zeke Prince.

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Kurtis: 1950-1960

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