1954 Kurtis Custom Indy Streamliner

In 1954, Chapman S. Root placed an order with Frank Kurtis for a one-of-a-kind Sumar Streamliner for the 1955 Indianapolis 500. It wore a design by Chapman Root and Frank Kurtis. Just three weeks before the start of qualifying in 1955, the Sumar Streamliner was delivered by the Flying Tigers DC-3 to Indianapolis. The original cost of the vehicles was $25,000.

Outfitted with a 270 cubic-inch Meyer-Drake/Offenhauser, this car generated approximately 400 horsepower at 6000 RPM, carried approximately 60 gallons of gasoline, and its dry weight was 1,935 pounds. The Sumar Streamliner was 1.5 inches wider than Roadsters in 1955.

Drivers in 1955 included Sam Hanks, Tony Bettenhausen, and Jimmy Daywalt. In practice, not performing to the expectations of driver Jimmy Daywait, the crew removed the fenders and side panels. Daywalt qualified 17th at 139.416 mph and finished 9th with the stripped-down car and received $6,500 for a race purse. In 1956, Bob Sweikert, Cliff Griffith, and Elmer George drove the car. That same year, Marshal Teague tried to qualify for the Indy 500 and ran out of time. IN 1959, Marshal Teague drove this car at Daytona International Speedway at 171.821 mph.