1949 Kurtis Kraft Sport Roadster

The Kurtis Sports Car has been called the first true American Sports Car. This car was the high school graduation gift to Frank Kurtis' son, Arlen, in October 1950. He was starting his senior year and Frank gave this car as an early graduation. The car was in the form of leftover Kurtis pieces after selling the design to Earl 'Madman' Muntz. The Muntz Jets were 13 inches longer, making them a four-seater.

The car was then built by Arlen with the help of Ward Miller, Harry Pilford, Tom Barnes and Dick Troutman, employees of Kurtis Kraft. The dashboard was designed to accept the 1949 Ford instruments but Arlen machined it to accept Stewart Warner gauges. The front fenders are aluminum; the rear fenders, hood, and trunk lid are fiberglass. In designing the car, Frank Kurtis made certain there was no trace of fender contour. The bumper also really wraps around - the whole car.

The car was finished in June 1951. Arlen sold the car when entering the Navy in 1952. The car reappeared a couple of times over the years, but it was not until 1990 that Carol, Arlen's wife and Arlen's sister, bought the car back as a surprise Christmas gift.

The car has now been restored by Arlen, the current owner - 60 years later.