1954 Kurtis Kraft 500C Roadster

This Kurtis 500C was raced from 1954-1957 by numerous drivers for its owner Ed Walsh, with accolades that include the 1956 Indianapolis 500, in which this car was known as the Filter Queen Special and driven by Rodger Ward, who finished 8th. After the 1957 season, Walsh sold the Kurtis to Fred Sclavi, who hired Eddie Kuzma to rebuild the car using a new Kuzma frame and the mechanical components from the Kurtis. Kuzma discarded the Kurtis frame which eventually came into the possession of Indy Car expert Jerry Weeks, by 1982. A restoration soon followed using the Kurtis chassis and appropriate period components and new bodywork.

The project was eventually taken over by Chris Cumberworth who later sold it to Donald L. Weber in the mid-1980s. The restoration was completed in 1987 and finished in 1956 Filter Queen livery. The car has remained in the Weber Collection since that time.

The engine is a 255 cubic-inch Offenhauser DOHC inline 4-cylinder unit with Hilborn mechanical fuel injection and delivering an estimated 400 horsepower. There is a two-speed Offenhauser manual gearbox and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes.

This Kurtis Indy Roadster was displayed in 1995 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2021