1949 Kurtis Kraft Sport Roadster

Built by Frank Kurtis, this Ford-powered sports car set a land speed record of 142.515 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1949. The driver was Wally Parks, the first editor of Hot Rod Magazine and founder of NHRA. Vic Edelbrock built the 239 cubic-inch Ford flathead engine. The Ford transmission consisted of three forward gears with overdrive. The differential was sourced from Studebaker, as was the suspension.

Kurtis later sold this car to an amateur racer. After he destroyed the engine, the car traded hands several times. Finally, using Wally Parks and Arlen Kurtis (Frank's son) as consultants, it was restored to its original condition by H. DeWayne Ashmead.

This car is the first of the 16 production Kurtis Sports Cars built by Frank Kurtis. The rights to the car were then sold to Earl 'Madman' Muntz, who used the design as his basis for the Muntz Jet.

Frank Kurtis built the majority of the Indy race cars in the 1940s through the 1960s. He wanted to incorporate that racing technology in a sports car, and he designed and built that sports car in 1949.

Kurtis's sports car was originally intended to have a Studebaker powertrain, but when a V-8 did not materialize he switched to Ford.

Kurtis built 16 production sports cars plus two prototypes. Cash flow prevented him from continuing and he sold the molds to Earl 'Madman' Muntz. Kurtis then built the first Muntz Jets. The Muntz, which shared many of the same body parts, included fenders and had 13 inches added to the wheelbase to allow for a rear seat.

This example is powered by a 1949 Ford Flathead V8, the most popular engine for the car. The body, one of the first unitized types, is all aluminum with steel doors.

Kurtis later sold this car to an amateur racer. After he destroyed the engine, the car traded hands several times. Finally, using Wally Parks and Arlen Kurtis (Frank's son) as consultants, it was restored to its original condition by H. DeWayne Ashmead.

This was the first production Kurtis Sports Car. It set a land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1949 (142.42 MPH). The driver was Wally Parks, the first editor of Hot Rod Magazine and founder of NHRA. Vic Edelbrock built the 239 cubic-inch Ford flathead engine. The Ford transmission consisted of three forward gears with overdrive. The differential was sourced from Studebaker as was the suspension. It was later raced in New York and Florida. Since being rescued as a 'parts car,' it has undergone a complete restoration under the supervision of the original driver.