1957 Kurtis Kraft 500G Roadster

Kurtis-Offenhauser KK500G2 Roadster

At a very young age, Frank Kuretich began working with metal in his father's workshop. Word spread about his metal-working skills, and he was able to make a living working on and building his own race cars. Frank Kuretich later changed his name to Frank Kurtis.

After World War II, Frank Kurtis started to build his own midget race cars, and by the mid-1950s, Kurtis midgets were dominating the sport. Kurtis then turned his hand to American Championship racing during the heyday of the front-engined roadsters, and his Kurtis cars established a racing record second only to Harry Miller. This vehicle was built for J.S. 'Duke' Donaldson. In its first Indy 500, driven by Bill Cheesbourg, it qualified in 23rd as the 'Seal Line Special.' In 1959, then known as the 'Bryant Heating & Cooling Special,' it was driven by Eddie Johnson to 9th overall. Robert Sutherland acquired the car in the early 1980s and had it fully restored.