1947 Kurtis Omohundro Comet Custom Roadster

The Crosley Hot Shot, with sales beginning in 1949, is remembered as America's first post-war production sports car, beating out the Corvette by several years. There was another American sports car produced two years prior to the Crossley, and that car was the Kurtis Omohundro Comet. It was a very modern car with a high-performance engine and a low center of gravity. Adding to its sporty attire, it was fitted with a streamlined body that would become a hallmark of all subsequent post-war sports cars in America. Many of the design features of the Kurtis Omohundro Comet would be seen years later by various other 1950's era builders.

The design was courtesy of Frank Kurtis, the famous Indy 500 race car fabricator that produced a successful line of vehicles in the early post-war era. Kurtis was aided by co-designer and builder, Paul Omohundro who was the owner of the drop hammer tooling Comet Company, located in Los Angeles, CA.

The Kurtis Omohundro Comet was clothed in aluminum with the windshield frame and grille were cast from bronze and then chrome plated.

Museums and Exhibitions:
•2008-2009: Tampa Bay Automotive Museum, Pinellas Park, Florida
•2009-2010: Petersen Automotive Museum's Exhibition on 'California Car Design'
•2010-2012: Sarasota Classic Car Museum, Sarasota, Florida
•2012-2013: LeMay Automotive Museum in Tacoma, Washington

Concours d'Elegance Appearances:
•2009: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Amelia Island, Florida
•2012: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Pebble Beach, California
•2012: Kirkland Concours d'Elegance in Tacoma, Washington
•2013: Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours d'Elegance, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Awards, Recognition, and Distinction:
•First Documented Sports Car Built in America After World War II
•Received 'The Bridgestone Award for the Most Elegant Sportscar' at the 2009 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
•Feature Car For All Promotion and Publicity for Petersen Automotive Museum's exhibition on California Car Design,' 2009-2010
•Feature Car For Inaugural Year Display at the LeMay Automotive Museum in Tacoma, Washington, 2012-2013
•Feature Car for All Promotion and Publicity for the Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours d'Elegance 2013
•10 Page Full Feature in Motor Trend Classic Magazine – Spring 2013