Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
The word 'Aguila' is Spanish, meaning 'eagle.' This Kurtis Aguila was designed by Frank Kurtis. It was a dual-purpose car that was legal for the new proposed SCCA 'Formula 366' Monoposto class and by fitting removable fenders, as a Sports Racer. It was the idea of Texas-based former bike racer Herb Stelter who had the idea of converting an Indy car chassis into a competitive sports car.
Stelter paid $12,000 for the Kurtis Aguila, serial number 62-S-1. It was designed to race in the open-wheel, Formula 366 series for 6-liter V8-engined cars. It was Stelter who had the bright idea that the car be entered in sports-car races by integrating the removable fenders with aircraft-style Dzus fasteners so that he could race in twice the number of events.
This would be the final racing car built by Frank Kurtis. During his career, Kurtis built over 110 Indy cars and more than 2,000 midgets, sprint cars, dragsters, and sports cars.
This car was featured in the January 1963 edition of Road & Track.
Stelter commissioned his mechanic, Dale Burt, to install a 327 cubic-inch Chevrolet V8 engine with overhead valves. The engine was mated to a T-10 Borg-Warner manual gearbox and a Kurtis solid rear axle with a Halibrand 'Quick-Change' type rear.
The chassis is a tubular chrome-moly steel ladder frame clothed with alloy body panels. The wheelbase measures 88 inches. There are disc brakes and Halibrand magnesium wheels.
The Kurtis was driven in SCCA competition from 1962 to 1964 with no outright wins ever scored. It was a brilliantly designed car, but it was troubled by teething problems. On nearly every outing, it suffered from engine problems or crashes.
After the 1965 season, Stelter parked the car. It sat in Burt's Houston warehouse for nearly two decades until a Colorado collector purchased it. It spent another ten years in storage.
In the late 1980s, it was purchased by a Florida vintage racer named George Shelley. A full restoration soon followed and was completed in the early 1990s. Upon completion, it was used in vintage racing during the mid to late 1990s.
In the 2000s, it was sold to a Pennsylvania-based collector and enthusiast of Kurtis Kraft cars.
In 2009, this historically important Kurtis Racing Special was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Arizona, presented by RM Auctions. The lot was estimated to sell for $160,000 - $260,000. It was sold for $165,000, including the buyer's premium.By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2016
Stelter paid $12,000 for the Kurtis Aguila, serial number 62-S-1. It was designed to race in the open-wheel, Formula 366 series for 6-liter V8-engined cars. It was Stelter who had the bright idea that the car be entered in sports-car races by integrating the removable fenders with aircraft-style Dzus fasteners so that he could race in twice the number of events.
This would be the final racing car built by Frank Kurtis. During his career, Kurtis built over 110 Indy cars and more than 2,000 midgets, sprint cars, dragsters, and sports cars.
This car was featured in the January 1963 edition of Road & Track.
Stelter commissioned his mechanic, Dale Burt, to install a 327 cubic-inch Chevrolet V8 engine with overhead valves. The engine was mated to a T-10 Borg-Warner manual gearbox and a Kurtis solid rear axle with a Halibrand 'Quick-Change' type rear.
The chassis is a tubular chrome-moly steel ladder frame clothed with alloy body panels. The wheelbase measures 88 inches. There are disc brakes and Halibrand magnesium wheels.
The Kurtis was driven in SCCA competition from 1962 to 1964 with no outright wins ever scored. It was a brilliantly designed car, but it was troubled by teething problems. On nearly every outing, it suffered from engine problems or crashes.
After the 1965 season, Stelter parked the car. It sat in Burt's Houston warehouse for nearly two decades until a Colorado collector purchased it. It spent another ten years in storage.
In the late 1980s, it was purchased by a Florida vintage racer named George Shelley. A full restoration soon followed and was completed in the early 1990s. Upon completion, it was used in vintage racing during the mid to late 1990s.
In the 2000s, it was sold to a Pennsylvania-based collector and enthusiast of Kurtis Kraft cars.
In 2009, this historically important Kurtis Racing Special was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Arizona, presented by RM Auctions. The lot was estimated to sell for $160,000 - $260,000. It was sold for $165,000, including the buyer's premium.By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2016
2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $450,000-USD $500,000
Lot was not sold
2016 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $450,000-USD $600,000
Sale Price :
USD $423,500
2009 Automobiles of Arizona
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $160,000-USD $260,000
Sale Price :
USD $165,000
Recent Sales of the Kurtis Aguila Racer
(Data based on Model Year 1962 sales)
1962 Kurtis Aguila Chassis#: 62-S1 Sold for USD$423,500 2016 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1962 Kurtis Aguila Racer Sold for USD$165,000 2009 Automobiles of Arizona |
Kurtis Aguila Racers That Failed To Sell At Auction
1962 Kurtis Aguila Racer's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1962 KURTIS-KRAFT AGUILLA | 62-S1 | 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $450,000 | $500,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $294,250 range.
1976 LEOPARD 1 A5 BATTLE TANK Chassis#:OTO168 Sold for $297,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1962 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS CUSTOM COUPE Chassis#:21847F143551 Sold for $297,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
2023 AUDI R8 GT Chassis#:WUAGBAFX5P7901212 Sold for $291,500 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1966 SUPERFORMANCE GT40 MKII KEN MILES SPECIAL EDITION Chassis#:GT40P2415 Sold for $297,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE Chassis#:AZ393315 Sold for $293,700 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1994 Porsche 911 Strosek Mega Speedster Chassis#:wp0cb2966rs465068 Sold for $291,500 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1932 Ford Sedan Delivery Deluxe Sold for $297,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV Convertible Chassis#:242679r167185 Sold for $297,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
2020 McLaren 720S Spider Chassis#:sbm14fca8lw005066 Sold for $297,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet Chassis#:11102712001022 Sold for $291,725 2023 Bonhams : The Zoute Sale | |
1969 Datsun Fairlady Z432 Chassis#:ps3000105 Sold for $297,000 2023 Mecum : Monterey | |
1965 Porsche 912 Prototype Chassis#:13415 Sold for $297,000 2023 Mecum : Monterey | |
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible Chassis#:js27v0b209752 Sold for $291,500 2023 Mecum : Monterey | |
2015 Lagonda Taraf Sports Saloon Chassis#:SCFTMDCS4FGS50011 Sold for $294,025 2023 Bonhams : Festival of Speed | |
1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback Chassis#:7r02q211621 Sold for $291,500 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro Sold for $291,500 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1965 FERRARI 212 BARCHETTA ROADSTER RE-CREATION Chassis#:330GT6513 Sold for $297,000 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 327/360 SPLIT-WINDOW FUELIE Chassis#:30837S100332 Sold for $291,500 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1998 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster Sold for $291,500 2023 Mecum : Glendale | |
1965 Ford Mustang Fastback Sold for $291,500 2023 Mecum : Glendale |
1962 Kurtis Aguila Racer
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery