1952 Muntz Jet

By the late 1940s, Indy race car builder Frank Kurtis was building aluminum-bodied two-seater 'Kurtis' sports cars based on the 1941 Buicks. In 1950, he sold the operation to Earl Muntz (who had purchased two examples), who had acquired his fortune selling used cars to returning servicemen and his Mutz television sets. His televisions were simple, low-cost, and of his own design. He is credited with inventing the abbreviation 'TV' - he even named his daughter Tee Vee. Another one of his inventions was the stereo 4-track tape player that was the basis of Bill Lear's 8-track. His outrageous radio and television ads were shown throughout Southern California, earning him the sobriquet of 'Mad Man.' Mike Shore had created the campaign, with Muntz dressed up as Napoleon and shouting, 'I want to give them away, but Mrs. Muntz won't let me ... She's CRAAAZY! ... I buy 'em retail, sell 'em wholesale – It's more fun that way.' Over the years, there were a total of seven Mrs. Muntzes.

Muntz acquired the line, tools, rights, and unfinished chassis from Kurtis. The two-seater sports car sold by Muntz were called the Muntz Jets and were priced at $5,500. Kurtis made a few changes for Muntz, including lengthening the wheelbase to 113 inches and adding rear seats. The first 28 examples were built in Glendale, California, and the remainder in Evanston, Illinois. Earl Muntz once claimed that 394 cars were built, however, records and registries deduced that fewer than 200 cars were completed by the time the operation ceased in 1954. The production proved uneconomical, Muntz also stated that he lost approximately $1,000 on each example. The $5,200 price tag for the Muntz Road Jet was more expensive than the contemporary Lincoln and Cadillac. Production began in 1951 and came to a close in 1954.

The styling of the Muntz Jet was streamlined and simple. The chassis was advanced for its time with a front subframe supporting the independent front suspension, and the engine joined to a rear subframe by structural sheet metal rocker panels in a semi-unit body structure. Bright and flashy paintwork was in keeping with 'Mad Man' Muntz's personality, and it meant the Jets were highly visible and flamboyant.

The early Muntz Jets were powered by overhead-valve Cadillac engines until GM decided to stop the supply. Muntz secured a supply of Lincoln V-8 engines and Hydramatic transmissions from Ford. Most were flathead Lincolns, with the final cars being powered by a 205 horsepower overhead valve Lincoln V8, giving the final Muntz Jets a top speed in excess of 100 mph. These final Jets also rested on a wheelbase that was stretched an additional three inches for more room for rear occupants.

Actor Victor Mature was employed by Muntz to sell his Muntz Jet Sports car to his Hollywood friends in return for a 'spiff.' Celebrity owners included Ed Gardner (of radio's Duffy's Tavern), newscaster Alex Dreier, Western star Lash LaRue, Mickey Rooney, Gloria DeHaven, Clara Bow, Grace Kelly, Vic Damone, Josephine Dillon (a gift from her husband, Clark Gable), and orchestra leader Freddy Martin.

Standard features included a console between the front seats and seat belts. The seat belts were attached to the seat frames and not the floors, and were more show than functional. Options available on the Muntz Jet were wire-recorder in the radio and a cooled liquor cabinet in the compartments under the back seat armrests.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2020