1963 Kurtis KK500L

This 1963 Kurtis Kraft 500L Chalik American Rubber Roadster is a unique design and the last of the 106 Indianapolis cars built by Frank Kurtis. The unusual features were a combination roll bar cage, rack-and-pinion steering, a full four-wheel independent suspension, and a distributor ignition rather than the normal magneto meant that Robert Glenn 'Junior' Johnson (of NASCAR fame) was not able to get the car up to qualifying speed for the 1963 Indianapolis 500. Although it was one of the best handling cars that year, its Offenhauser 252 engine was around 75 horsepower down in power due to the missing magneto.

Frank Kurtis's infatuation with automobiles began at an early age. His father owned a blacksmith shop located in Pueblo, Colorado, that repaired automobiles and horse-and-buggy. The family later moved to Los Angeles, CA, where Frank got a job working with Don Lee Cadillac, after lying about his age. By the 1930s, Frank was designing, building, and repairing racers in his four-car garage located behind his house.

In 1941 he created a car to be entered in the Indianapolis race which was driven by Sam Hanks. Near the mid-1940s, he had created two other racers designed for Indy. The first was for Ross Page and the second was the Novi Special. The Novi V8 Specials were racing cars designed to compete at Indianapolis from 1941 through 1965. These were very fast and powerful machines that had a reputation for their handling, which had claimed the lives of two drivers.

During the 1940s, Kurtis fostered a reputation for his midget and Indy racers. In 1946, the Kurtis Miller Ross Page Special was created and was ready to compete in the first Indy 500 after World War II. The rear faring was constructed of Plexiglas and powered by a 183 cubic-inch Offenhauser engine. It competed in the 1946-1948 Indianapolis 500 races.

During the early 1950s, Kurtis continued to build Indianapolis and midget racers. He even began building sports cars, which later evolved into the Muntz Road Jet. By 1952, the majority of cars entered in the Indianapolis race were designed and built by Kurtis Kraft.

In 1952, Herb Porter and Frank Kurtis built the Wolcott Special, also known as the Kurtis 500A. It ran at Indianapolis in 1952, driven by Joie James, where it set records and lap times of 140 mph.

The 500 S was constructed in 1953, and it quickly proved its potential at sporting events around the country. The 500 S was quickly followed by the 500 M. There were six 500 X cars produced during the mid-1950s. The cars featured a four-bar torsion suspension, hand-formed aluminum panels, and a 364 cubic-inch Buick nailhead engine with Hilborn fuel injection.

In 1956, Frank left the Kurtis-Kraft Company and his business partners to begin his new company called Frank Kurtis Company. The company continued to build midget roadsters, go-karts, and sports cars. Since then, the company has shifted its focus to designing airplanes. Contracts with Lockheed Corporation lead to the construction of Start Carts for the SR-71 Blackbird.

In 1968 Frank retired from the company leaving his son Arlen in charge.

During Frank Kurtis's illustrious career, he created vehicles that dominated the midget racing series, racers that filled the grid at Indianapolis, and sports cars that were street-legal Indianapolis racer variants. His custom creations, such as his 1941 Buick, was sensational, which ultimately led to the Muntz Jet automobiles.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2011