Vehicle Description
This 1953 Muntz Jet is a beautifully restored, boutique built
convertible that is extremely rare and highly collectible. The
background story behind the Earl "Madman" Muntz's Jet automobile is
extremely interesting. The beginning of Muntz's vehicle
manufacturing operation originated from Earl Muntz's desire to
build and sell an automobile. In order to get his auto manufacturer
off the ground, Madman Muntz purchased another automaker, Kurtis,
out of Glendale, California. Named after owner and legendary Indy
Car builder Frank Kurtis, the Kurtis Sports Car was a low
production 2 door, 2 seater roadster built with performance in
mind. However, Kurtis was only able to build a a measly 36 cars and
sold his outfit to Muntz for the sum of $200,000. Differentiating
Muntz's version from the original Kurtis design was the addition of
a backseat which was accomplished by adding approximately one and a
half feet to the car's wheelbase. In addition the early Muntz Jets
were hardtops, unlike Kurtis's original roadster design. To
compensate for the extra weight, Muntz initially swapped out
Kurtis's souped-up Ford Flathead for Cadillac's 331 Overhead Valve
V8 that produced 160 horsepower. After squaring away the
engineering and design side of the Muntz Jet, the Madman went off
to sell his eponymous personal-luxury car for $5,000. However, the
whopping price tag scared off potential buyers despite Muntz's
impressive ability to sell products to consumers. Later on, the
Cadillac V8 was substituted a Lincoln-sourced V8, after Muntz was
reportedly cut-off by Cadillac, likely due to his inability to meet
his payment obligations. Additionally, in an attempt to get the
Jet's MSRP down under $5,000, Muntz replaced the hardtop with a
removable "Carson" top, a change that did achieve the goal but just
barely. Despite the innovative look and design of the Muntz Jet,
the car was a sales flop for Madman Muntz who was losing thousands
of dollars from his eponymous automaker and some even said that
Muntz lost over $1,000 on every car he sold. Muntz was a much
better showman than a record-keeper so production figures of the
Muntz Jet are fuzzy, but most peg total production from 1951-1954
at 394 units, of which 136 were built in the final two years, which
makes this particular Jet quite a rare piece of automotive history.
Powering this Muntz Jet is a Lincoln 317.5 Cubic Inch OHV V8 engine
fed by a Holley Single 2 Barrel carburetor. The Lincoln V8 is mated
to an automatic transmission which makes this rare 50s classic
convertible an easy car for anybody to drive. Exhaust exits the
Lincoln Y-Block via a dual exhaust setup that generates a nice
throaty rumble out of the rear tailpipes. The original single
master cylinder has been upgraded to a dual master cylinder with
power brakes setup which makes bringing this Muntz Jet to a
complete stop much easier. With a pair of chrome outside mirrors,
squeezing this '53 Muntz into a tight space at the local car show
is a much more simple maneuver. A duo of outside chrome spotlights
are another nice touch from the period, and will help you find a
street address late at night. The white vinyl "Carson" removable
convertible top is in fantastic shape and it is outfitted with a
clear plastic rear window. The exterior chrome and brightwork shows
great as well and elevates the exterior look of the car. Riding on
a set of wide whitewall bias-ply tires with chrome wire
wheelcovers, this 1953 Jet has a great look whether you're cruising
down the road or you've got this rare convertible parked in your
garage. The exterior of this Muntz Jet has been refinished in a
beautiful Colorado Red paint that completes the gorgeous exterior
appearance of the car. The interior of this 1953 Muntz Jet is
stunning! The front bucket seats, center console, rear bench seats
and rear armrests have been reupholstered in beautiful Ivory vinyl
that provides a wonderful contrast to the exterior of the car. The
matching Ivory upholstered door panels with integrated ashtrays,
black carpeting, black and ivory padded dash, and steering wheel
all appear to be in fantastic condition as well and retain a nice
stock appearance. The engine-turned trimmed instrument cluster is
equipped with Stewart Warner gauges including a 160 MPH
speedometer, 6,000 RPM tachometer, amp gauge, oil temperature
gauge, oil pressure gauge, a pair of engine temperature gauges, and
fuel gauge. A retro-style Custom Autosound AM/FM/CD entertainment
system is integrated into the center console and completes the
interior look of the car. Whether you're adding to your existing
collection of classic cars or you're buying your very first one,
this 1953 Muntz Jet Convertible would make an excellent choice.
Give Ellingson's a call today at 763-428-7337!
*317.5 Cu. In. Lincoln V8
*Holley Single 2 Barrel Carburetor
*Automatic Transmission
*Dual Chrome Outside Spotlights
*Wide Whitewall Tires w/ Wire Wheelcovers
*Upgraded Power Brakes
*1 of 136 Produced
*Colorado Red Exterior
*Ivory Vinyl Bucket Seats w/ Console
*Ivory Vinyl Removable "Carson" Top
*Stock Instrumentation
*Odometer Reads: 38,719 Miles
If an inaccurate automobile price is inadvertently listed on this
Website, Seller reserves the right to NOT honor the erroneous
price.
For more information and a current list of vehicles, call
763-428-7337.