Vehicle Description
One of the most influential and successful constructors in American
motorsport history is Frank Kurtis. Running under the Kurtis-Kraft
name, Frank's Midgets, Sprint cars, and Indy cars amassed an
incredible record of success in open-wheel oval racing.
Kurtis-Kraft earned five outright wins at the Indy 500, and
countless numbers of victories on local dirt-tracks across the
country. As an offshoot of his oval racing business, Frank Kurtis
tried his hand at a road-going sports car in 1949. After just 15
cars, he abandoned that project and sold the rights to Madman
Muntz. The Kurtis Sports would not be his last attempt at a sports
car, however. From 1953 through 1955, Kurtis-Kraft offered the
500S; a widened, road-going sports car developed from the 500 B
Indy racer. The two cars share very similar chassis architecture
and suspension design, and the 500S is sometimes called "the
two-seat Indy car." About 25 examples left the Kurtis-Kraft
workshop as complete cars or in kit form, and buyers could select
from a wide range of engine options, with big V8s from Chrysler,
Mercury, Cadillac, Lincoln, and Buick engines being the top
choices. As the popularity of road racing exploded in the early
1950s, particularly on the East and West Coasts, the Kurtis 500S
offered buyers a sophisticated, race-proven chassis, with the
versatility off-the-shelf engine options to suit the owner. The
rising starts of sports car racing agreed - with Briggs Cunningham,
Frank McGurk, Mickey Thompson, and Bill Stroppe counted among the
impressive roster of Kurtis 500S owners and drivers. Among the
approximately 25 Kurtis Kraft 500 S roadsters built, chassis number
015, also known as The Murphy Special, is one of the most
fascinating and unique. This car, presented here with a
Pebble-Beach class-winning restoration, has an impressive record of
race wins and podium finishes that came primarily with its first
owner, Mr. Bill Murphy. Based in Culver City, California, Bill
Murphy was a life-long car guy who ran one of the most successful
Buick dealerships in America. He was already a successful race car
owner, running a series of Kurtis-Kraft Midgets for local hero Sam
Hanks. However, this new Kurtis would be Bill's personal steed to
use in the rapidly growing West Coast sports car racing scene. In
1953, Bill Murphy ordered his 500S directly from Kurtis-Kraft in
Los Angeles. Considering Murphy already owned several Kurtis cars,
it is not surprising to learn the 500S he had built was no
off-the-shelf effort. It is believed that Murphy bought a used Indy
Car to obtain the trick quick-change rear-end and aircraft-inspired
disc brakes made by the legendary Conze Brothers Machine Shop in
California. Of course, Buick power was the only way to go for
Murphy, who supplied a brand new 322 cubic-inch Nailhead V8, which
he later claimed made upwards of 300 horsepower on fuel injection
and was good for an estimated 180 miles per hour. Murphy wasted
little time before hitting the track for the 1954 season. Early
signs were positive, at the Bakersfield Sports Car Races, with
Murphy scoring a 2nd overall in the feature race and winning Class
B. A series of top ten finishes followed, for the remainder of the
season nearly all coming in West Coast events. Before the 1955
season, Bill handed the car to another California legend, George
Barris, who made new "flying wing" style front fenders and
relocated the headlamps to the grille, giving his 500S a distinct
appearance. The new look was reminiscent of the famous Flying
Shingle MG special of Ken Miles. Always the astute self-promoter,
George added his signature Barris Customs enamel badges to the
body, which it still wears today. Murphy and his Kurtis 500S
soldiered into the 1955 season with highlights including an overall
win at Santa Barbara, class victory at Torrey Pines (co-driving
with Bill Stroppe in the 6hr race), and 3rd overall at Willow
Springs. In March, Murphy and his team made the trek across the US
to take part in the grueling 12-hour race. Sharing driving duties
with the deeply talented Sam Hanks, they secured an outstanding 2nd
in Class B for big-bore modified sports cars. The Sebring result is
all the more impressive considering this was a prestigious World
Championship event, won by Mike Hawthorn and Phil Walters in a
Cunningham-entered Jaguar D-Type. The race history of 500S #015 is
extensively documented, with period photographs, magazine articles,
and anecdotes provided by previous owners. Period photos and
documents show the car ran in three distinct liveries: a
single-tone metallic maroon, the same maroon with white scallops
and white interior, and dark metallic blue. In the January 1956
issue of Road & Track magazine, an advertisement from Bill Murphy
Buick shows two Kurtis cars on offer. One is the Kurtis 500M sports
roadster (with full fiberglass road car bodywork) and 500S #015,
described as a "500 KK Competition Roadster," and offered in
ready-to-race condition for $6,500. The distinct Barris fenders are
in place, and the car is in street trim with a rear-mounted spare
wheel carrier in place of the tubular bumper. Murphy had just
acquired a new Kurtis-Kraft 500X with fully enveloped bodywork, so
the faithful 500S was retired from racing duty. It is unclear
exactly when the next owner, Barry Williams (not to be confused
with British Tin-Top ace Barrie "Whizzo" Williams) purchased the
car from Murphy, although the history file suggests it was in the
early 1980s. Williams was driving past Murphy's Buick dealership
and spotted the race car in the showroom, displayed in as-raced
condition and finished in dark metallic blue. They two made a deal,
and Williams became only the second owner of this historic
automobile. In 1999, after many years of enjoying the car on the
road, the Williams family sold 015 to noted Kurtis-Kraft collector
and historian Bill Chapin. In the early 2000s, Chapin handed the
car to Frank Kurtis' son Arlen Kurtis who used 015 as the template
for the limited production run of 500S continuation cars. Kurtis
then restored the car to concours condition in preparation for the
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance later that year. A special class
of early sports racing cars was assembled to honor the very
machines that raced in the first Pebble Beach road races of the
1940s and 1950s. The Murphy Special 500 S came away with top
honors, winning the class against some very tough competition. From
2010, the Kurtis was in the hands of Don Blenderman of Houston;
another noted Kurtis enthusiast and collector who also owned
Murphy's Kurtis 500X that replaced this car in 1956. Chassis 015
has since appeared at other events including the Meadowbrook
Concours and is an AACA Certified Race Car. True to spirit, it is
no trailer queen as proven by a successful run in the 2012 Colorado
Grand Rally. The most recent owner acquired it from Blenderman in
2016, where it has held a place of pride in his significant private
collection. In Blenderman's care, 015 returned to its 1954-1955
livery of dark metallic maroon with a black interior. It is in
beautiful condition with exquisite paintwork and detailing inside
and out. Since the car also raced in period with white upholstery,
a complete, concours quality white interior accompanies the sale.
It is highly authentic, retaining the Barris-customized fenders,
Barris-Kustom badges, Buick Nailhead 322, 4-speed Buick T-10
gearbox, and the extremely rare original Conze Machine rear axle
and disc brakes. Also included is the spare wheel carrier as shown
in the 1956 Road & Track advert, as well as the 2006 Pebble Beach
trophy, and a binder full of fascinating historical photos and
records. This extraordinary Kurtis runs beautifully and is equally
suitable for major concours, c...for more information please
contact the seller.
