Vehicle Description
Earl �Mad Man� Muntz made his name into a household word. Owner of
a Kaiser-Frazer dealership after World War II, he advertised
incessantly and vociferously on the radio, trading on his nickname
and promotion skills. Later, as a television manufacturer, he
employed the same tactics, including, of course, television
commercials. However, the man really responsible for the Muntz Jet
is less well known by the general public: Frank Kurtis.
Kurtis literally grew up building custom and race cars. In 1939, he
went to Indianapolis, where he was hired to make repairs on some of
the competing cars. In 1941, a car of his design was entered at
Indy, driven by Sam Hanks. After World War II, he began producing
midget race cars and also two more Indy racers, one for Ross Page
and the other the legendary Novi Special. His own entry in the 1948
race, the Kurtis-Kraft Special, finished second and rolled up first
place in championship points for the season.
In the late 1940s, Kurtis built a custom on a 1942 Buick chassis.
Following from this lead, he developed a production sports car, the
Kurtis Sport, introduced in 1949. It was a slab-sided two-seater
with aluminum and fiberglass body, and was offered completely
built, with the buyer�s choice of drivetrain, or as a kit. Prices
ranged from $1,495 to $3,495, depending on the customers wishes.
Many of the Kurtis Sports ran the Ford flathead V-8, often with
various speed components. Some 36 were built before Kurtis sold the
operation to Muntz in 1950.
Muntz extended the wheelbase to 113-inches, and added a back seat.
He chose the Cadillac OHV V-8 for power, upgraded the interior and
changed the name to �Muntz Jet.� After building fewer than 30 cars
at Kurtis�s Glendale, California, shop, however, Muntz moved the
operation to Evanston, Illinois, and made further changes. The
wheelbase grew another three inches, and the Cadillac engine was
abandoned for a 337-cid Lincoln flathead V-8. Transmissions were
usually Hydra-Matics, but a three-speed with overdrive was
available. When Lincoln went to overhead valves in 1952, Muntz
followed suit with the new 341-cid powerplant.
This 1953 Muntz Jet has the Lincoln OHV engine, fed by twin
two-barrel Ford carburetors and driven by a Hydra-Matic
transmission. The car has been the subject of a high-quality
restoration, painted bright yellow and upholstered in red pleated
vinyl. The floor has matching red carpet. Equipment includes a
Deluxe heater, a spotlight and outside mirror, both mounted on the
driver�s door. An RCA 8-track stereo player provides a nice period
touch.
Its known history begins in 1969, when Fred Roth, a well-known
collector of American sports cars, bought it from a used car dealer
in Long Beach, California. Intending to restore it, he later sold
it to Robert Renn of Illinois, in order to concentrate on another
Muntz. Later owners included Marcus Lowman and Jerry Quam. Quam is
believed to have restored it in the early 2000s. The Pond
Collection acquired it from him in 2004.�
Finished in a yellow exterior the paint and bright work has held up
very nicely, the black sfot top is like new, the red leather
interior is also very nice. This Muntz Jet is listed in the Muntz
Jet registry. Only 52 miles since done in the early 2000's �
Hagerty Valuation $105,000-$197,000