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.<
/br>< /br>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.< /br>< /br>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.<
/br>< /br>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.<
/br>< /br>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.< /br>< /br>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. < /br>< /br>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< /br>< /br> <
/br>< /br>Hagerty Valuation $105,000-$197,000<
/br>< /br>View this vehicle here:
https://bno.com/202/auctions/auction_item/1953-muntz-jet-conv