Showing posts with label Kurtis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kurtis. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Friday, December 27, 2024
in 1958 Denny Weinberg and his "Coast Grain Special," a Chrysler-powered Kurtis 500 that consistently turned 11 second times.
A mouthy owner of a new Corvette challenged Denny to a race. Denny accepted and even offered to spot the Corvette 100 yards.
The officials complied and the Corvette was spotted and given his own starter.
The Kurtis won handily.
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
the Brand X at Lions... thanks Larry W! (not what you sent, I know, but, really cool and gleaned from that video) This was a combo of Kurtis, AK miller, a junkyard Corvette chassis, and Dougs headers
Jack Lufkin and his “Brand X” Corvette
13:1 compression, Isky 505-C cam, Hilborn port fuel injection, a Mallory Mini-Mag fired the mix, and a special set of square-port headers by Doug vented the exhaust.
Kurtis’ shop built the custom body, which was meant to be a replica of a ’62, but the proportions seem all wrong. That’s because it was treated to a 6-inch channel, and the lower edges of the body tapered inward towards the full belly pan.
ran a 193.44 mph class record at the salt,
nabbed the NHRA quarter-mile speed record in the BM/Sp class at 131.95 mph,
and the NHRA half-mile record at 151.51 mph.
nabbed the NHRA quarter-mile speed record in the BM/Sp class at 131.95 mph,
and the NHRA half-mile record at 151.51 mph.
Lufkin worked with Ak Miller, whose engine building skills and talent behind the wheel made him a fierce competitor in virtually every form of wheeled motorsport
The foundation for this race car was a ’60 Corvette chassis Lufkin found in a JUNKYARD. He drilled lightening holes wherever he could, and had Frank Kurtis (legendary Indy car builder, among other things) construct a beam-axle frontend with stock spindles and brakes and an Indy-type torsion bar suspension. Lufkin retained the Vette’s rearend, swapping ring-and-pinion gears as needed—tall 3.08s for Bonneville, 4.11s for the half-mile drags, and 5.12s for the quarter.
It was subsequently sold to Doug Thorley of header fame who campaigned it Modified Sports classes.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/corvette-hot-rods-picture-thread.545759/page-331
Saturday, July 29, 2023
imagine, for a moment, how cool it would be to take this 49 Kurtis onto El Mirage for fun!
The first of two “Front-wheel-drive Specials” built for Gil Pearson by Frank Kurtis, and among the last designed by legendary engineer Leo Goossen
Powered by a 270-cu. in. Meyer-Drake Offenhauser engine with twin Riley carburetors and Bosch mag
Used in the 1949 film, The Big Wheel, starring Mickey Rooney
Sympathetically preserved and subsequently exhibited at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo23/monterey/lots/r0189-1949-kurtis-kraft-pearson-fwd-special/1377160
Saturday, August 06, 2022
do you want the final racing car built by Frank Kurtis? It's got a 327, Halibrands, and Airheart Disc Brakes
When Frank Kurtis was ready to retire in 1962, he and his renowned staff designed and built a small batch of beautifully styled two-seater sports racing cars, and this car in particular, chassis 62-S1, took the concept one step further.
It was commissioned by a Houston auto parts distributor and motorcycle racer turned race car driver. He thought an Indy-type car would be an excellent basis for SCCA competition, and Frank Kurtis suggested that one could be built for both open-wheel Formula 366 and sports car races by designing a car with quickly removable fenders via Dzus fasteners.
It is the only Kurtis-Kraft racing car built with a dual-purpose body.
Monday, March 08, 2021
Renowned Indy car and midget builder Frank Kurtis had his shop in Glendale on the same street as Ed Winfield and Barney Navarro
the 50s were just that incredible for hot rodding,
Tony Nancy was a shop away from someone famous too, and Barris, Jeffries, etc etc.
Famous guys just seemed to have businesses in the vicinity of other famous guys
Friday, March 23, 2018
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
The Bardahl Special, chassis #363
Commissioned by Andy Granatelli for driver Freddie Agabashian to run in the 1953 Indy 500 this car was a contender for the outright victory, and one of the fastest cars at the speedway that year.
Weighing in at only 1800 lb, sitting on a 96.5-inch wheelbase and powered by a 270 Offy made this a very potent package. Agabashian qualified in second position at a speed of 137.546 mph.
Bill Vukovich started on pole and dominated one of the hottest 500s in history. Agabashian ran strong dogging Vukovich until the 102nd lap - exhausted by the extreme heat - in a year when only five drivers went the distance - he was relieved by Paul Russo. They finished in 2nd place.
For 1954, Granatelli entered the Kurtis for driver Jim Rathmann. In practice the car was very fast, but a qualifying error erased their first attempt with what Granatelli insists would have been the speedways first 140 mph lap.
Rathmann did not raise his hand to signal he was attempting to qualify and his run was not allowed. Granatelli protested the ruling. As the argument went on the engine was kept running and because Granatelli did not want competitors to see his new ram air induction system the hood was not opened which resulted in the engine overheating. The one of a kind 404-hp engine could not be repaired in time to qualify for the race.
Discouraged, Granateli sold the car to Racing Associates who entered the car in the last 500 in 1955. Driven by Cal Niday, the car qualified ninth at 140.302 mph but crashed out of the race on lap 170.
The car was stripped of its mechanical parts and stored for the next 30 years in Southern California. In the mid '80s the car was discovered and a complete restoration began.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51567&page=391
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Tuesday, May 05, 2015
the 1957 Kurtis, the Caballo II, paint by Von Dutch original
I'm guessing this tach is an old rare one... time will tell, if I can find time to look it up
Saturday, February 14, 2015
the Southern California Plating Company 1935 phaeton truck, customized by Frank Kurtis, and has Woodlight headlights (who knew?!)
a Carson top, the very 1st DuVall windshield and custom body work by Frank Kurtis.
The chassis and body were lengthened 12 inches between the front doors and rear fenders. The rear doors were welded and filled.
Chad Schultz of Joe Newell's Body Shop built the lift up rear door to accommodate bumpers and other plated items, with a flat door inside. The distinctive Cord inspired grill was handmade by Frank and George out of flat brass formed into a sort of lazy Z-cross section, followed by careful bending into the curved shapes, before it was all plated.
Brand new 1936 Ford front fenders, hood, and radiator shell were fit on the car before the grille was made.
The car was restyled using a 1936 Cadillac front bumper, custom made rear bumper, hidden Wood Lites headlights placed in the apron between the fenders and the grille, smooth running boards and custom SoCal chrome wheel covers hiding the wire wheels.
how crazy is that, woodlight headlights... I didn't know that until now
photos from http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_car_photos/beautiful_custom_cars/george_duvalle-/socal_plated_35/pages-8.html
http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Southern_California_Plating_Company%27s_1935_Ford
colored image from http://s163.photobucket.com/user/nostalgia59/media/So%20cal%20plating/SoCallDuValle.jpg.html
these are probably the only images of it on the internet... very damn few for such a famous and good looking custom
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
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