Gentleman

"edu-petrolhead" (edu-petrolhead) 07/22/2014 at 09:36 • Filed to: tips

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I present you the Muntz Jet. Did you knew it existed?

Edit: Hat tip to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , because this is a Kurtis Kraft, 1949. But, according to wikipedia, Kurtis was bought by Muntz in 1950, and the model renamed to Muntz Jet.

crowmolly > edu-petrolhead 07/22/2014 at 09:37

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Pictured: Muntz Camaro

JR1 > edu-petrolhead 07/22/2014 at 09:47

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I believe it is a 53? Isn't it considered to be one of the countries early attempts at a sports car?

edu-petrolhead > JR1 07/22/2014 at 09:56

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I don't know. I saw this model on Hemmings blog and googled it for high res pictures.

According to Wikipedia,

The Muntz Car Company was created in Glendale, California by Earl "Madman" Muntz , a well known local used car dealer and electronics retailer. It was in existence from 1950 to 1954. Muntz was assisted by Frank Kurtis , who had earlier attempted to produce a sports car under the Kurtis Kraft marque (the Kurtis Kraft Sport, which sold just 36 units by 1950).

In 1951, Kurtis sold the license to manufacture the cars to Muntz, who quickly rebadged them as the "Muntz Jet", extended the body to make it a 4-seater, and exchanged the Ford engine with a larger Cadillac V8. Later, this engine would be replaced with a less expensive Lincoln side-valve V8.

The car, a sports coupe , was manufactured in Chicago , IL in the 2900 block of N. Sheffield Av. and featured its own unique design, with aluminum body panels and a removable fiberglass top that were manufactured in-house. Other parts (such as the engines) were sourced from other manufacturers. It was capable of 112 mph, a significant achievement for a road car at the time. It was featured on the cover of the September 1951 issue of Popular Science (with a Jaguar and an MG ).

The company managed to produce only about 400 cars during 1951-1954, and due to the high manufacturing cost, Muntz himself estimated that his company lost about $1,000 on each car; this financial drain eventually caused him to close the company.

Because the cars were distinctive in design, well-built and good performers for their time, Muntz Jets today are rare and valuable collector pieces.

KnowsAboutCars > edu-petrolhead 07/22/2014 at 09:57

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Yes

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > edu-petrolhead 07/22/2014 at 09:59

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It looks like Sunbeam tried to copy a Mercury.

JR1 > edu-petrolhead 07/22/2014 at 10:00

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So I wasn't totally off. Thanks for the wiki article. Always good to learn something new!

quarterlifecrisis > edu-petrolhead 07/22/2014 at 10:02

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I did. Courtesy of Chasing Classic Cars. And then I saw one at a concours in June. Would post a photo...but...work.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > edu-petrolhead 07/22/2014 at 10:06

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I did. Although the model in the first picture was from before it was a Muntz Jet. It was then known as a Kurtis Kraft Sport (1949). Beautiful cars.

Cé hé sin > edu-petrolhead 07/22/2014 at 10:29

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Nope.

Kanaric > edu-petrolhead 07/22/2014 at 11:26

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what a pleasant looking vehicle

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > edu-petrolhead 07/22/2014 at 14:48

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Yes I knew it existed, did you know case tractors made cars?

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 07/22/2014 at 14:49

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Case in point.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 07/22/2014 at 14:49

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Did you know Lamborghini tractors made cars too?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 14:50

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thats a purdy farm vehicle. I love the espada

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 07/22/2014 at 14:50

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I see what you did there...

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 07/22/2014 at 14:53

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Oh God, they're the ones who also made this absolute colossus of a tractor…

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 07/22/2014 at 14:56

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EEEEYUP

Cé hé sin > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 07/22/2014 at 14:58

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No. didn't know they still made tractors anymore but seemingly they do. Can't recall actually seeing any.

ly2v8-Brian > Cé hé sin 07/22/2014 at 15:03

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Case/IH still exists and they still make equipment. They are a part of FIAT

edu-petrolhead > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 07/22/2014 at 15:13

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ranwhenparked > edu-petrolhead 07/22/2014 at 19:08

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Yep. Muntz Car Co. never turned a profit on it, but Muntz himself saw the car as a vanity project and kept covering the losses from his own fortune until he had enough and just pulled the plug.

Notably, he built his electronics empire mainly by building one of the first truly affordable television sets (though DuMont had some cheap ones too).