Frank Kurtis of American racing fame built the first prototype Kurtis Sports Car in 1948. It caused such a sensation that he began manufacturing the curvaceous automobile in 1950. Divinely understated, the Kurtis was powered by the formidable 331 cid Cadillac V-8 engine and Cadillac three-speed gearbox. The first production model achieved 142 mph at Bonneville and made the front cover of the premier issue of Motor Trend magazine. Only 16 Kurtis cars were built in Glendale, California, before Earl “Madman” Muntz moved production to Illinois under the Muntz Jet banner.

This Kurtis Sports Car is the final example of the 16 built by Frank Kurtis in California and is believed to be the only one retaining its original Kurtis brass firewall chassis plate. It was purchased new by IndyCar team owner Jack B. Hinkle, who loaned the Kurtis to Hollywood for the 1954 film Johnny Dark, starring Tony Curtis. Becoming the car’s fourth owner in 1995, Steve Gilkey commissioned Arlen Kurtis, son of Frank Kurtis, to perform a concours-standard restoration, and retained ownership until 2017. In present ownership, the Kurtis has received further refinement including work to the suspension and installation of appropriately sized tires to further improve its ride quality. The rare Kurtis is offered with restoration records and a copy of Automobile Quarterly signed by Arlen Kurtis. Highly prized for its provenance and heritage as one of America’s earliest pure sports cars, this Kurtis offers a unique snapshot of automotive history.