1949 Kurtis, Kurtis Kraft considered first American sports car KB001 Prototype

1949 Other Makes

This is a very unique car made by the famous Frank Kurtis. Frank Kurtis' cars won more races in many classes then anyone in history. At one time he wanted to get into street cars so he made the Kurtis sports car. From all the books and articles I have read they only made 2 prototype cars, 14 production type cars and one car he gave to Arlene his son in pieces they put together after production had stopped. These cars had no VIN's on them but obviously very unique so they couldnt be reproduced. Since there was no VIN the last owner William Toops had to have the car inspected in AZ in order to get it registered, so there is a tag on one door from AZ. ALL THE KURTIS SPORTS CARS HAD A UNIQUE TAG ON THEM AND ON THAT TAG IT SHOWS WHICH PRODUCTION NUMBER THE CAR WAS. THEY ALL STARTED OUT BEFORE THE NUMBER WITH KB WHICH I THINK IS KURTIS BUILT. THIS IS KB001 AND FROM EVERYTHING I HAVE READ KB003 WAS THE FIRST PRODUCTION CAR AND THE OTHER TWO WERE PROTOTYPE CARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST CAR BUILT AND THE FIRST PROTOTYPE CAR. At this point they dont even have all 17 of the cars accounted for. None the less this is by far the most special car of all because it is the first one made and Kurtis made history by producing the very first American made sports car. This car came with a lot of books with articles that tell a lot of things about the Kurtis and some articles about the car after the Kurtis' rights were sold to Muntz who made the Muntz jet. Also information on the last owner, we have had this car for the last 8 years. When you bought a Kurtis you were able to pick your engine and it sounded like the engines in these cars were changed out a lot. In this car it has a Oldsmobile ROCKET which runs great and sounds great. I do have a video of the car running if anyone wants me to text it to them. The generator does have a bearing going out so you can hear that some. This car has headers and three separate carburetors. When I first bought the car 8 years ago I drove it around the block but it hasnt been driven outside since then. The fenders and quarters are aluminum and so is the cowl. The doors, hood and trunk seem to be steel. I dont have a convertible top for it, there is what appears to be a hard top for the car but it is basically a frame with wire mesh over it. Since this is a prototype it looks like it just had a hard top at one time. I also have the fender skirts and the piece of chrome that goes on them but they are not chromed. Obviously the seats are out of a newer car and they were in there when I got it. There also was a roll bar in the car and some of the pictures show that but we removed it in the later pictures. Both the Kurtis name plates are on the car both front and rear. The car has dings and dents on it from being around for so long. Below the chrome there is deterioration on the aluminum I am guessing from moisture being trapped behind the chrome. The trunk and floors seem as solid as a rock, most of the frame looks to be in excellent condition but above the passenger rear wheel I did see some rust through. Since this is a prototype its impossible to know exactly how everything was suppose to be. I have some other glass and parts that can go with the car. I dont know if they came from this car or another Kurtis or possible even a Muntz. THIS IS A SUPER COOL CAR AND IF YOU WANT THE FIRST PROTOTYPE OF A VERY RARE CAR THAT HAS A LOT OF HISTORY FROM A VERY WELL KNOWN BUILDER THIS IS THE CAR. THIS CAR IS SUPER RARE AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER EVEN SEEN A KURTIS LET ALONE THE VERY FIRST ONE BUILT. Google Kurtis sports car built by Kurtis Kraft and read up on them and you'll fall in love with the story and the car. This car is located in Cannon Falls Mn and if you like you can come to my shop and I will put the car up on a hoist for you to look on all sides. Or if you would like more pictures just let me know and I will take them and send them out. I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures. Thanks Kevin Manley 612-275-8722

• Make: Other Makes
• Type: Convertible
• Year: 1949
• Mileage: 0000000
• VIN: AZ249079
• Number of cylinders: 8
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Transmission: Automatic
• Interior color: Gray
• Vehicle Title: Clean
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