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Features Frank Kurtis-Kurtis Kraft picture thread

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by guffey, Sep 24, 2012.

  1. hugh m
    Joined: Jul 18, 2007
    Posts: 2,143

    hugh m
    Member
    from ct.

    It's kind of a shame that he gets very little credit for being one of the first builders of "custom" cars, I guess his later accomplishmwnts overshadowed these car's impact. Plus very little ink was available so long ago.
     
  2. Kurtis Kraft never built any TQ's. Only half midgets, and very few of those.


    This gentleman is the late Johnny Moorhouse. One of the best in the 40's and 50's, and a super nice guy. He was very proud of his restored V8-60 Kurtis.


    [​IMG]
     
  3. guffey
    Joined: Mar 23, 2008
    Posts: 970

    guffey

    Kurtis Kraft go kart from about 1960. It is as found just recently. It features torsion bar suspension and friction shocks ,front and rear. It has twin engine mounts and disc brake.

    guffeystuff 023 (2).jpg

    guffeystuff 019 (2).jpg
     
  4. 1turbobrick
    Joined: Sep 10, 2011
    Posts: 62

    1turbobrick
    Member

    Yes you did... :)

    [​IMG]

    She came home a broken girl but will be back stronger than ever next year. :D

    Two other Kurtis cars are stablemates of the Tommy Lee Speedster...

    <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/txtFKFUUfuA" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>

    and the ex-Mickey Thompson 500SX...

    [​IMG]
     
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  5. Special Ed
    Joined: Nov 1, 2007
    Posts: 7,967

    Special Ed
    Member

    Frank posed with his Kurtis Sport.


    [​IMG]
     
    Stogy likes this.
  6. jmh
    Joined: Jun 30, 2008
    Posts: 438

    jmh
    Member

    Great pics!! John
     
  7. Kevin Lee
    Joined: Nov 12, 2001
    Posts: 7,582

    Kevin Lee
    Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Kansas City history.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. Mnhotrodbuilder
    Joined: Jul 12, 2010
    Posts: 1,140

    Mnhotrodbuilder
    Member
    from Afton, MN


    Love there cars and your muntz is a sweet custom also!
     
  9. racer5c
    Joined: Nov 30, 2002
    Posts: 2,218

    racer5c
    Member

    you have all the cool stuff
     
  10. need louvers ?
    Joined: Nov 20, 2008
    Posts: 12,903

    need louvers ?
    Member

    UUHHHHGGG! Right click, save. Right click, save. I haven't used those muscles in a bit until this thread!
     
  11. OITSOG
    Joined: Oct 3, 2012
    Posts: 15

    OITSOG
    Member

    I have many pictures of Atlas Chrome Specials and some Kurtis working on cars or in cars with engines only in the frame etc. Will try to get them up soon as I am new to the site. You can email me with questions or thoughts. Love the keeping the history alive site.
     
  12. BadgeZ28
    Joined: Oct 28, 2009
    Posts: 1,165

    BadgeZ28
    Member
    from Oregon

    Here is a copy of a photo I took at a mid 1960's Winternationals. It was signed by his son some 30 years later at a California Hot Rod Reunion.
     

    Attached Files:

  13. We would appreciate anything you have. The early stuff is very interesting...
     
  14. FASI
    Joined: May 11, 2001
    Posts: 1,138

    FASI
    Member

    Curious in that Bruce Meyers bought the No. 98 car. Is this the same car and maybe on loan to the Lemay Museum?
     
  15. Great shot of Sam Parriott in his second Kurtis sports car. This one ran a blown 427 Ford.


    [​IMG]
     
  16. The lobby of the Justice Brother's Museum. Dad's '47 Kurtis V8 60, #93, second generation Kurtis midget #1 that dad built in 1992 when Arlen tooled up his continuation series of 10 cars, and the prototype Kurtis Kraft 1/4 midget I drove to the national championship in '57. 50+ years of our family history on display.

    [​IMG]
     
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  17. tomcurnow
    Joined: May 3, 2009
    Posts: 49

    tomcurnow
    Member
    from Los Angles

    I lived at 352 West Wilson, just two blocks from KK, I was fortunate in that I Franks daugher Leona, was in my 5th grade class, so I had a "back stage" pass and could go over there after school and see what was going on, the biggest names of the time walked in and out of that little shop ( the original building is still there, or it was a couple of months ago. My first "job" was washing display cases for Ernie's Camera on Wilson near Brand. Ernie was running KK sprint at the time and was part owner of one of the current Indy cars, this really put me on main street, by 6th grade I was going to the local sprint car races with them, ironically , those events moulded my life, as I eventually went to work for Mickey Thompson doing his PR chores , which was pretty ez as all the mags wanted access to the projects, that position put me right into the early speed equipment industy, which I am still enjoying, my company slogan "when does work start or the fun stops, never , both the same" pretty lucky guy
     
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  18. craigibc
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 203

    craigibc
    Member

    Here's some of the Bill Hughes (I believe) roadster:
     

    Attached Files:

    Stogy likes this.
  19. craigibc
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 203

    craigibc
    Member

    My obsession: The Tommy Lee roadster
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Oct 5, 2012
    Stogy likes this.
  20. Rikster
    Joined: Dec 10, 2004
    Posts: 5,795

    Rikster
    Member


    Correct, and most of those photos come from the Geoff Hacker Collection. (its always a good idea to give credit!!!) Some of the photos show the car sitting in front of the Jimmy Summers shop.
     
  21. craigibc
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 203

    craigibc
    Member

    These are photos I have saved over the years. Just wanting to share with the community.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Oct 5, 2012
    T-roaster and Stogy like this.
  22. SUHRsc
    Joined: Sep 27, 2005
    Posts: 5,093

    SUHRsc
    Member

    Dean,
    Did he really only build 10 Chassis in 1992?

    I have a frame that was from Arlen Kurtis... still has all the tags on it from shipping from "The Frank Kurtis Company"...
    I wonder if this is one of the 10?

    A friend of mine, Joe Devine bought it to use to build bodies on for other cars... never was built into a complete car...
    Joe told me he specifically ordered it without a few pieces welded on... I know at least the torsion bar brackets are just wired onto a hole in the frame....

    thanks
    Zach
     
  23. Yes, Arlen built 10 frames in '92. He came to our shop a few times to measure and photograph Dad's midget, so dad got frame #1. It was the most complete original KK midget he could find. Arlen built the frames, axles, etc, and it was up to the buyer to finish the car. Arlen reccomended Jim Allen for building the bodies.
     
  24. Another shot of the Atlas Plating shop truck. It's actually a '29 with '34 fenders and grille...

    [​IMG]
     
    Stogy likes this.
  25. One of the first grilles Frank built...

    [​IMG]
     
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  26. olddrags
    Joined: Oct 19, 2006
    Posts: 476

    olddrags
    Member
    from ky

    Thanks for this wonderful thread and all the great photos!! A good friend has a 1954 Kurtis 500M real neat Olds powered !! I try to post some photos.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  27. olddrags
    Joined: Oct 19, 2006
    Posts: 476

    olddrags
    Member
    from ky

    Here's my friend Ben Warren's Kurtis..
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Oct 7, 2012
  28. Mindover
    Joined: Jan 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,644

    Mindover
    Member
    from England

    Great! Subscribed!

    David
     
  29. Special Ed
    Joined: Nov 1, 2007
    Posts: 7,967

    Special Ed
    Member

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