 |
|
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1951 |
| Founder(s) | Earl Muntz |
| Headquarters | Glendale, California, USA |
| Area served | United States |
| Key people | Earl Muntz, Founder Frank Kurtis, Designer |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Products | Performance vehicles |
The Muntz Car Company was created in Glendale, California in the early 1950s by Earl "Madman" Muntz, a well known local used car dealer and electronics retailer. He 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).1
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 V8.22
The car, a sports coupe, was manufactured in Evanston, Illinois and featured its own unique design, with aluminum body panels and a removable fiberglass top that were manufactured in-house.2 Other parts (such as the engines) were sourced from other manufacturers. It was capable of 112 mph,2 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.2
Because the cars were distinctive in design, well-built and good performers for their time, Muntz Jets today are rare and valuable collector pieces.2
 "Mars Red" Muntz Jet |
 "Stratosphere Blue" Muntz Jet |
References
- ^ Hitze, Ed (1993). The Kurtis-Kraft Story (Paperback), Interstate Printers. ISBN B0015MFQZG.
- ^ a b c d e f (2003) in David Lillywhite: The Encyclopedia of Classic Cars, Hardcover, Thunder Bay Press. ISBN 978-1571459909.
External links
- EarlMuntz.com - The Website about Earl Muntz and the Muntz Jet
- Muntz Car Company
- Muntz Jet
- '52 Jet Owner
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 21 August 2008, at 20:33.
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