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Muntz Jet - 1950-1954 | 
| Earl muntz was a southern california used-car dealer whose zany tv commercials earned him the nickname madman muntz. But earl muntz had a dream to build his own car. His muntz jet, based on the 1948-49 kurtis sport, is considered by many to be the first high-performance personal luxury car. | Specifications performance
Top speed of 120 mph engine typedrivetrain: V8
displacement 331336.7 cu. In. Power rating 115-218 hp
transmission gm hydra-matic (1950), gm 4-speed hydra-matic (1951-54)
chassis: 3,300-3,780 lbs. Price: $4,450-$6,000 |
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| | About vehicle
The kurtis sport
frank kurtis, a race-car builder and designer, created the two-seat kurtis sport in 1949. This high-performance car was equipped with a 239-cu.-in. V8 engine and a three-speed manual transmission. In 1950, after just 36 cars had been produced, kurtis sold his investment to muntz. The 1950 muntz jet was basically the same as the sport except for the addition of a removable steel hardtop, a 331-cu.-in. Cadillac v8 engine and a wheelbase that was 13 inches longer so that passengers could be accommodated in the rear. The muntz was more expensive than a 1950 cadillac ragtop, but it was well worth it.
boosting the power
in 1951, the jet was given another wheelbase stretch, an all-steel body and a more-powerful 336.7-cu.-in. Lincoln l-head engine. By 1954, the
jet remained basically unchanged except for modifications to the engine that boosted horsepower to 218 and the addition of fiberglass fenders. Sources differ about the number of jets made some say 394, others 490 but fewer than 50 are in existence today
Earl madman muntz lost about $1,000 on every jet he sold, so he was forced to end production in 1954 after a few hundred were built. |
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