| Kurtis Sport Car | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Kurtis Kraft |
| Production | c. 1949–1950 |
| Assembly | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Designer | Frank Kurtis |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | Hardtop convertible coupé |
| Layout | FR |
| Platform | 1949 Ford |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Multiple Ford V8 engines, ranging from 82 hp (61 kW) to 160 hp (120 kW) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,540 mm (100 in) |
| Length | 4,293 mm (169 in) |
| Width | 1,727 mm (68 in) |
| Height | 1,295 mm (51 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,043 kg (2,300 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Muntz Jet |
The Kurtis Sport Car (KSC) is a two-seat, aluminum-body sports car designed by Frank Kurtis and manufactured by Kurtis Kraft in 1949 and 1950. Built with numerous components (including the chassis and V8 engine) from a 1949 Ford, the KSC was built as both a production car and a kit car. It was sold at a base price of $3,495. It could cost up to $5,000 with options, which was approximately $1,000 more than the then-new Jaguar XK120.
After Frank Kurtis realized that the car was not sustainable financially, largely due to production costs, he sold the KSC's manufacturing rights, along with its blueprints, parts, and tooling, to Earl "Madman" Muntz for $200,000 in 1950. By that time, only 18 to 36 KSCs had been produced.
In August 1949, Wally Parks, founder of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and co-founder of Hot Rod magazine, drove a modified KSC to 142.515 mph (229.356 km/h) on the Bonneville Salt Flats. In September 1949, that same KSC was featured on the cover of the first issue of Motor Trend. The KSC also likely inspired Harley Earl's Project Opel at General Motors (GM), which ultimately created the production Chevrolet Corvette. The KSC was additionally described as the first "true American sports car" in the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance program.