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Undiscovered Classics

Undiscovered Classics

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Category Archives: Kurtis Kraft

1947 and 1948 Kurtis-Omohundro Comet Scale Models Now Available

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Geoff HackerJune 1, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… Great news…..you can now create your own Undiscovered Classics collection and save some garage space while doing so.   Thanks to the efforts of Alex Kotyar of Esval Models and some keen rendering work of artist extraordinaire Dan Palatnik, scale models of the 1947 and 1948 … Continue reading →

A Kurtis Coupe: Road & Track, March 1954

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… Here’s a great story for your Kurtis fans out there.  It’s a very interesting proposal from Road & Track, most likely written by John Bond who worked for a short while in the late 1940s for Frank Kurtis.  … Continue reading →

Les Zoller’s 1955 Allied Kurtis Blackhawk KK500 #43

Posted on November 20, 2019 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… Tracking back the history of the cars we have today is always exciting, and today’s story is no exception.  Les Zoller contacted me recently and shared with me that he had owned and restored Allied Kurtis KK500 chassis … Continue reading →

Another Allied “Cisitalia” Found! Kurtis-Kraft Chassis #20

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
6

Hi Gang… The cars are out there (ala the X-Files tv show…) that’s what I always tell folks.  And with handcrafted specials from the 50s, they seem to be popping up all the time 🙂 As usual, this story involved many … Continue reading →

Kurtis-Kraft Allied “Cisitalia” In No-Reserve RM Auction On May 2, 2015

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
2

Hi Gang… More and more restored vintage fiberglass sports cars from the 50s – what we call “Forgotten Fiberglass” – are showing up at Concours, on TV, in articles, and now…at auction.  Let’s check out an upcoming auction which features … Continue reading →

Rich Taylor’s Book: The American Sports Racer – From Kurtis to Cobra (1979)

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Geoff HackerMay 26, 2020
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Hi Gang… As we continue to uncover the history of handcrafted cars in the 40s and 50s, we collate, organize, and share what we learn continuing to build a comprehensive database showing the nationwide – and worldwide – movement in … Continue reading →

America’s Production Sports Cars in 1953: Speed Age Magazine – Special Edition

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Geoff HackerMay 19, 2020
7

Hi Gang… We’re working hard here at Forgotten Fiberglass to compile and archive a copy of every postwar automotive magazine from 1947 to 1960.  These are essential to documenting the era and the stories that abound on building your own … Continue reading →

Kurtis-Kraft: World’s Largest Builders of Professional Racing Cars – And Smaller “Midget” Race Cars Too!

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Geoff HackerMay 17, 2020
17

Hi Gang… Here’s how Frank Kurtis opened up in the sales flyer in today’s story and introduced his company to potential customers: “The Frank Kurtis Company, world’s largest builder of professional racing cars for over 25 years, maintains leadership through … Continue reading →

Supercharged Kurtis Nash 500M: Bob Christie’s Carrera Panamerica Sports Car

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… What a great story and fantastic fiber car of yesteryear – and it survives today as a beautifully restored sports car. Gordon White wrote of this car in his 2001 book, Kurtis-Kraft: Masterworks of Speed and Style, and … Continue reading →

Build Yourself a Kurtis Style Chassis: Hot Rod Magazine, July 1954

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
3

Hi Gang… If you were going to build a chassis for your fiberglass bodied sports car back in the ‘50s – why not build one designed by Frank Kurtis?  Frank made it easy for everyone interested.  If you wanted to … Continue reading →

The Salem GMC Kurtis Byers SR100: John Furlow’s Restored Beauty (Sportscar Specials, Trend Book 178, 1958)

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
6

Hi Gang… The clamor to share more of the history of John Furlow’s “Salem GMC Kurtis Byers” has been heard.  Today’s article is from the ’58 book by Motor Trend called “Sportscar Specials” – authored by Bob Rolofson. Let’s see … Continue reading →

The Mysterious, Beautiful Byers – Featuring John Furlow’s Kurtis 500KK SR-100 Sports Car

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… From 1960 thru the year 2000, the story of Jim Byers and his sports cars – the SR-100 and CR-90 – was left virtually untold.   Along the way Harold Pace and John Furlow came on the scene, and recognition … Continue reading →

Kurtis Kraftsmanship: Auto Sport Review, May 1952

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
1

Hi Gang… I love first person accounts of history – and this one’s an early review of the history of Kurtis-Kraft – from 1952 no less.  Talk about early! This article appeared two years before the ’54 introduction of the … Continue reading →

Kurtis-Kraft Sports Cars: Sports Cars Trend Book #130 (1956)

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… This is an interesting book because of it’s date – 1956.  It gives us a window into what was still happening in terms of fiberglass sports cars and other interesting facets of automotive history at the time.  Here … Continue reading →

The Birth of the Kurtis Sports Car (KSC): Speed Age January 1948 and Road and Track December 1949

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
4

Hi Gang… Questions, Questions, Questions…..I love questions 🙂 What was the first postwar kit or “assembled sports car’ in America? Who made the first full-size “production” sports car in postwar America? Which postwar sports car could be ordered with a … Continue reading →

GMC Under Glass: The Dick Lane Sorrell SR100 With A Kurtis 500KK Chassis Too!

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 23, 2020
4

Hi Gang… Now we’re talking! A Sorrell SR-100 with a powerful GMC six cylinder….Kurtis 500KK chassis….flip front for easy access….who could ask for more?  Not many.  And I’m sure this would have been considered an idea build in all the … Continue reading →

Frank Kurtis and Kurtis Kraft: Postwar American Coachbuilding Royalty: Car Life December, 1961

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 17, 2020
3

Hi Gang… We’re in search of detail and history here at Forgotten Fiberglass.  Either directly from the folks and their families who were creating the history, or from first person accounts as narrated by authors in vintage automotive magazines.  Today’s … Continue reading →

Chassis Up Guys! Get Yours While They Last….The 1953 Kurtis 500 KK Frame: Hop Up, October 1953

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… Consider what it must have been like at the start of building of your own sports car back in the early 50’s.  I imagine many conversations went something like this…. “Hey!  Check out this cool Victress/Glasspar/Woodill/Meteor/Byers/Allied body I … Continue reading →

The Debut of the Kurtis 500-M: Press Release December 15th, 1954

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
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Hi Gang… Rick D’louhy and I can’t stand ambiguity. Smoke and mirrors are not our friend.  Conjecture and wild tales while fun – cause irreparable harm to the truth.  Clear, precise, first-person facts are what we’re after, and that’s one … Continue reading →

The Cars of the Milwaukee Masterpiece: Ben Warren’s Kurtis Kraft 500 M

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 23, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… As promised earlier, I’ll show “more” and talk “less” about each of the cars that appeared at the Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours d’ Elegance on August 28th, 2011.  Click here to read more about the success of vintage ‘glass … Continue reading →

The Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours d’ Elegance: A Milestone in Vintage ‘Glass

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 31, 2020
1

Hi Gang… Well we did it – and we owe it to all of you who made this happen. The visionaries who saw what such a show could mean.  The car owners and families willing to endure intense restoration schedules to … Continue reading →

The Kurtis 500 M (McCullough) Debuts – One Fast, Smart Cadillac Powered Special For 1955

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 20, 2020
2

Hi Gang… Let’s talk Kurtis. Frank Kurtis worked for Don Lee, a famous and successful Cadillac dealer in 1930’s California, and created some of the first custom cars in prewar America.  He also built race cars back then, and that’s where his … Continue reading →

The Celebration of Fiberglass Continues: “Fabulous Fiberglass” at the Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours d’Elegance in August 2011

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Geoff HackerMay 31, 2020
Reply

Hi Gang… I have exciting news to share! Just on the heels of 2010 where cars of the “Forgotten Fiberglass” class debuted at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and “Fantasies in Fiberglass” was a 6 month display at the Petersen … Continue reading →

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  • Rodney packwood on Restored Victress C3 / LaDawri Castilian From Michigan – Where Are You???Would love to see it! Please send a picture to fastest356@gmail.com. Thank you so much!
  • Darren Jameson on David Lambert’s Almquist Sabre – Off And RunningDennis Collins on YouTube found a car that looks very similar to a Sabre. Could
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First Production Fiberglass Cars: The Brooks Boxer (Glasspar G2) was exhibited at the 1951 Los Angeles Motorama with three other plastic cars, i.e., Eric Irwins Lancer, Jack Wills and Ralph Roberts Skorpion and the Wasp, pioneers of todays plastic cars.


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Geoff Hacker, Ph.D. has pursued rare and unusual cars for over 40 years. He is now the premier researcher, archivist and author of the history of handcrafted American sports cars. Hacker owns Undiscovered Classics which finds and restores these rare cars. Their work has led to multiple showings at prestigious concours events including Pebble Beach and Amelia Island. Undiscovered Classics work has been seen on television including Jay Leno’s Garage, AmeriCarna, and the “Barn Find Hunter.” Hacker’s work has been published extensively in both print and electronic media.

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