Muntz Car Company
vehicles |
The Muntz Car Company was an automobile manufacturer based in the United States.
History
The company was established in 1950 in Glendale, California by Earl "Madman" Muntz, a well known local used car dealer and electronics retailer.[1] Muntz 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).[2]
In 1951, Kurtis sold the license to manufacture the cars to Muntz, who 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.[3]
The car, a
The company managed to build and sell 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 eventually caused him to close the company.[3]
Muntz Jets today are considered rare and valuable collector pieces.[3]
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Yellow 1950 Muntz Jet -
"Mars Red" Muntz Jet -
"Stratosphere Blue" Muntz Jet
References
- ^ Flory Jr., J. Kelly (2008). American Cars 1946–1959. McFarland & Coy. p. 1016.
- ASIN B0015MFQZG.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-57145-990-9.
External links
