Hornet-powered Muntz Jet

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Back in 1951 or 1952, one day when I was at a drag strip in northern Illinois, probably at Half Day or Cordova, a guy there was running a Muntz Jet. That car performed pretty well, but it didn't win its class, as I recall. I asked him what he had for power, and he said his Jet was powered by an OHV Cadillac. He added that some of the Muntz Jets used Chrysler V8's also. However, one statement he made really caught my attention: he said one Muntz Jet that he knew of came with a Hudson Hornet engine. I have never seen one of those cars with a 308 and don't know if Muntz produced any other cars except that one with the Hornet engine. Has anyone else heard of a Muntz Jet with a Hornet engine? It would be interesting to know if that car still exists, and even more interesting, if someone in HET owns it. Any comments on this possibility? Dee K.

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I Have Restored A 52 Muntz Jet And Have Done Considerable Research As Well As Provided A Bibliography For A Bood Published On Frank Kurtis Who Started The Design. They Came Wi Cadillac And Lincoln V8s Only , Unless Special Ordered By A Customer. The First Lincoln Engines Were The Same As The Large Ford Trucks And Was A Flathead F8 By Ford, They Went To Overhead Valve Enines In Late 51, Mine , A 52 Had The Overhead Lincoln Engine. Never Heard Of A Hornet Powered Muntz, But There Was A Kurtis Car With A Hornet Engine And Had A Double Bubble Hood To Clear The Twin H. Bill Albright
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The Curtis is/was owned by Bobby & Zoya Johnson of UnAlaska Alaska and was last seen after the Carrera Panamericana Race in 2002. Don't know where it is today. Lou Cote
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Bill,

    I believe you are right about the Lincoln engines, and not Chrysler V8's in the Muntz cars. I paid more attention to the guy's telling me about the one Hudson-powered Jet, for I ran a 1950 Hudson coupe at some of those strips on occasion. Hudsons have turned my crank for a long time. Incidentally, did Lincoln go to an OHV engine in 1951 or was it 1952? I believe the 1949 and 1950 had the big flathead V8. Dee K.
  • super-six
    super-six Expert Adviser
    The first model-year for the Lincoln ohv V8 was 1952.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Dee, I raced my '40 and '38 Hudson 8s at Half Day in '53 (Won the pre-war 200-300 cu. in. stock class every time ... 4 for 4!). Don't recall seeing a Muntz running there, but did snap this shot in the parking area one day. Same car maybe? Don't remember the color. I too recall there was an option for Hornet power in the Muntz, but current sources, including some pretty knowledgable folks, don't think so. Maybe it was mentioned in advance publicity as one of the choices that would be available, but never happened except for the one example Lou referred to.
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    The Curtis that was built with a Hornet engine is in the Wally Parks NHRA Museum in Pomona, California. The engine was swapped for a V8 some years ago. :cool:
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Park W., I would like to have seen you running your Hudson 8's up there, but, unfortunately, I was in the Air Force from 1953-1957. From 1957 on my buddies and I went to a lot of drag races throughout Illinois. When I raced, I used a slightly modified 1948 262 w/Twin-H and 7X manifold I got off a badly wrecked 1953 Hornet. The car ran well against late 1950's-1960 Chevrolet 6's and 1949-1950 Olds 88's. A modified 1950 Olds was the only car to beat me in that class. I remember the Muntz as being red or maroon, and that the driver was a tall slender black fellow who was very proud of his Muntz. He liked to talk about his car,and he is the one who told me of the Hornet-powered Muntz. Dee K.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I had one of those about 30 years ago. I remember also that they were avilable with a Hornet. Mine had been Lincoln powered.
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