Kurtis Style Kustom: 1961 Custom Replica
This next car comes as a tip from Hugh who also provides some commentary: This thing just looks like so much fun. Looks like the builder had at least seen a Kurtis roadster. Look at that beam axle. Seems that the seller picked it up at this auction. There are a couple of vacuum cleaner patents listed to a Leo G. Krieger who worked for whirlpool in Benton Harbor, MI. So maybe this was a hobby project for an engineer at Whirlpool? I can’t find anything else about it, and just don’t have the resources to acquire and keep this thing but it looks like fun and I am sure has some sort of interesting story. You could probably get invited to some old car events with this thing on the cheap. Personally, I love the combination of biasply tires and finned drum brakes on something powered by a small block Chevy and sporting Batman seat piping plus tail fins. Win, win, win. Those little exhaust pipes should make the perfect hotrod brap-brap-brap sounds as you do limitless burnouts to impress your neighbors. Find this 1961 Custom Replica bidding for $8,850 in Granger, IN via ebay.
From the seller:
Replica/Kit Makes.
This was discovered when pulled from a gentleman’s garage for his estate sale. He was a collector of old different things and this car was one of his favorite vehicles. He enjoyed “hauling ass” down his street, but that was 40 years ago.
1956 Chevy 265, matching Power Pack heads, matching intake, matching carb, etc. I believe it is a 39 Ford 3 speed trans on an adapter. This was sitting for many years, I had an engine builder friend of mine prep to start it so I can tell people that it does run. And it does run! Started right up and sounded great, no noises. The carb needs some adjusting, but I did not want to put another carb on it. I did not clean out the gas tank or flush the brakes.
This always puts a smile on peoples face, has to be a hit at the car shows, the back fins are so fascinating. It is only 11′ which does not take up room and is easy to maneuver, but it will be award for a bigger person..
I will be glad to help with loading, please ask any questions. Thank you! Please deposit $500 upon purchase Accept PayPal
Item specifics
| Condition: | Used | Year: | 1961 |
| VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): | IND567864476 | Mileage: | 64765 |
| Make: | Replica/Kit Makes | Vehicle Title: | Rebuilt, Rebuildable & Reconstructed |
That trailer hitch ball looks like it got some use. I wonder what for. Is there a matching ham can or teardrop camp trailer out there somewhere?
Also it should be pointed out that the certificate of title in the ebay ad says that this weighs a mere 2130 pounds.
With the first year small block Chevy that would make for brisk performance. With anything you fished out of a pick and pull it would make for truly scary performance. Given the oiling problems and rarity of the 265, put the original on the shelf and stick a 350 in there. Hell a 307 with a 2 barrel would be fine.
A lot of rat rods go out of their way to be sketchy. But this one seems to have just the right amount of sketchiness – a Triumph Spitfire like curb weight, probably around 200 hp on tap, solid axles with drums and bias ply tires on both ends. Sketchy enough to get up to “it feels completely out of control” in a hurry, not sketchy enough to feel like it’s actively trying to kill you.
I think this was very up-to-date when built, not at all a rat rod. It’s pretty much state of the art oval track engineering. Note the round tube frame. It’s reminiscent (to me) of Max Balchowsky’s Old Yallers and probably contemporaneous.
Those drums are huge and heavy and the car is small and light so I wouldn’t sweat the brakes.
Sure you could build this for less but it would not have the Tsukumogami (Google it) of the real thing which is sorely lacking in rat rods.
I’m making myself miserable not buying this…
Hugh — this is one of those cars that only comes around once. Fly in and drive it home?
Poor phrasing on my part; I should not have implied I though this was a rat rod. More like what a rat rodder ought to aspire to build if they want a real tribute to how hot rods were back in the day.
I recently promised the wife I would park the motorcycle for something safer. I am not sure this qualifies. Judging from the first photo I saw, the contact patches on this thing are about the size of a quarter. Add in bias ply tires and drum brakes, coupled with the weighs-nothing body and a v8, will have you sawing on the wheel to save your life before you get to the end of the driveway.
When I first saw this I assumed those metal tube things on the side were decorative…but that is part of the suspension. Wow. I wonder if the AM radio works…