Muntz Jet

Muntz Jet
1951 Muntz Jet at the Dayton Concours d'Elegance
Overview
Manufacturer	Muntz Car Company
Production	c. 1949–1954
Assembly	United States: Glendale, California Evanston, Illinois Chicago, Illinois
Designer	Frank Kurtis Sam Hanks
Body and chassis
Class	Personal luxury car
Body style	Hardtop convertible coupé
Powertrain
Transmission	General Motors Hydramatic automatic transmission Three-speed Borg-Warner manual transmission
Propulsion	160 hp (120 kW) Cadillac V8 160 hp (120 kW) Lincoln V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,870 mm (113 in)
Height	1,372 mm (54 in)
Curb weight	1,814 kg (4,000 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Kurtis Sport Car

The Muntz Jet is a two-door hardtop convertible built by the Muntz Car Company in the United States between approximately 1949 and 1954. It is sometimes credited as the first personal luxury car. Developed from the Kurtis Sport Car (KSC) that was designed by Frank Kurtis, it was produced and marketed by Earl "Madman" Muntz. The car was powered by one of two V8 engines, either a 160 hp (120 kW) Cadillac engine or a 160 hp (120 kW) Lincoln engine, and it was equipped with either a General Motors Hydramatic automatic transmission or a three-speed Borg-Warner manual transmission. The Jet was streamlined, featured numerous luxury appointments, and was equipped with safety features that were not standard on most cars of its day, including a padded dashboard and seat belts.

Production of the Muntz Jet occurred in Glendale, California; Evanston, Illinois; and Chicago before ceasing in 1954. The car sold for $5,500 in 1953 (about $51,500 in 2017), but cost $6,500 to produce. In total, Muntz lost approximately $400,000 on the venture. Only 198 Jets were built, an estimated 50 to 130 of which are still in existence. By 2016, fully restored cars had sold for over $100,000 at auction. Author Matt Stone called the Jet "one of the fastest and best-performing American cars of the time" while Muntz claimed that the 1958 Ford Thunderbird was inspired by his Jet.