Next

[lotusman1951]

I am looking for an investment car-small and light. Always tempted by Lotus 7s series 1, but I want a real one and if you have one, talk to me . I helped push alone a stalled restoration of one in northern virginia, painted it 1991 miata brg-and Larry Shauf- I tried to buy his-and others over time-So something the 7 register knows mid 20s to 40k for dedion cliamax.

 

But my thoughs at the moment turn to Kurtis Kraft -I had an Allard K2 for 20 plus years and -well Kurtis was very critical of Allards-so I learned more towards right and wrong--and 7s being where I went---But the Kurtis Midgets-long bugatti/lotus like specials-like every american race for decades.

 

I am looking at a 1947 Kurtis Kraft Midget with 3 speed and reverse. Flathead stuebaker 6 pot with twin carbs, 4 wheel disc brakes.

 

I can street legal this in Maryland and do cars and coffee in Great Falls 10 parkway miles distant -so an open wheeled, single seater with 4 wheel disc brakes,

 

There were only about 1000 of these made they are heros, they look like clown bumper cars -so as an experienced Allardist and lotus lover will this stir my juices

 

Kevin

[scannon]

Like this one:

 

 

How many of the 1,000 had the Studebaker engine? It appears that the Offy and Ford V8 60 engines were more popular.

 

http://www.barbuza.com/edit.php?image=http://www.aerodynamicsproject.com/upload/1947-kurtis-kraft-midget-powered-by-studebaker-on-display-at-the_l_af3b4176712406f9.jpg&title=1947%20Kurtis%20Kraft%20Midget,%20Powered%20by%20Studebaker%20(On%20display%20at%20the&tag=1947%20Kurtis%20Kraft%20Midget

[lotusman1951]

For me its the reverse gear-I need that to e streetable.

 

will a midget go in a straight line-or twitchy over 60mph?

 

kevin

[scannon]

It will be wanting to turn left all the time, probably would refuse to turn right.

[lotusman1951]

Made deposit last night. 900 pounds. 85-100hp, 80 inch wheelbase-something new to learn.

[lotusman1951]

Duh-Johnny Dangerous-70 yo Seven stomper or garage art.-Point to point anything faster to 100mph?

[lotusman1951]

Will visit car in orlando on thursday

[rcollum]

Kevin: Looks cool - if you end up getting it, would love to see it sometime!

 

--Bob Collum

[lotusman1951]

Bought the car, intimidating. I am seeing youtubes of these cars beating all on vintage road courses.

 

If less is more, this takes it to another level-no transmission linkage-just engage this stub lever-brakes no room in the footwell outside left lever engages 3 discs.

 

It has a clutch and 3 gears, starter, alternator, the flathead 6 purrs, electric cooling fan.

 

It looks like a amusement park bumper car, Kurtis Kraft won everything back in the day-a rude crude, bugatti like when using an offy-which bugatti copied in the 20s from Miller.

 

I will get it around Feb 1 from Flordia, my best shipper I95 Transporter will do the job-someone you can trust.

 

Bob I would love your camera here to see the car--known history was th

[mrmustang]

Are your plans to make this street legal for your little burb of DC?

 

Bill S.

[lotusman1951]

I like to think of cars as art, moving sculpture. So yes lotus 7 style headlights and a single light in the rear. Since there is no title I am going to get one as a 1947 Kurtis Kraft and pick a serial number over 550 (factory built cars) and under 1100 which would be the kits Kurtis sold. I suppose I will use thre International title servicefor paperwork and my local trophy shop to create a data plate. So if I am playing with serial numbers 666--evil or 777--lucky.

[MichaelD]

Kevin,

Looks like fun. Hope to see it in Feb.

Michael

[lotusman1951]

I found some books on Kurtis Krafts-A Genealogy of Speed Kurtis Kraft Midgets-2 volumes yet-$150 on Amazon.

 

and it tells me where serial numbers should be-if the car has numbers at all. Its like frame numbers on 7s near the hydraulics on later S2 and 3s.

 

So-the seller is a one year flip on a car he found on local craigslist from a 91 year old widow-dead husbands car-in storage 25 years since last use. He knows cars and did not find numbers but if they are there they are in a special spot, which you need the book to learn.

 

So the car gets picked up after the 28th

[lotusman1951]

Its here-no numbers-body off, great garage art, leaks oil, bogas stuff from being a 70yo race car

 

visits welcome

Kevin 301 229 8820