eBay Find of the Day: 1953 Muntz Jet
Our hunt through eBay's automotive treasure trove for rare 1950's cars continues with this 1953 Muntz Jet. Created by Earl Muntz, entrepreuer extraordinaire who earned his fortune plying consumer electronics and used cars. But selling yesterday's iron wasn't enough for the "Madman," so he embarked on creating his dream car-- a process that resulted in the vehicle shown here. Not a one-off 'special' like the other cars we've seen recently, the Jet was actually a serialized production car, though less than 400 units are thought to have been manufactured between 1952 and 1953.
Unusually, all Muntz Jets are in fact removable hardtop convertibles. Designed by Frank Kurtis of Indianapolis and dirt oval motorsports fame, the Jet made use of both Lincoln and Cadillac V8 drivetrains, depending on when the model was built. This particular example is powered by the former, and has been restored in plum metallic and white leather.
Estimated to be perhaps one of 50 surviving Jets, this rare bird has been bid to more than $58,000 as this is written, but has yet to crack its reserve.
[Source: eBay]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tom Miller 6:09PM (4/27/2006)
Saw a pink one on US 19 here in Clearwater 6 or 8 months ago. Muntz TVs were heavily advertised back in the '50s and electonics geeks used the name "Muntz" as a synonym for junk.
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Mal Fuller 7:16PM (4/27/2006)
I guess the Muntz Jet was a viable automobile, except in sales. However, the Muntz TV was, component wise, so bare bones that the wonder was it worked at all. I know, I was a TV tech when Muntz TVs were being sold. They were absolute junk, but they appealed to the "something for nothing" dreamers.
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Howard Kerr 9:17PM (4/27/2006)
I saw one of these a year or two ago. The picture doesn't really show it too well, but these are smallish, low slung cars. I looked up the specs and in size they are about the same size as a Honda Civic. I think they look like a French influenced Corvette.
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Tom Design 10:26PM (4/27/2006)
Isn't this an amazing design for 1952? And small, lightweight with a Caddy V8, imagine the smooth, cruising ride to the shore in this lovely sleek automobile. Priceless.
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tbyron 10:49PM (4/27/2006)
Wild. Saw one of these on the 5 South this past Sunday, a red one with white top. Saw it in my rearview mirror but couldn't place it. In person, they are seriously low to the ground. Damned nice.
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Richard Warren 11:00PM (4/27/2006)
#2 You're showing your age, Mad Man Muntz, we had one of those TV's, my dad used the remote (me) a lot to make adjustments while he sat back and watched.
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Gary Blomquist 3:17AM (4/30/2006)
Sure see a lot of Hudson Hornet in the styling.
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Tom Design 8:38PM (4/30/2006)
Gary BLomquist => Wow, thanks for the design reference. Found this Hudson after your comment, another awesome 50's styling:
http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/huds5203.htm
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