1951 Kurtis Kraft 4000
- Engine
- Methanol-fueled Offenhauser engine, rebuilt
Kurtis Kraft 4000 chassis 346 is a celebrated Indianapolis 500 competitor that debuted at the 1952 race as the Bowes Seal Fast Special, driven by Art Cross to a fifth-place finish and earning him the very first Indy Rookie of the Year award. One of approximately 15 examples built, the car raced for nearly a decade under sponsorship from owner Ray Brady. Later restored to its original 1952 Indy livery, it claimed First in Class and the Tony Hulman Memorial Cup at the 1996 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$495,000
- —Auction saleSold US$112,000
- → 1992Acquisition unknownBill Chapinpartial documentation
Collector who commissioned significant mechanical work including a gearbox and engine rebuild by Offy specialist Ken Hickey.
- 1992 →Private saleConsignorfull documentation
Commissioned a full restoration by Bob Willey, refreshed the original 1952 race livery, and maintained the car for concours and historic events. Accompanied by extensive documentation file.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownRay Bradypartial documentation
Long-term sponsor and owner who campaigned the car with multiple notable drivers over roughly a decade following its 1952 debut.
Competition
- 1952-05-01AAA Championship1952 Indianapolis 500Driver: Art Cross5th overall
Entered as the Bowes Seal Fast Special; Cross qualified 20th and advanced through the field. He earned the first-ever Speedway Rookie of the Year award.
- 19961996 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceFirst in Class; Tony Hulman Memorial Cup for Best Open Wheel Racecar
Trophy presented by Indianapolis Motor Speedway recognizing the car as the finest open-wheel entry at the event.
- —AAA championship circuitAAA/USAC Championship dirt track events
Car was campaigned over roughly a decade by drivers including Joey James, Mike Nazaruk, Len Duncan, Johnny Parsons, and Don Branson under Ray Brady's sponsorship.
- —Goodwood Festival of Speed
- —Indianapolis 500 vintage pre-race heat
Car participates annually in the historic demonstration run held before the modern race.
- —Milwaukee Mile Miller Meet
Car is described as a regular participant at this annual vintage gathering.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1992RestorationBob Willey
Bob Willey refurbished the chassis and rebuilt the original bodywork, complementing the earlier drivetrain work; paintwork and decals were refreshed to replicate the original 1952 Indianapolis Bowes Seal Fast Special livery.
Willey's father had been one of the original Kurtis Kraft distributors. The restoration resulted in AACA certification as a competition race vehicle (tag number 074).
- —Engine rebuildKen Hickey
Offy specialist Ken Hickey rebuilt both the methanol-fueled engine and the gearbox to an exacting standard.
Work carried out while the car was in the ownership of Bill Chapin, prior to 1992.
- —Service
Fuel system cleaned and prepared for continued use to maintain the Offy engine in good running condition.
Described as recent work at the time of cataloguing; engine had accumulated fewer than 10 hours of running time since the rebuild.
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