1956 Kurtis 500S
- Engine
- 4.6L (283 cu in) OHV V8, ~205 bhp
- Colour
- White with racing stripe
The Kurtis 500S is a rare cycle-fendered American sports-racing car based on the same round-tube cruciform chassis that Frank Kurtis derived from his successful Indianapolis car design, of which roughly 30 were made. This example was invoiced to a Michigan recipient in February 1956 but remained incomplete for over four decades before being finished in California around 1999–2000 with a 283 cu. in. Chevrolet V-8, Tremec five-speed gearbox, Ford nine-inch rear axle, and a custom body prepared by noted street-rod builder Roy Brizio.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$143,000
- 1956-02-01 →Factory deliveryDarrel Johnsonpartial documentation
Received the chassis and suspension from Kurtis but never completed the build; the car sat unfinished for over four decades.
- 1999 →Acquisition unknownWarren Wetterlundpartial documentation
Napa, California-based vintage racing collector who engaged builder John Ryals to finish the car, including a Chevy V-8 swap, new gearbox, and body completion by Roy Brizio.
- 2005 →Acquisition unknownCurrent ownerpartial documentation
Added a red leather interior and white racing stripe after purchase; had the car serviced by Kent Bain's Vintage Racing Services in Connecticut.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1999RestorationJohn Ryals
The long-incomplete chassis was fully built out: re-configured from Cadillac to Chevrolet 283 cu. in. V-8 specification, mated to a Tremec T5 five-speed gearbox, fitted with a Ford nine-inch rear axle, and suspended on original Kurtis torsion bars paired with Koni dampers.
Commissioned by Warren Wetterlund; Ryals was based in Van Nuys, California.
- 1999Engine rebuildLJ's Speed Shop
A 283 cu. in. Chevrolet V-8 was assembled with 10:1 compression, wet-sump lubrication, stainless steel headers, a Holley 650 four-barrel carburettor, and Mallory ignition.
Shop located in Napa, California.
- 1999BodyworkRoy Brizio
The body, comprising a fiberglass rear tub with aluminium doors, cowl, and nose, was prepared and painted; a custom windshield was fabricated by modifying a screen intended for a 1932 Ford hot rod.
Brizio was engaged as a street-rod builder for the body preparation and paint work.
- 2005Maintenance
A new red leather interior was installed and a white racing stripe was applied to the bodywork.
Carried out at the time of the current owner's purchase.
- 2005Mechanical
Front brakes were converted to drum configuration.
- —ServiceKent Bain's Vintage Racing Services
The car was recently tuned and detailed in preparation for sale.
Workshop located in Stratford, Connecticut.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.