1959 Kurtis Kraft Kart

[Scott Grundfor]

Hi All,

Any info out there on a 1959 Kurtis Kraft? This one is in original condition with a WB700/23. The only thing I have found on it is a brief blurb and photo in Popular Science from late 1959 identifying it as a Kurtis Kraft Kart. The steering support looks a lot like a Percival Hell Cat. I am trying to figure out how to adjust the suspension. It has friction shocks and torsion bars. Surprisingly it is fairly light. Made from sheet metal and thin(huge)tubing. Rear axle is hollow. Rear wheels and hubs are heavy. I have another kart with suspension. It handled like Sh-- until a tightened the axle travel. Now it handles well and rides like a Caddy. The Kurtis looks a bit over the top complexity wise. Maybe that is why you don't see any? Serial # stamped into the frame is A263.

[Rob Voska]

A while back I helped a guy find one but very rare. Might have some luck at a Quarter Midget web site.

[Dominic Salvato]

It is worth the 2 grand you paid for it, just because it's so rare. Kurtis passed on joining Art building Caretta's so he tried to make up for his mistake by over engineering his kart offering. It looks nice cleaned up. Congrat's.

[Scott Grundfor]

Thanks guys.... but does anyone have an idea on how to set up the suspension?

[l brown]

Scott - Sent you a P.M.

Larry Brown

[Tom Smith]

Any info out there on a 1959 Kurtis Kraft?
Contact Arlen Kurtis in Bakersfield, if anyone knows he would.

[Andy Symons]

Kurtis passed on joining Art building Caretta's so he tried to make up for his mistake by over engineering his kart offering.

Geez Dominic, no offense and I wasn't there so I can't know for sure, but do you think it's possible the man who designed and built hundreds of midgets and about 500 Indy cars, 5 of which won, might have had any other reasons for designing a more complex racing platform than the typical late 50's kart? Other than compensating for not entering into a business with an employee that is??

I mean, the guy's in all those halls of fame, ya know? I prefer to maybe give him the benefit of the doubt.

Sorry Scott, no intentions to hijack your thread! I wish I could help with your suspension question. It's most interesting to see the Percival style mechanical spot brake on the Kurtis - and on it's own rotor too. Very cool ride!

[Dominic Salvato]

No, that wasn't the point. He missed the opportunity to be on the ground floor of an infant industry that grossed millions of dollars over a short period of time. He was wrapped up in building race cars.
Most businessmen would pass on the deal after being established in another field. I'm sure at the time he wasn't interested in lending his name to what in the beginning must have seemed a toy in his world of racing.
It didn't take long for him to realize the mistake. His problem was he was use to building heavy roadsters with almost unlimited power. Eventually the light weight rear engine Coopers than Lotuses made his race cars obsolete. His first offering in a kart was obsolete off the drawing board, unless you powered it with a 265 Chevy V-8.
It didn't take him long to get the drift and he went with the trend, hence the Percival. The thing I like about Scott's kart is that it is so ugly, it's beautiful.
The design and execution is of the highest quality, and it went the same way as John Hartman's rack and pinion go kart steering.

[Scott Grundfor]

Hi All,

Well.... the proof will be in the pudding...... I plan to have the Kurtis at Riverside and see what's what. I was thinking (briefly) about putting a Maico or similar vintage engine in it. However, it came with an early WB and the rear of the frame has the early welded in place WB mount. I've seen the dragster kart with the mac engines in row. Hmmmmm....265 Chevy. Now that would be wild.

[John Swartout]

The March, 1962 issue of Karting World Magazine has a great cover photo, and many photos inside of this interesting kart. Powered by a 16.5 cubic inch Omega engine of 32 hp!

John