Metal Myth - Some of the greatest automotive innovations have come not from massive factories, but from the hands of passionate individuals who saw potential where others saw scrap. In the golden era of American car culture, one man’s vision turned a wrecked sedan into a rolling piece of art—and perhaps even the seed of an idea that would influence sports cars for years to come. That man was Frank Kurtis, and the car in question was the breathtaking 1941 Buick Special Kurtis-Kraft.
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| The 1941 Buick Special Kurtis-Kraft, born from the remains of a nearly new but wrecked Buick Century sedan, wasn’t built for trophies or podiums—but reimagined by Frank Kurtis from the chassis up for the pure thrill of the open road. (Picture from: JalopyJournal) |
Frank Kurtis is widely respected as a mastermind of race car design, especially in the world of Midget and Indy cars. His name is nearly synonymous with speed and innovation. But beyond the racetrack, Kurtis had a flair for style and craftsmanship that came alive in a much more personal project—one that wasn’t built for trophies or podiums, but for the open road. Starting with a nearly new but crashed 1941 Buick Century sedan, Kurtis stripped away the ruined factory body and reimagined the car from the chassis up.
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| Frank Kurtis proudly posed alongside his handcrafted creation, the 1941 Buick Special—a one-of-a-kind custom car that embodied his vision, skill, and bold departure from the world of pure racing. (Picture from: JalopyJournal) |
He didn't simply repair the car; he reinvented it. The original frame was shortened and reworked to drop the ride height, giving it a sportier, more dramatic stance. Over this new foundation, Kurtis hand-fabricated a sleek aluminum body that echoed the elegant forms seen in Coachcraft designs of the time. The attention to detail was astonishing: cast aluminum was used for the cowl and windshield frame, all chrome trim was custom made, and he even engineered clever features like cable-operated hood and trunk releases. The interior was no afterthought either—fold-down seats and a removable top with a curved plastic rear window added both function and flair.
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| Frank Kurtis' 1941 Buick Special made its debut in May 1948 under the bright spotlight of the Indianapolis 500. (Picture from: Kustomrama) |
The car made its debut in May 1948 under the bright spotlight of the Indianapolis 500. Driving it from California to Indiana, Kurtis and his creation caused a stir. The response from fans and automotive journalists alike was electric. Tom McCahill, a well-known figure in the world of automotive writing, was so impressed that he featured the car in the October 1948 issue of Mechanix Illustrated. That coverage, and the excitement around the Buick, sparked something bigger for Kurtis.
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| The 1941 Buick Special Kurtis-Kraft invites you into a cabin where an ivory bench seat, red dashboard, classic gauges, and custom steering wheel embody handcrafted luxury and one man's sculpted vision in metal. (Picture from: Kustomrama) |
At the time, midget car racing was losing steam. Kurtis had been considering a new project—a lightweight sports car version of an earlier vehicle design—but it never got off the ground. Instead, the Buick Special itself seemed like the perfect template for a new kind of American road car. Stylish, innovative, and clearly capable of turning heads, it became more than a one-off—it inspired Kurtis to build and sell his own sports cars, helping to define what an American performance car could be.
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| The 1941 Buick Special Kurtis-Kraft boasts a gleaming, polished straight-eight engine—its precise layout of cables, carburetors, and curves a testament to Kurtis’s passion for detail and performance: functional art shaped by the racetrack. (Picture from: Kustomrama) |
Years later, the Buick was rediscovered and lovingly restored by Joe Baird with collector Greg Schneider in Minnesota. It even resurfaced briefly at the Auburn RM auction in 2011, but didn’t sell. Since then, the trail has gone quiet. Whether it’s nestled in a private collection or hidden away in storage, the whereabouts of the 1941 Buick Special Kurtis-Kraft remain a mystery. But its legacy—born from the fusion of racecraft and artistry—still speaks loudly.
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| The 1941 Buick Special Kurtis-Kraft commands attention from the rear with its bold red finish, integrated tail fins, rear window, flowing chrome accents, and proudly placed "Kurtis" nameplate—an arresting fusion of Jet Age futurism and handcrafted American artistry. (Picture from: Kustomrama) |
Frank Kurtis didn’t just build cars—he sculpted motion out of metal. With the Buick Special, he created more than a machine; he left behind a milestone of imagination. If you know anything about this remarkable vehicle or where it might be today, your insights would be invaluable. Who knows—maybe one day, this extraordinary creation will reappear, ready to captivate the world once more with its unmatched design and presence. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | JALOPYJOURNAL | KUSTOMRAMA | HAGERTY | UNDISCOVEREDCLASSICS | BARCHETTA.MEDIACENTRE.PLUS ]Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
