Customs Muntz….Jet….Custom….History

Thanks. Not trying to argue with you here, but '49-'51 Fords had side trim with a relatively substantial 'peak' in it, while Jets had a much smoother, rounder side trim like this old photo in an original configuration. Many 'liberties' have been taken by restorers and owners over the years, but I studied, owned and restored six Jets (including an original paint car) over a period of 35 years, and I believe this photo accurately portrays the original stainless side trim. . Dunno ...

 

I don't know if sometime in the past the trim was changed on this specific car, but the guy who researched it for us said that is what we should use as it was on the car when we got it.

 

Found this.

 

Another Muntz pic

 

My friends, his dad had one also.

 

When I saw the interior with your mention of Custom I thought it was quite customized but evidently not...they call this Muntz sort of a barn find but it must have been a nice barn free of what typical barns have that I know of...​

 

First one was a one-off built by Frank Kurtis of Kurtis race car fame on a wrecked Buick ch***is. He drove it to the Indy 500 in 1941. Later he made a few production models with aluminum bodies, before selling the business to "Mad Man" Muntz. He lengthened the car, made it a 4 seater, and built them in Illinois with steel bodies, later with some fibregl*** parts. First with OHV Cadillac V8 and Hydramatic, later with Lincoln flathead V8 and Hydramatic.
This is the second customized one I have seen, another was done for a customer by Joe Bailon in the fifties. It got 52 Mercury tail lights and a Buick grille if I recall correctly.

 

The one in the video had 54 Olds tail lights, the one where I work has 50 Chev pickup tail lights. The one in the video looks like it has 50 Chev Truck tail lights with clear lens for front turn signals. Also this one has a flathead Lincoln engine, the one at work has a Y block Lincoln engine with hydromatic.

 

Take a closer look at the taillights and front turn signals on your Jet at work. '50 Chevrolet truck lights look exactly the same, but the bezel will have only one screw. The Muntz Jet used aftermarket Do-Ray lights that look identical BUT the bezels will have two screws! Those are correct to the car. Paying attention to those tiny little details like that make a huge difference. By the way, those Do-ray lights are rarer than hens teeth. I still have a few in my stash!
The flathead was 'standard' in Jets into the model year 1952, but when Lincoln switched to the overhead valve engine later in the year of 1952, the Jets came with them as well. The car in the video looks to be a 1951 model because of the location of the fuel intake on the outside rear fender. 1952 Jets have the fuel cap hidden just inside the trunk.

 

I agree on the Hemi. Ours was originally a 331 Hemi. Sadly the engine could not be saved. We put a Dual Quad 392 from a 57 Chrysler New Yorker in it. Getting close to finished. It's getting the top rebuilt and the interior freshen up.

 

The Hemi is back in the car. We still need to put on the re-chromed valve covers.

 

Interior getting closer as well. I needed to remove some to re-install the door gl***.

 

is that pretty accurate copy of muntz oem interior or?

 

Please make all your photos full image so they're easier to see

 

Some were more extravagant style or material. I have also seen some more plain. This is a recreation of the original from this car.