Folks Of Interest Sadly Dick Kraft Passed On

Thank you for the opportunity to write to Margarita..Dick was a class act,as is she..Met them.and hung out a couple of days with them in '95,during my hot rod pilgrimage to California..Went with a buddy who had cloned Dick's aluminum roadster,and had talked to Dick many times during the process..Tell your aunt that this Tennessee boy remembers her Mexican food...Bill

 

RIP dick..............Chris

 

RIP Dick - wish I could have met you in this world

 

Sorry to hear that. We developed the HA/GR (HAMB GAS RAIL) class of vintage dragster here on the HAMB. These early-style rails are a tribute to guys like Mr. Kraft and their machines. We build and race them with a kind of creed we call "The Spirit of the Bug". Thank you Dick Kraft.

 

RIP Dick Kraft, the spirit of The Bug lives!!

We know you are still grinning and banging gears.......an inspiration to us all.

 

I am not sure how I missed this,..... Wow,.... what a great loss.

 

truly sad news.

Norton

 

he made his mark,best to the family

 

Very sad news ... We're losing way too many heroes of Hot Rodding.

Dick's "Kraftsmanship" was legendary:




My condolences to his family.

 

RIP Dick

 

Long live "The Bug" RIP Dick

 

A great guy that will be missed. RIP

 

Thought I’d bring this thread back up to the top so I could post these pictures in their proper place and give folks a chance to remember Dick Kraft on this, the one year anniversary of his passing. Every grease monkey that’s ever turned a wrench on a hot rod owes a bit of gratitude to him for helping to pave the way.
As most of you probably know, “Krafty” was the uncle of famed So-Cal paint guru, Stan Betz.

Here’s a shot of young Betz sitting in the chassis of what he called “Krafty’s Sports Car”. Powered by a V8-60, he said Krafty and Art Ingalls collaborated to build this and another identical car while Ingalls was working at Frank Kurtis’ shop.


I’m guessing this next picture was probably taken in the mid seventies. It’s an interesting shot of Dick and his wife (then girlfriend ?) Margarita. The contraption they’re riding was built by Von Dutch for use as a prop in a movie. Betz was a lifelong friend of Dutch and got the bike when they were finished using it. It served as a delivery vehicle for Betz Speed & Color for a while before mysteriously disappearing...

above photos courtesy of Stan Betz


R.I.P. Krafty ……and thanks.

 

Thanks for bringing this back up as a reminder


R.I.P Dick

 

Gone but not forgotten

 

I also appreciate the opportunity to remember Dick Kraft's influence on hot rodding.
I was too young to appreciate the Kraft Special, but its later incarnation as the Highland Plating Special was instrumental in developing a lifelong love of T-Bucket hot rods. His work and influence are indelible.

 

How ironic as I was just flipping through this issue of Hot Rod with his car on the cover last night...

 

It doesn't seem like it's been a year. thanks for reminding us of the contribution he made.

Frank

 

Rip

 

RIP Dick....but you made the most of your time here!! that all anyone can ask for.

 

Last I saw him was at the HRR in Bakersfield a few years back. He was selling and autographing T-shirts with artwork of "the Bug" on it. It's still in the plastic bag !

 

Still a bummer.. Rest In Peace Mr. Kraft.

 

The Bug is still the ginchiest!
http://www.dickkraft.com/history/

 

Sad.

 

So Sad R.I.P........

 

Thanx for all the extra info on this legendary cool dude. He was one of my heros as a kid and one of the most respected as I aged. The shot of the bike that Dutch built is amazing! Thanx again "Krafty"!! ~Sololobo~

 

I hope it was as much fun for you as you were for us.

RIP.