Boattail Roadster

The 1937 Kurtis Tommy Lee Special was started in 1936, and completed in 1937. Handbuilt by Frank Kurtis for Tommy Lee, this boattail roadster was designed to be the fastest and most sophisticated custom speedster of its time. Built on a 1936 Ford chassis with a Cord 810-inspired front end, the car featured a hand-formed aluminum body, a Cord-derived grille, and a DuVall Windshield. Powered by a massive 318-cubic-inch Offenhauser twin-cam engine producing 300 horsepower, it was capable of speeds up to 130 mph at the dry lakes. Despite its stunning design and advanced engineering, the car’s racing engine proved ill-suited for highway use, leading Tommy to eventually retire it to storage. At a reported cost of $25,000, it was one of the most expensive custom cars of its era, surpassing even the price of many Duesenbergs.