Frank Kurtis built this 1936 Ford into a streamlined dry lakes racer for Tommy Lee, and I just recalled what its looks reminded me of

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BAReedguww9Z08W23iMoTbXQw4gJpV5LOZZ-Kpm3KHBl1jjepV8oCxa_lFlDgbiREoEiN2tLLxHi8-QCoskLVPyfYwOQzpsn4FsskfSRLQFwmGVLDBfeOXSEVx8eRCKVWktQNnLRdX8/s1600/es.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BAReedguww9Z08W23iMoTbXQw4gJpV5LOZZ-Kpm3KHBl1jjepV8oCxa_lFlDgbiREoEiN2tLLxHi8-QCoskLVPyfYwOQzpsn4FsskfSRLQFwmGVLDBfeOXSEVx8eRCKVWktQNnLRdX8/s640/es.bmp" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchCjk3vBIvnx8ytFhWIg3dsRuQH41wOYdoGgoD4cZCnyOoPT1QoMWLbEWr1vYi9JZtTMUKh67xfkEUsfb9hBxsTHsDGS-MnBpiQt1XA6SU4oITxStk3Ksbr5gzN_cW_P80Wu9qfIoxxw/s1600/1sdg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchCjk3vBIvnx8ytFhWIg3dsRuQH41wOYdoGgoD4cZCnyOoPT1QoMWLbEWr1vYi9JZtTMUKh67xfkEUsfb9hBxsTHsDGS-MnBpiQt1XA6SU4oITxStk3Ksbr5gzN_cW_P80Wu9qfIoxxw/s640/1sdg.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the above is the car built for Tommy Lee, below is the other 1936 Ford he built, for the Southern California Plating Company. I knew I'd seen something like it before. I think the SC Plating Co car was featured in the Rodders Journal, I can't recall where else I would have been reading about it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKF7f3lTw25XcSOYeakyWTh-dYQDVVWFLJ1tf9Zn5_478wbESSZigQF2iR-tg6XiPR0smCVy6DM-pzld7OPvG_QYPQDSy728PLAMzdWx5axx9i0pObRD3lWrdnAQuAM_NIej-NroV_fI/s1600/srwgt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKF7f3lTw25XcSOYeakyWTh-dYQDVVWFLJ1tf9Zn5_478wbESSZigQF2iR-tg6XiPR0smCVy6DM-pzld7OPvG_QYPQDSy728PLAMzdWx5axx9i0pObRD3lWrdnAQuAM_NIej-NroV_fI/s640/srwgt.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kurtis was such an amazing car builder, that his cars dominated at the Indy 500, not just winning, but dominating. Kurtis built cars won the Indy in 1950, 51, 53, 54, and 55. 15 of the top 20 finishers in the 1953 Indy were Kurtis built. </div></div>

Frank Kurtis built this 1936 Ford into a streamlined dry lakes racer for Tommy Lee, and I just recalled what its looks reminded me of

the above is the car built for Tommy Lee, below is the other 1936 Ford he built, for the Southern California Plating Company. I knew I'd...

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Don Lee, remarkable story, remarkable number of race cars with his name on them

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LEXQupm4ZK3B1QHfQF-CRSSge3-XW12KcvFtyaXC-zVg96klH8i-SQusLVPyhVGYF9kgQr_LsyA9A64Bd20L-Kpbj_KEvdjdha9ZheR-Im2mn_M4n7hxaVC4mYMUTR2FLQ-JnycW6KI/s1600/QEWF.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LEXQupm4ZK3B1QHfQF-CRSSge3-XW12KcvFtyaXC-zVg96klH8i-SQusLVPyhVGYF9kgQr_LsyA9A64Bd20L-Kpbj_KEvdjdha9ZheR-Im2mn_M4n7hxaVC4mYMUTR2FLQ-JnycW6KI/s640/QEWF.bmp" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpoP_iMJM7C-sXU9l23ctB9cFNA7RZ2KgCVU7SoZxxrMKHhXNo2OWtdy9BMlbi-M0poe7ROLG1bQFpABYjUyvWTrzZ4HxVjEm-hrP51J0rv8yDmylrExUKlKXLLeqMLceZChN_YXpZUo/s1600/efq.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpoP_iMJM7C-sXU9l23ctB9cFNA7RZ2KgCVU7SoZxxrMKHhXNo2OWtdy9BMlbi-M0poe7ROLG1bQFpABYjUyvWTrzZ4HxVjEm-hrP51J0rv8yDmylrExUKlKXLLeqMLceZChN_YXpZUo/s640/efq.bmp" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PzP96F4qFessuR2LhcNjrOOIs-t3lHzpMChLQGnQSboKPo8qsGtrC60ae9gIm0eyvWfHQja9kqWOCAI1M7jb5v_jyeZTCG5tf1fQrTvpBpY7Vyyh4t8myklNommqPNZtsU8zimLRR1M/s1600/rgt.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PzP96F4qFessuR2LhcNjrOOIs-t3lHzpMChLQGnQSboKPo8qsGtrC60ae9gIm0eyvWfHQja9kqWOCAI1M7jb5v_jyeZTCG5tf1fQrTvpBpY7Vyyh4t8myklNommqPNZtsU8zimLRR1M/s640/rgt.bmp" width="640" /></a></div> Above, <span class="boxContent">The Alfa Romeo Tipo B or P3 Monoposto Chassis 50002 was the first genuine single-seat racing car in Grand Prix racing and it dominated the competition in the 1932 season, winning almost at will. Its first appearance came at the Italian GP at Monza on June 5.</span><br /><br /><span class="boxContent"> It joined the Scuderia Ferrari-ran Alfa team in 1934 before being sold to Count De Villapadierni in Spain and later to Frank Griswold in San Francisco. After running in the 1939 and 1940 Indianapolis 500 and coming in first at the New York World's Fair in 1940, the car was sold to Tommy Lee in Los Angeles. Entered as the 'Don Lee Special' at the 1946 and 1947 Indy 500 it was driven by Hal Cole.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWhZHu5VriqfP8rfpbIzRSg6IRq98g5BGESzbnXDlxJaYw4L1oyKhZveuRV_u8YVPZjGtqi0AG6KXff_56sWAHm63pP7_g99Re6as6JqRlU03LHN26Wt_CxqBHUKRf5p9OWr5m6hrvpQ/s1600/re.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWhZHu5VriqfP8rfpbIzRSg6IRq98g5BGESzbnXDlxJaYw4L1oyKhZveuRV_u8YVPZjGtqi0AG6KXff_56sWAHm63pP7_g99Re6as6JqRlU03LHN26Wt_CxqBHUKRf5p9OWr5m6hrvpQ/s640/re.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Above photo shows Luigi Chinetti watching the W154 getting worked on, <br />Below is the Mercedes-Benz W154 entered by Don Lee at the 1947 Indianapolis 500, it is chassis number 9, which after WW2 was discovered in Czechoslovakia. This was the car with which Lang had won the Coppa Ciano in 1938.<br /><br /> The car was sold to Don Lee, an American racing team owner. During 1938, the rules for the Indianapolis 500 were modified to allow the European Grand Prix cars to compete, and in 1947, Tommy Lee entered the W154 with Duke Nalon as the driver. <br /><br />Nalon discovered that Riley Brett, an Offenhauser mechanic, had obtained some Mercedes engine blueprints. Nalon was able to make copies and from these, the team was able to prepare the engine. The mechanics started the engine but left it running on idle which caused the fuel to condense in the engine manifold. Due to the engine being mounted at an angle, the rear cylinders filled up with fuel, breaking the conrods and one piston. A new piston was hastily sand cast in time for the race.<br /><br />Although Nalon set the second fastest qualifying speed, the qualifying system meant that he would start the race from 18th position. During the race, the replacement piston failed after 119 laps and the car had to retire from the race<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitA6vomTTQQDBadZWl0tkWGUPh_oem8D0Y9qPZz3pgcfFwcPyIEhB0E07RbnIWGrMQBrH2o2JpyIZxon9eXXeCMFkxhzpg2C3UfVTyNit-UId_MImUzvd6IBGC_LY3yFwiAP5jf3ed-F4/s1600/123.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitA6vomTTQQDBadZWl0tkWGUPh_oem8D0Y9qPZz3pgcfFwcPyIEhB0E07RbnIWGrMQBrH2o2JpyIZxon9eXXeCMFkxhzpg2C3UfVTyNit-UId_MImUzvd6IBGC_LY3yFwiAP5jf3ed-F4/s640/123.bmp" width="640" /></a> <br />Photo credits, top one I took at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, from Conceptcarz, then Stefan Marjoram at the Goodwood festival, and bottom photo I was just sent by David <br /><br /><a href="http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/06/don-lee-special.html">http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/06/don-lee-special.html</a><br /><a href="http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z15031/Alfa-Romeo-P3-Tipo-B.aspx">http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z15031/Alfa-Romeo-P3-Tipo-B.aspx</a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stefanmarjoram/5009392962/in/set-72157624870187185">http://www.flickr.com/photos/stefanmarjoram/5009392962/in/set-72157624870187185</a> <br /><a href="http://theoldmotor.com/?p=15093">http://theoldmotor.com/?p=15093</a><br /><br />Now, the info... Don Lee had been a bicycle shop owner who became a protégé of Los Angeles pioneer businessman Earle C. Anthony, purchased his Los Angeles radio station KHJ from  Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler in 1927.<br /><br />Don was the exclusive west coast distributor of Cadillac automobiles in the early 20th century. In 1919 Don purchased the Earl Automobile Works of Hollywood, California. <br /><br />Harley Earl, the son of the company's owner, was kept on as manager. Renamed Don Lee Coach and Body Works, the company produced many custom designed Cadillacs for the rich and famous. Harley Earl left the company to become the head of General Motors styling department in 1927<br /><br />Having amassed a fortune selling automobiles, Lee branched out in broadcasting in 1926, purchased or built 12 radio stations, creating his own  network, and having such a power base he put his transmitters and antennas on a hill in Griffin Park Los Angeles... now became known as "Mount Lee.".. .just above the Hollywood sign.<br /><br />Don bought a 20-acre site on a mountain top at the eastern boundary of Griffith Park, widening the transmission field equipment to take in new thousands of homes in the Hollywood hills and the San Fernando Valley. The site is one and a half times higher than the top floor of the Empire State Building in New York. Mount Lee is thus the highest television location in the world. (Info circa 1937)<br /><br />Part of Mount Lee was sold to Howard Hughes, who intended to erect an estate for his then current love interest, Ginger Rogers<br /><br />Frank Kurtis got started working with automotive fabrication when he was hired by Willet Brown and Tommy Lee to rework Don Lee Racing Team's midget car bodies. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQV4XCl-NTJue6J7ANIQEzf33CFLQ7T8bHmW-hN81qFMsYE7NUDXdEdm23_arxidU1rC_wB95ddLHZ0cHhC2PLIX8Ud1i41DdwzUJofwHukvKr7h3JQIuItNj4pwa47evdmDrntZl4-c/s1600/1wr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQV4XCl-NTJue6J7ANIQEzf33CFLQ7T8bHmW-hN81qFMsYE7NUDXdEdm23_arxidU1rC_wB95ddLHZ0cHhC2PLIX8Ud1i41DdwzUJofwHukvKr7h3JQIuItNj4pwa47evdmDrntZl4-c/s640/1wr.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMiaioLL6IeJloqVV72-IgUMkYc8qtds_alAohn_7auRRqE7pfaRJ8WyYmRfr7SLLvX73eF1TGKHCCHkzp1WOP1BfzhqhXDz3TRlENSIg_fUUFWqAxGCjFsUP0WiGvGIlD-HZW9WcIVE/s1600/45t.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMiaioLL6IeJloqVV72-IgUMkYc8qtds_alAohn_7auRRqE7pfaRJ8WyYmRfr7SLLvX73eF1TGKHCCHkzp1WOP1BfzhqhXDz3TRlENSIg_fUUFWqAxGCjFsUP0WiGvGIlD-HZW9WcIVE/s640/45t.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />If you were living in California back in the nineteen-oughts, he probably watched four-cylinder Cadillac speedsters tearing through the countryside in those much ballyhooed city to city runs that often headlined the sports pages from 1905 into the WW1 era. Locally, team-Cadillac race drivers, running under the Don Lee banner (Don Lee was California's first and only Cadillac distributor), were as famous as Barney Oldfield - who they often competed against. Multiple Cadillacs regularly finished in the top five. Naturally, victory on the road racing and speedway circuit translated to enormous success in the showroom.<br /><br />Cadillac and California were made for each other. Year-around motoring weather coupled with scenic attractions radiating in all directions led to extensive road building early on. Don Lee was among those who played a leadership roll in promoting State highway construction. By 1916 the roads in Southern California were being touted as the most advanced in the nation. From the sportsminded millionaires who wintered here at the turn of the century, to the subsequent flow of wealthy tourists who came to see the sights and ended up staying, Cadillac was the Southland's foremost luxury car. From the very beginning, an estimated ten percent of Cadillac production was allocated to California. Don Lee provided sales and service through a statewide network of urban master dealerships, with sub-dealers handling the suburban and rural areas.<br /><br />Quite the remarkable connections, Frank Kurtis, Howard Hughes, Harvey Earl, Harry Chandler. The time and places of our lives affect a lot.</div>

Don Lee, remarkable story, remarkable number of race cars with his name on them

 Above, The Alfa Romeo Tipo B or P3 Monoposto Chassis 50002 was the first genuine single-seat racing car in Grand Prix racing and it dominat...

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Don Lee Specials, how many did he have? Here are 3...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEIy76U6LoTcvAMJkVFNRddYk5GtfedIEvNoxKHg0rz1QyJ9Nk8LP0hAnCwA_eAn-lKSfeIc_sgFrACqDtMRelBvCapVbTgUUAOPP98yuJo0w3Ywkq3R4aardIVzrO3nZCvuT490UyAQ/s1600/rgt.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEIy76U6LoTcvAMJkVFNRddYk5GtfedIEvNoxKHg0rz1QyJ9Nk8LP0hAnCwA_eAn-lKSfeIc_sgFrACqDtMRelBvCapVbTgUUAOPP98yuJo0w3Ywkq3R4aardIVzrO3nZCvuT490UyAQ/s640/rgt.bmp" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTV8SQCp6gzaDOCncKymY5NeucrVxt_XYhbvB8fCVN5wXUB_Zo-H1bfKORlPL-WsnAR8UG4JwGi0sYifzCWvRZbhP5T-7fUw5DqnWdfKqYXDaw3qDfkgs6ZXnka4XjAFJ-0nku95Lf6Y/s1600/aD.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTV8SQCp6gzaDOCncKymY5NeucrVxt_XYhbvB8fCVN5wXUB_Zo-H1bfKORlPL-WsnAR8UG4JwGi0sYifzCWvRZbhP5T-7fUw5DqnWdfKqYXDaw3qDfkgs6ZXnka4XjAFJ-0nku95Lf6Y/s640/aD.bmp" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above two shots are from the courtesy and sharp mind of Stephan Marjoram, who knew that there were at least 3 "Don Lee Specials" and he let me post the above Fiat Tipo B two from Goodwood <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stefanmarjoram/5009392962/in/set-72157624870187185/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/stefanmarjoram/5009392962/in/set-72157624870187185/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the one I photographed this summer:  <a href="http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/06/don-lee-special.html">http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/06/don-lee-special.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtkmibtHUZV9oaDon-NCSrwbrou1EU8OYbYdF8LWOvU_jIy8Z1miNQ2ntBDpC7_KcoFuLyT3MYAG39bEqVrK4haFLI7yK-DnYcBH3-e7RYUrKK_kTnnUUOdpyCpRkIoi_fbu0EnfTU8s/s1600/QEWF.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtkmibtHUZV9oaDon-NCSrwbrou1EU8OYbYdF8LWOvU_jIy8Z1miNQ2ntBDpC7_KcoFuLyT3MYAG39bEqVrK4haFLI7yK-DnYcBH3-e7RYUrKK_kTnnUUOdpyCpRkIoi_fbu0EnfTU8s/s640/QEWF.bmp" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TBrmwGgJgk4CT2QZZX5bgU2xjJPUxPsIPyCoMs7kZdlK72UL6_2StiEcyClYHmIM8Hl6vBkv0edlSFR8n1bH6vMpmjE-_hAGqNMWASJzBT4wT5YgavqnSEIRWSAdSBGrxj2JXv_U_Gk/s1600/rf.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TBrmwGgJgk4CT2QZZX5bgU2xjJPUxPsIPyCoMs7kZdlK72UL6_2StiEcyClYHmIM8Hl6vBkv0edlSFR8n1bH6vMpmjE-_hAGqNMWASJzBT4wT5YgavqnSEIRWSAdSBGrxj2JXv_U_Gk/s640/rf.bmp" width="640" /></a></div><br />And the 1936 that Frank Kurtis built below that I just posted from finding it int he 1940 Harper Dry Lake racing film, <a href="http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/12/anyone-recognize-this-hot-rod-ive-seen.html">http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/12/anyone-recognize-this-hot-rod-ive-seen.html</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg6vTUADaMMU6c073usBQRX3A4h9HFvS-7VEgwmFvv6dtdVYvxhl89o3MZsJSJL1HSkbejaeVWQborxx41EFc6YKfshjvk5FqWPlR3fYv1GV3fBOeu-LPfXgeXF25lmKoM754CNWhBGM/s1600/QRWE.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg6vTUADaMMU6c073usBQRX3A4h9HFvS-7VEgwmFvv6dtdVYvxhl89o3MZsJSJL1HSkbejaeVWQborxx41EFc6YKfshjvk5FqWPlR3fYv1GV3fBOeu-LPfXgeXF25lmKoM754CNWhBGM/s640/QRWE.bmp" width="640" /></a></div></div>

Don Lee Specials, how many did he have? Here are 3...

The above two shots are from the courtesy and sharp mind of Stephan Marjoram, who knew that there were at least 3 "Don Lee Specials...

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the Don Lee special, built by Frank Kurtis. Ford body and chassis, Cord fenders, Offenhauser engine

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u0OUPh3RhF2Uy-hQ6bSetoiGjzyHjXeKFazNreT87FZB9cq474Kh7fXHvCBDOCFhmbnZZR1V5ur5YQPuskLRmO1fuPx3M8ibiVQRXa_aLAojTms14DR87U350lJedIkBmdeetS8QyH0/s1600/aEG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u0OUPh3RhF2Uy-hQ6bSetoiGjzyHjXeKFazNreT87FZB9cq474Kh7fXHvCBDOCFhmbnZZR1V5ur5YQPuskLRmO1fuPx3M8ibiVQRXa_aLAojTms14DR87U350lJedIkBmdeetS8QyH0/s640/aEG.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>This is the Don Lee special, built by Frank Kurtis in 1936. The other four "Don Lee Specials" are posted in different posts and without much finesse <a href="http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Don%20Lee">http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Don%20Lee</a> <br /><br /> Tommy approached Frank with a project. He wanted the best looking and fastest hot rod in Southern California… and he wanted Frank to build it.<br /><br />Frank thought the Cord was a smart look and Tommy agreed. Frank felt a Cad motor would be appropriate, but Tommy balked. He wanted the best of the best and that meant this car was going to get a 318-inch Offy. A direction was set and work began.<br /><br />Frank started with a 1936 Ford chassis and Cord front and rear fenders. From there, the car just blossomed into something VERY unique and VERY fast<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SzvfpqwmwSR3WGqOoi1YyKN9bzTC7ktRDJRrP-LwhWFDzo2tpKAnq0jwkDha3yNahoMQ-PSNBWc4DpSWDy7v9m5As8t67O1unGIBqQgIwU3HPsEDNdpJjOp9wHwRDu-0dhaXhpjOiuY/s1600/UntitledQW4GT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SzvfpqwmwSR3WGqOoi1YyKN9bzTC7ktRDJRrP-LwhWFDzo2tpKAnq0jwkDha3yNahoMQ-PSNBWc4DpSWDy7v9m5As8t67O1unGIBqQgIwU3HPsEDNdpJjOp9wHwRDu-0dhaXhpjOiuY/s640/UntitledQW4GT.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don left millions to his son Tommy, who at age 45 jumped from the 12th story of the Wilshire hotel, leaving 10 million to potential heirs to fight over </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Tommy’s roadster ran on the dry lakes of Southern California with limited success. Improvements might have been made and potential realized if not for a tragedy that happened just prior to the war. On an intersection in Hollywood, CA, Tommy was t-boned by a truck and he was badly injured.</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Tommy lived the rest of his life in a great deal of pain. He tried to play through and continued buying a number of hot rods and race cars as well as a few fighter planes (p38). But the joy of speed just wasn’t enough to overcome the pain.</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>On January 13, 1950, Tommy had his driver take him to the dentist. He got on the elevator and went to the 12th floor roof. He then jumped to his death leaving behind a 10 million dollar fortune, a huge automobile and aircraft collection, a radio station, and a television busines</strong>s <a href="http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=7365">http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=7365</a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW9teIzyzUiyY7R-vsVtIBhKLEzm3hJMERnTrg9js5EDRAN-lAZ96qRu3E3yoIme0cWgWOc8N9zICGl5hedy6rQHDVnNgJvKTS3vNV0cv9mYwqutQ34SlQvDqFL_rq-Zmo6iOZlvPWP8/s1600/EWRG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW9teIzyzUiyY7R-vsVtIBhKLEzm3hJMERnTrg9js5EDRAN-lAZ96qRu3E3yoIme0cWgWOc8N9zICGl5hedy6rQHDVnNgJvKTS3vNV0cv9mYwqutQ34SlQvDqFL_rq-Zmo6iOZlvPWP8/s640/EWRG.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNw3I4kDVb6wpkZmpfxzQDrX7l69bWetKeP5DEklFZ3LDJeHDbjTpr0ZMIvyOxrvhAST9co0FiiVfKrlAvQuWxSQA1l16W4JGGO2O0gE7UHj9yr0wWKO3Dy1BStJWmilbZYoy6maue40/s1600/WT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNw3I4kDVb6wpkZmpfxzQDrX7l69bWetKeP5DEklFZ3LDJeHDbjTpr0ZMIvyOxrvhAST9co0FiiVfKrlAvQuWxSQA1l16W4JGGO2O0gE7UHj9yr0wWKO3Dy1BStJWmilbZYoy6maue40/s640/WT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are screen shots from the 1940 Harpers Dry Lakes racing video that Dave from <a href="http://www.seabrighthotrods.com/">http://www.seabrighthotrods.com/</a> just added to youtube</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4eEJpJj1z9sRoPGya1ftb5lb_vKTk8yDlko716XAzEBrrx_irXA5D57nWiAapKhWmYmpKRHoQuUr916FJccxzuo6HGOLpAkSns6zsSe1VgrUzaiNSkQYajU8XyOhD10FvtKFCNLuW3yI/s1600/q4w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4eEJpJj1z9sRoPGya1ftb5lb_vKTk8yDlko716XAzEBrrx_irXA5D57nWiAapKhWmYmpKRHoQuUr916FJccxzuo6HGOLpAkSns6zsSe1VgrUzaiNSkQYajU8XyOhD10FvtKFCNLuW3yI/s640/q4w.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Comparing the above photo with the last photo below that shows this car in street form vs racing form, I don't see a door handle or hinge in the above racing form<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBLhuEPwfhhrHK6EqMqNrFSVOF7q0cd9-H5dnskcwZCH3JcskgKDvjsgJIuwN4WJfPuVZUis06C6c-pU3eZk84778npTlJmhZQH6vG1d9UDasJ-hgsS8W3cPdvSkSzyfyRZtz7Jz6SC0/s1600/qf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBLhuEPwfhhrHK6EqMqNrFSVOF7q0cd9-H5dnskcwZCH3JcskgKDvjsgJIuwN4WJfPuVZUis06C6c-pU3eZk84778npTlJmhZQH6vG1d9UDasJ-hgsS8W3cPdvSkSzyfyRZtz7Jz6SC0/s640/qf.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">notice that the street exhaust is different from the racing exhaust</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwO48YiNuz-JqW8-YgVJunFF2XyhoHN24J2McKLRi0mXALPwUIHvv-GRnQMUbsFvOgR-ntRfxNdTA912mfRbB42CA7UwXhoQblPwGcUDSOYbVO7dkr57RfnhKpp2iH0z9DmS2k_sOuGLI/s1600/r4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwO48YiNuz-JqW8-YgVJunFF2XyhoHN24J2McKLRi0mXALPwUIHvv-GRnQMUbsFvOgR-ntRfxNdTA912mfRbB42CA7UwXhoQblPwGcUDSOYbVO7dkr57RfnhKpp2iH0z9DmS2k_sOuGLI/s640/r4.bmp" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">these last two images from <a href="http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=7365">http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=7365</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the other Don Lee Special that I posted this summer <a href="http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/06/don-lee-special.html">http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/06/don-lee-special.html</a></div></div>

the Don Lee special, built by Frank Kurtis. Ford body and chassis, Cord fenders, Offenhauser engine

This is the Don Lee special, built by Frank Kurtis in 1936. The other four "Don Lee Specials" are posted in different posts and wi...

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