1957 Kurtis Offenhauser KK500G

This was one of the display cars at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in August 1996.

It's the 1957 Kurtis KK500G which was entered in the Indianapolis 500 in 1957 and 1958 as the Meguiar Mirror Glaze Special driven by Ray Crawford, but failed to qualify on both occasions. It was entered for the race another four times and its best result was a sixth place in 1962 in the hands of Don Davis. Ray Crawford also took part in the Race of Two Worlds round the banked oval at Monza with the car in both 1957 and 1958, one-sided exhibition events that pitted American Indianapolis cars against a motley collection of European cars. The race in both years consisted of three heats with the winner being the best car over the three races. In 1957 Ray Crawford's results in the heats were seventh, fourth and retired, and in 1958 tenth, eighth and fourth. The board in front of the car reads:

1957 KURTIS OFFENHAUSER

KK500G

RAN INDIANAPOLIS 6 TIMES

BEST RESULT 1962

Came 6^th at 149 MPH

 

Ran in the Famous

MONZANAPOLIS Races

When European GP Cars

Raced against INDY Cars

Resulting in a walkover for the

INDY Cars

 

In 1957 came 6^th

In 1958 came 4^th

500 PLUS HP FUEL INJECTION