1947 Kurtis-Omohundro Comet

34 Jerry Ingram Remembers … The following story is a result of several interviews conducted with Jerry Ingram in 2008. Jerry owned the 1947 Kurtis - Omohundro Comet From 1965 to 1975. Jerry bought the 1947 Kurtis - Omohundro Comet in 1965. It was fitted with a white canvas top with side curtains which had an opening so you could reach your hand through and open the doors. It did not have a radio or heater so Jerry installed a heater—no radio though. The engine was a 1949 or newer when Jerry bought it—the original 1946 Mercury Flathead had been replaced. It was originally offered for $1800 in 1964 and it remained unsold for about a year until he bought it in 1965 for $575. The Comet had electric windshield wipers when he bought it, but they were not timed together – two different electric motors and mechanisms had been installed. The car had fog lights— see the article in the 1965 Menifee County newspaper that shows a picture of Jerry with the car. Jerry also built the battery box which is still in place today (2012). When he left to serve in the military in 1966, the Comet sat in Frenchburg, Kentucky for four years –in storage—until he got out. In August ‘70, Jerry was honorably discharged and moved to California—without the Comet. He returned to Frenchburg, Kentucky in 1972 and brought the Kurtis - Omohundro Comet to his new home in Sacramento, California. Jerry lived in Sacramento for 2 years, and then moved back with his wife to Frenchburg, Kentucky in 1974. The Comet was red when Jerry bought it in 1965 (it was red the year before in 1964, too). While in California, Jerry painted it yellow. He then proceeded to drive it throughout California for 2 years. Jerry sold it in 1975, back in Frenchburg, Kentucky, and it was yellow when he sold it. Jerry shared that when he was preparing to paint it yellow, he sanded down the car, and remembered that the first layer of paint was black. This was followed by a white or beige layer, and next, green. The final color was red—as he bought it in 1965. Phil Fleming remembers the car as beige - which fits with the color found above. Phil remembers talking to Kent Walter (Kent ’ s family owned both Kurtis - Omohundro Comets in the ’50 s) about the car ’ s colors. Kent said he remembered the car as green – which is probably the car in the pictures that shows Kent washing it at his home in Berkley, Michigan. These pictures were taken in the late ’50 s based on the 1956 Dodge hubcaps and Kent ’ s memory. Kent ’ s pictures of the car in Florida are from the early to mid ’50 s and most likely show the Comet in its second color – metallic beige or tan. When Jerry owned the 1947 Kurtis - Omohundro Comet, it had a Mercury steering wheel and column shifter. It had all leather upholstery with white inserts and outside black edges. There was a two - inch roll of leather over the top of the dashboard, and the top of the doors was rolled with two inches of leather, too. Behind the doors and around the back of the cockpit was a one inch - roll of leather. Each door had pockets down the side for storing items. Jerry also remembered that the windshield had three large studs in each of the high corners—used to anchor the convertible top. There were also snaps on the body for fastening the convertible top and side curtains. He also remembered that the fender welt was originally chrome beading. Jerry traded it to Leon Hopper in 1975 for a nearly new pickup truck worth about $3500. He never saw his car again until Alex Boeriu (owner 1986 - 2007) contacted him. Jerry Ingram At Amelia Island, Florida, 2009.