1948 Kurtis-Omohundro Comet

45 Denise Sheldon and Jon Hall The following story was first published in Tom Cotter ’ s 2022 book “ Secrets of the Barn Find Hunter ” Once you ’ re ready to start searching an area, you rely on tried and true methods of car guys and gals across the world. That is, you rely on the help of more car guys and gals. That ’ s what I did when going to the next step on finding the blue ’48 Kurtis. I went to Denise Sheldon. Denise is a car gal from Livonia, Michigan who saw the story I ran, and reached out to me to offer help. She asked me to create a flyer and share a photo and history of the car. Each year she visits car shows across Michigan, and she offered to hand out flyers with a photo and the history of the car we were searching for. And if I haven ’ t said it before, let me share another phrase with you that ’ s one of my favorite: “ Luck is when hard work meets opportunity ” It turned out that the third person she saw was a friend who collected customs and hot rods and he actually owned the car. All of the work we did led up the Denise and the flyer – and the first one nailed it squarely on the head. Here ’ s how Denise shared what she found back on April 26, 2008 at the Jalopy Journal: Geoff, I hope you're sitting down for this, kinda too hard to believe and once again proves what a small hot rod world we live in. Dad and I went to the RM auction this morning. Kinda Detroit's version of Barret Jackson. Lots of hot rod pals there. I had printed and brought with me a handful of the flyer you sent me. The THIRD pal I gave a flyer to looked at it and point to the bottom car and said I own that! I of course said "WHAT??!!?? are you serious??" He replied "yep, it's in my shop right now." John's owned it for a number of years. He told me that in 1957 his pal in Westland (next town over from me) bought the car and had it till about 10 years ago when I think John said he bought it from him. He started talking non - stop about the car, telling me all about it blah, blah, blah. Anyway, his name is John Hall, he lives in Saginaw, owns Shadow Rods which is the company that is making those new bodies and flatheads motors. He is just as anxious to talk to you as you are to him. He's never been able to find anyone that had any info regarding the car. I wouldn't be surprised if he calls you tonight when he gets home. Congrats Geoff! I'm thrilled for you and will continue to look for the owner of the other one. Regards, Your Personal Private Eye, Denise April 26th, 2008