Voodoo Magic: Jerry Gardner's Voodoo Special

59 It remains for someone to utilize these mechanical components together with a chassis and body of genuine sports car caliber. Who will do it first? Perhaps it will be Frank Kurtis on the West Coast, with his Kurtis Kar. Well illustrated in the July (May) 1947 issue of Popular Mechanics, this open two - seater has a very pleasing appearance, and is said to be powered by a V - 8 engine. Limited production of a modified version of the original prototype is promised by spring, and the advent of this car may mark a new era in this country for enthusiasts. ” It was into this mix that the American sports car was born. The final effort would meld hard work with American ingenuity. The result would be a cottage industry – defining the engineering, style, and performance of American sports cars of the day. The American Sports Car Challenge Begins In the late 40s ’ and early ‘50 s, if you wanted a sports car in America your options were mostly European. Making this choice came at a high purchase price, problems with parts availability, and complicated maintenance. Times were ripe for the emergence of American sports cars. In the December, 1949 Popular Mechanics Magazine , Thomas E. Stimson Jr. published the first comprehensive article on American sports cars titled “ The New Breed of Sports Cars .” Stimson showcased the best of what was being built in America and why: “ Sports car enthusiasts who have preferred European automobiles because they could find no domestic makes that satisfy them are beginning to build cars for themselves. Scores of owners have spent from $2500 to $20,000 each to build the kind of cars they desire. One manufacturer of race cars, in answer to the demand, has tooled up for limited production of a sports car of his own design. ” Adjusted for inflation, $2500 to $20,000 in 1949 dollars is roughly $25,000 to $200,000 today (estimates obtained from www.merrilledge.com ) – a serious investment for individuals undertaking this effort. But why did this article appear in Popular Mechanics Magazine? In the early postwar era, American automobile magazines were just getting started. Although the Sports Car Club of America started their newsletter in March, 1944, the first postwar automobile magazine, Speed Age , appeared nearly three years later in May, 1947. Road & Track started the very next month, but only published five issues from June, 1947 to December, 1949. Hot Rod Magazine started in January, 1948 and Motor Trend started in September, 1949. In the late 40’ s, Popular Mechanics was an authority on automotive news, trends and innovations – it was the perfect source for Stimson ’ s comprehensive article capturing the essence of the American sports car. Article Continued on Next Page