Puzzle #410 - Solved! Tommy Lee Speedster

[Otto Puzzell]

Know what it is?

Please, respond below and let us know the make and model designation of the car posted here.

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Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier. [/center]

[Tuckeroo]

Is this the Cord Speedster made my Frank Kurtis?

[Tuckeroo]

...Also known as the Tommy Lee Speedster built in 1937?

[Carnut]

What's this, by whom, from when?  for 1 point:

Google Search by Image continues to raise its ugly head on AutoPuzzles.
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[Otto Puzzell]

Hey - finally one I know!

It won't last

[Carnut]

Hey - finally one I know!

It won't last

You never know...!
The ones I think will don't and the ones I think won't do..

[Avalanche]

Kurtis Tommy Lee Special. Built in 1937 on a '36 Ford chassis by Frank Kurtis for Tommy Lee. Cost $25,000 to build when the Duesenberg was called a 20 grand because that's what it cost. Original engine was an Offenhauser 318 CI 4 cylinder. Now is powered by a 270 Offy. The 318 is on a stand and is with the car but will never find its way back in. There are no parts available. Watch for it on the Colorado Grande this year...

[Carnut]

Kurtis Tommy Lee Special. Built in 1937 on a '36 Ford chassis by Frank Kurtis for Tommy Lee. Cost $25,000 to build when the Duesenberg was called a 20 grand because that's what it cost. Original engine was an Offenhauser 318 CI 4 cylinder. Now is powered by a 270 Offy. The 318 is on a stand and is with the car but will never find its way back in. There are no parts available. Watch for it on the Colorado Grande this year...

That's the car OK, although I have a slightly different name for it (who was Tommy's Dad?!)
Locked for you to come back with that and provided it's what I have too it's a point for you and I can move it to Solved.

[Avalanche]

Tommy Lee Speedster is another name it goes by. Tommy's dad was Don Lee, owner of a massive business empire that included Cadillac dealerships and radio and tv stations.

I know this car well. I work on it...

edit...Check various sources. I've just searched "Don Lee" and Kurtis and this car showed up on one blog calling it the Don Lee Special. This is not correct. This car has nothing to do with Don Lee. It was built after he died. In fact, when the car was being built, Frank Kurtis encouraged Tommy to put a Cadillac engine in it to honor his father. The only thing Cadillac in the car is the steering wheel.

[Carnut]

OK, I'll accept that you know what you're talking about!
It wasn't made clear on the blog why they called it the "Don Lee special" when Don had died in 1934, 2 years before this car was built; I assumed Tommy still called all the cars Don Lee Specials in honour of his Dad...  Seems not however!
1 point for you - well done and bad luck Otto!

[Avalanche]

Far be it for a rookie to point this out but...

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=2449.msg17896;topicseen#msg17896

[Carnut]

Far be it for a rookie to point this out but...

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=2449.msg17896;topicseen#msg17896

Thanks.
No wonder Otto knew it!
Re-posts of such old puzzles are acceptable since most of today's members will not have seen the original.
However, I'll merge it now.

[Otto Puzzell]

D'oh! 

[targhediferro]

A recent image of this beauty.

[Allemano]

It's not easy to open that door I guess..

[grobmotorix]