After building approximately 24 two-place sports cars in his Glendale, California factory, racecar builder Frank Kurtis sold his passenger car business to Earl “Mad Man” Muntz, a flashy Southern California television manufacturer and promoter. To improve marketability, Muntz lengthened the Jet to accommodate four passengers and offered a radio and removable hardtop as standard equipment. Although most Chicago-built Muntz Jets were equipped with Lincoln flathead V-8 engines, two were fitted at the factory with Chrysler Hemis. This car, the first of the two Hemi-powered Jets to be built, was partially constructed when new by the donor, who worked for Muntz at the time. It could accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in nine seconds and reach a top speed of approximately 110 miles per hour.