A Report On The Accident That Killed Bill
Vukovich In The 1955 Indianapolis 500-Mile-Race
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A Report On The Accident That Killed Bill Vukovich In The 1955 Indianapolis 500-Mile-Race
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Analysis of Vukovich Death Car Identification
This partial list was copied from the an official list of all Kurtis Kraft race cars built and is the history of Kurtis chassis 372 at Indianapolis. The car was not entered in the "500" in 1957 or 1958. But in 1959 Frank Arciero did enter the car powered by a Masarati V-8 engine driven by Shorty Templeman but did not make the race. It was never entered again. Year Driver Team Owner Car # Model Year Built Serial #
The key to identifying the Vukovich death car is to compare the 1959 version to the car in the museum. Here is a photo of the left side of the car from 1959 when entered by Frank Arciero. Below that are photos of left side of the car in the Holland museum. Please note the similarities -- the side pod with the matching positioning of the louvers, the two raised areas on the hood probably to accommodate the Masarati engine, the angle of the roll bar and the fact both only have only one support, the positioning of the fuel respectable, the shape and style of the grill. (The grill insert has been taken out of the museum car.)
On the right side of the car please note these similarities to the car in the museum below -- the positioning of the louvers, the vent on the cowling, the angle of the roll bar and single support, the position of the air vent on the side of the car below the cockpit, the apparent cut of the body to make room for the big exhaust pipes from the Masarati engine, the matching zeus fittings. Color engine photo below appears to show indentation on edge of cowling where the hood would close and which is evident in black & white image immediately below. It is interesting that car in museum has same number as Rathmann's '56 version.
The 1956 version with Jim Rathmann driving had a different side pod but maybe the same nose work as the '59 entry. Fuel tank receptacle is in same place as '59 car. Vukovich's '55 version had fuel receptacle on side of head rest.
Finding the serial numbers on Kurtis Race Cars can be a tedious process. According to Kurtis experts, Kurtis was very inconsistent in where he placed the numbers, particularly on Roadsters. Midget experts have told us that it was common for the serial number to be on tubing in the cowling area. Roadsters were a different story and the numbers sometimes could have been painted over or tubing where the numbers were even replaced after accidents. Therefore, it is almost impossible to confirm the identity of the car in the Holland museum through the serial number without completely disassembling it. For description of how car was initially identified and other information go to Vukovich Death Car Located page |
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