# Muntz Jet: alumin(i)um body, removable hard top

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/muntz-jet-alumin-i-um-body-removable-hard-top/171229>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [October 15, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/muntz-jet-alumin-i-um-body-removable-hard-top/171229 "2020-10-15T12:19:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/muntz-jet-alumin-i-um-body-removable-hard-top/171229/1 "2020-10-15T12:19:02Z")

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Reading up on Earl Muntz, I see that he made a ‘convertible’ sports car with an alumin(i)um body, a removable steel hard-top (couldn’t bring it with you), seat belts, other features. It may interest you motorheads. Apparently, unlike his Motor Mansions, there are a few around still.

[https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2014/07/22/two-of-50-surviving-muntz-jet-convertibles-set-to-cross-the-block](https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2014/07/22/two-of-50-surviving-muntz-jet-convertibles-set-to-cross-the-block)

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2020, 12:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/muntz-jet-alumin-i-um-body-removable-hard-top/171229/2 "2020-10-15T12:56:12Z")

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Nothing unique there. Pierce Arrow made aluminum body cars 30 years before. As did Delahaye and others. Porsche made aluminum body cars from day 1 until the 60s.

Removable hard tops have been around since the 20s.

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**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/muntz-jet-alumin-i-um-body-removable-hard-top/171229/3 "2020-10-15T18:42:05Z")

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Ford made aluminum bodied car in the 30 but never put them into production. In the 60s you could get a slant six Plymout engine as a no cost option, Must have not worked out well because it did not last long. Maybe they did not last long.

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/muntz-jet-alumin-i-um-body-removable-hard-top/171229/4 "2020-10-15T19:03:40Z")

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Here’s more than you probably want to know:

> **[Here is a little background and history on the Aluminum Block Slant...](http://www.slantsix.org/articles/dutra-blocks/alm-block-sl6.htm)**

The block was an open deck design (like the troublesome Subaru 2.5 L ), so head gasket sealing was an issue. May have had something to do with them using an iron head, too.

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/muntz-jet-alumin-i-um-body-removable-hard-top/171229/5 "2020-10-15T20:46:14Z")

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And he put a bar in some of the later models. That Youtube on the other thread is very interesting. Long but I watched the whole thing from used cars to TVs to new cars to tape decks.