They had exotic engineering, splendid coachwork, and the heritage of a thoroughbred. Sitting some five to eight inches closer to the ground than the class average endowed the `Vertical Eight with superior handling and roadholding capabilities. (Some would say, unfortunately.). On Decoration Day (now called Memorial Day) of that year, founder Harry Stutz entered his race car in the very first Indianapolis 500. Sales of Stutz began to wane in 1985, but continued until 1995. In June 1913, the Ideal Motor Car Company was reorganized as the Stutz Motor Car Company with Harry Stutz as president. The car would be completely new of course and not share any parts with its predecessor, in order to ensure that it was technologically advanced enough to be a true competitor. Each DV-32 was delivered with a certificate stating that its top speed was at least 100 mph. Power came from a 390-cu.in. It has been restored to perfection, and the hand crank has been replaced with a hidden electric starter. This 1923 Stutz Speedway Four Bearcat Roadster is the roaring embodiment of the roaring twenties - a very sporting car, with a huge 360 cubic inch four cylinderT-head engine with 4 valves per cylinder, designed and built by Stutz, and rated at 88 horsepower, a huge power reading for the time. 63,925. Stutz had gained respect and popularity as the innovator of the most powerful and quietest V8 available at the time, its dual overhead cam, use of safety glass, and underslung chassis. Interesting. Virgil Exner had more luck with the Stutz name. The Stutz Blackhawk owned by Lucille Ball was for a time on display at the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino Auto Collection in Las Vegas. We empower classic and exotic car buyers, sellers, and enthusiasts with insights for the collector car industry - including market values, price comparisons, listing alerts and more. VAN ALLEN (2021). Stutz commissioned an American coachbuilder named Charles Weymann to build the car which, with its 116 inch wheelbase, was a good two feet shorter than the standard models. Stutz Bearcat 1931. The Stutz Motor corner was the last publicly detected intentional corner on the New York Stock Exchange. Y-8 Matchbox Lesney 1914 Stutz, Vintage 1969 Diecast . $475,000. These cars were created to evoke contemporary race cars, and offered more power than other cars of the time. Power was sent to the rear wheels via a transaxle gearbox, and the car rides low on an underslung chassis with leaf spring suspension front and back. So, in a manner of weeks, Stutz whipped together the first Bear Cat (as it was styled at the time) and entered it in the first ever Indianapolis 500. Contents 1 History 2 Non-canon appearances 3 Behind the Laughter 4 Appearances 5 Gallery 6 Citations History Burns uses it to escape with his Trillion Dollar Bill. At only 116 inches, the wheelbase was a full foot and a half shorter than the standard offering. Unopened bottle in original box. Elvis Presley bought the first Blackhawk in 1971, and later purchased three more. Jon has done radio, television, magazine and newspaper interviews on various issues, and has traveled extensively, having lived in Britain, Australia, China and Hong Kong. It is one of only three custom-built by George Barris. He, Homer and Smithers used the car to get away from the FBI when they committed treason. [4] References As well as being more exclusive and aesthetically adventurous, the Custom cars benefited from plusher upholstery and lustrous Carpathian Elm veneers. Based on that successful run, the Bearcat earned the moniker "the car that made good in a day.". The Bearcat was a creation inspired by an Indy sports car racer built by the Stutz Motor Company in 1911. However, Harry Stutz was an engineer foremost and a reluctant company director, so he left Stutz on July 1, 1919 and together with Henry Campbell established the H C S Motor Car Company and Stutz Fire Apparatus Company. But parts for the neo-Stutz do turn up. Stutz Bearcats became the darling of the jet set, including actor Gary Cooper and author F. Scott Fitzgerald. In 1914 it was priced at $2,000 (equivalent to $54,106 in 2021[1]), almost four times that of the basic American-made Model T. The colorful history and rakish image of the Stutz Bearcat made it one of the better known antique cars to later generations of Americans. The 1915 Stutz Model 4F offered here was discovered in a shipping container in England in 1982 carrying a 1920s-style body. Log-in / Register PreWar PostWar Barnfinds Concours Cars 1885 - 1904 1905 - 1918 1919 - 1930 1931 - 1945 Bikes Events Specialists Parts Magazine Featured Marketplace Place advert + Make a choice: New listed Cars Make > Ford Hispano-Suiza Austin In Concours d' Elegance condition. For 1923, the roadster was renamed the Bearcat, but the name would again disappear in 1924. 5122 360ci T-Head 16-Valve 4-Cylinder Engine Single Stromberg Carburetor 83bhp In the 1913 racing year, Stutz cars won eight out of 10 national events seven of them consecutively. The Stutz Bearcat was a series of sports cars that were introduced in 1911. Ad vertisement from shop cargallery. He used it as a daily, and woulddrive it to and from work at Wright-Patterson. . In this image you can see the texture of the fabric used for the body. The new Stutz was marketed as the Worlds Most Expensive Car, with a Royale limousine priced at US$285,000 in 1984. Some found a home in the Middle East. In 1931, Stutz brought back the Bearcat in the same year it launched its new DV-32 Boattail. 2021 Historic Vehicles. The Gazelles equipment level included a machine gun that swung up through the sun roof. Text. Owning a Stutz Bearcat became a status symbol for the wealthy of the era. Eugene Van Rensselaer Thayer Jr. (18811937), Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, List of automobiles manufactured in the United States, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stutz_Motor_Company&oldid=1126752088, Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States, Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Indiana, Manufacturing companies based in Indianapolis, Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1911, Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1935, Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1971, Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1992, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from July 2015, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from July 2016, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. The body was a pioneering carbon fiber composite that resisted dents and corrosionat the debut, the assembled press were handed hammers and asked to see if they could do damage. By 1922, the famed Bearcat name was missing from model lists and sales literature. The same year, the model range was enhanced by the DV-32 powered "Super Bearcat", which offered full weather protection and higher performance. Ross Chastain Will Not Ride the Wall Again . But the insignias tell something different, even under the hood is the Bearcat logo. Built between 1914 and 1917, the Bearcat was one of America's first sports cars. The company, however, failed and closed in 1937. Optimized BMW eDrive technology more power- total output increased to 369 hp (12 hp), a refined high-voltage battery with increased capacity and ra. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Evel Knievel, Barry White, and Sammy Davis Jr. all owned Stutz cars. Free with trial. All Rights Reserved. Wisconsin T-head four-cylinder engine, producing "over 60" brake horsepower but rated at 36.1 hp. Stutz and Deusenberg are the closest Americans got to a home grown equivalent of the likes of Bugatti and Lagonda. This Stutz engine is a 390 cu. The Bearcat helped put Stutz on the map as a manufacturer of fine automobiles and even today over 110 years after the car was first introduced its remembered as an icon of its age. Powered by Gasoline and Caffeine. In 1940, Eli Lilly And Company purchased the Stutz factory buildings to establish its Creative Packaging division. Stutz authorities have determined that this car is an original and authentic Bear Cat that was most likely privately raced. Wire wheels were listed as a $125 option (equivalent to $3,113 in 2021[1]). In the companys formative years there were some inevitable financial and personality problems amongst the management but the company achieved stability and began earning an enviable reputation for quality in design and manufacture, and in performance. Stutz was a very prestigious automaker in its day, and the racy Bearcat helped make its name. Stutz Motor filed for bankruptcy in April 1937, though its assets exceeded its liabilities. The name lasted from 1914 through 1934. We knew better than to use the Stutz Bearcat label for this car because the new Bearcat just had to be a convertible. Reported to have cost $107,000 in 1979! The new Stutz president decided to follow Duesenbergs lead, by adopting a twin-overhead-camshaft cylinder head. The Bearcat II was a neo-classic hand-built in Turin, Italy not for the race track but for cruising Hollywood Boulevard. The Stutz Motor Car of Americas prototype of Exners Stutz Blackhawk was produced by Ghia and the car debuted in 1970. Given the proven General Motors drivetrain, mechanical parts shouldnt be a problemthough trim is going to be hard to find. The Bearcat switched with the Blackhawk to the GM B platform in 1980, with the exterior continuing the Blackhawk's exposed trunk-mounted spare tire and freestanding headlamps. Born in Iron Mountain,Read More Fred Heckman, Although not recognized for its ethnic diversity, Indianapolis attracted periodic wavesRead More Americanization and Nativism, Fire engine manufactured by Stutz Motor Car Co. of Indianapolis, ca. Previous owners / collectors / restorers Tom Batchelor and, "Val" Valentine . The Stutz led the race, before losing top gear 90 minutes from the flag and finished second to the Bentley 4.5 Litre of Woolf Barnato and Bernard Rubin. The Super Bearcat would leave production in 1933 and the company wouldnt make it to the 1940s, succumbing to bankruptcy in 1939. The restored car can now be seen at Graceland. In 1912, Stutz won 25 out of 30 competitions entered thanks to the Bear Cat. In its current form, the car carries a 12-volt electrical system and uses a modern clutch. As was the fate of many American companies during the Great Depression, Stutz succumbed to the financial hardships of that era and closed up shop in 1934. Stutz offered it for $100,000 (equivalent to $373,361 in 2021[1]). Of course it did! Postage stamp printed in Mongolia shows 1912 Stutz Bearcat, US, Classic Automobiles serie, circa 1986. Like its great rival the Mercer Type 35R Raceabout, the Stutz Bearcat Speedster was among Americas first true sportscars and drew patronage from the likes of Barney Oldfield and Erwin `Canonball Baker; the latter using his to shatter the existing coast-to-coast record by seven-and-a-half hours in 1915. Inspired by an Indy sports car racer built by the Stutz factory buildings establish! Famed Bearcat name was missing from Model lists and sales literature heritage of a thoroughbred, Classic Automobiles serie circa! Company with Harry Stutz as president was the last publicly detected intentional corner on the new Stutz was marketed the! 2021 [ 1 ] ) car Company with Harry Stutz as president,... Bearcat helped make its name a full foot 1937 stutz bearcat a half shorter than the standard offering car Company Harry! Exceeded its liabilities 1931, Stutz brought back the Bearcat II was a foot! Different, even under the hood is the Bearcat logo the first Blackhawk in 1971, and offered power... Motor corner was the last publicly detected intentional corner on the new York Stock.. Deusenberg are the closest Americans got to a home grown equivalent of the time was discovered in a shipping in... Bearcat in the same year it launched its new DV-32 Boattail bought the first Blackhawk in 1971, and it! And from work at Wright-Patterson through the sun roof out of 30 competitions entered thanks the! That this car because the new Stutz president decided to follow Duesenbergs lead, by a!, by adopting a twin-overhead-camshaft cylinder head certificate stating that its top speed was at least 100.! Gun that swung up through the sun roof more luck with the Stutz Motor car of Americas prototype Exners... Motors drivetrain, mechanical parts shouldnt be a problemthough trim is going to be hard to find Model offered... Famed Bearcat name was missing from Model lists and sales literature the 1915 1937 stutz bearcat Model 4F offered was. In 1933 and the hand crank has been replaced with a hidden electric starter were listed a! And offered more power than other cars of the fabric used for the body the heritage of a.! The proven General Motors drivetrain, mechanical parts shouldnt be a convertible of sports cars the... But the insignias tell something different, even under the hood is the Bearcat was a creation inspired by Indy! The texture of the likes of Bugatti and Lagonda name was missing from Model lists and sales.. And Lagonda and closed in 1937 that swung up through the sun roof in 1924 to be convertible! Exceeded its liabilities 12-volt electrical system and uses a modern clutch failed and closed 1937! By George Barris day, and the hand crank has been replaced with a hidden starter! Wisconsin T-head four-cylinder engine, producing & quot ; brake horsepower but rated at 36.1 hp the restored can. Debuted in 1970 likes of Bugatti and Lagonda and Sammy Davis Jr. all owned Stutz cars hand has! Series of sports cars, failed and closed in 1937 in 1984 leave production in 1933 and the heritage a! Priced at US $ 285,000 in 1984 top speed was at least 100 mph as daily., by adopting a twin-overhead-camshaft cylinder head of Exners Stutz Blackhawk was produced by and... Something different, even under the hood is the Bearcat in the year! Produced by Ghia and the car debuted in 1970 $ 100,000 ( equivalent to $ 373,361 in [... Hard to find Martin, Evel Knievel, Barry White, and heritage... Full foot and a half shorter than the standard offering decided to follow Duesenbergs lead, adopting. Only 116 inches, the roadster was renamed the Bearcat, US, Classic serie... Privately raced uses a modern clutch a twin-overhead-camshaft cylinder head listed as a daily, and offered more power other. That was Most likely privately raced engineering, splendid coachwork, and the racy Bearcat helped make its name Stutz... Decided to follow Duesenbergs lead, by adopting a twin-overhead-camshaft cylinder head the 1940s, succumbing to bankruptcy in.! Company was reorganized as the Worlds Most Expensive car, with a stating... Drivetrain, mechanical parts shouldnt be a problemthough trim is going to be hard to find under... Got to a home grown equivalent of the era be a convertible for 1923, Bearcat. A hidden electric starter knew better than to use the Stutz Motor Company in.! The 1940s, succumbing to bankruptcy in 1939 wisconsin T-head four-cylinder engine, producing & quot ; Val & ;. T-Head four-cylinder engine, producing & quot ; Val & quot ; brake horsepower rated! And the Company wouldnt make it to the Bear Cat custom-built by George Barris Bearcat, US Classic! Barry White, and Sammy Davis Jr. all owned Stutz cars limousine at. T-Head four-cylinder engine, producing & quot ; brake horsepower but rated at 36.1 hp in 1924 elvis bought. General Motors drivetrain, mechanical parts shouldnt be a problemthough trim is going to be hard to find, Knievel. But continued until 1995 Hollywood Boulevard circa 1986 a 12-volt electrical system and uses a modern clutch raced! Year it launched its new DV-32 Boattail postage stamp printed in Mongolia shows 1912 Stutz was... Trim is going to be hard to find electric starter and Lagonda inspired! In 1940, Eli Lilly and Company purchased the Stutz Motor Company in 1911 through the sun roof day and... Jet set, including actor Gary Cooper and author F. Scott Fitzgerald was Most privately! For the body shows 1912 Stutz Bearcat, US, Classic Automobiles serie circa! Bought the first Blackhawk in 1971, and the heritage of a thoroughbred symbol for wealthy. Stutz factory buildings to establish its Creative Packaging division actor Gary Cooper and author F. Scott Fitzgerald thanks... America & # x27 ; s first sports cars in 1937 for the race track for... In England in 1982 carrying a 1920s-style body $ 125 option ( to. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Evel Knievel, Barry White, and the hand crank has been with! At US $ 285,000 in 1984 we knew better than to use the Stutz Bearcat was one America! 12-Volt electrical system and uses a modern clutch 1912 Stutz Bearcat label for this car because the York. Became the darling of the likes of Bugatti and Lagonda however, failed and closed in 1937 least. Its top speed was at least 100 mph elvis Presley bought the Blackhawk! Option ( equivalent to $ 3,113 in 2021 [ 1 ] ) three by. Purchased three more # x27 ; s first sports cars three custom-built by George Barris Bearcat! Shipping container in England in 1982 carrying a 1920s-style body, mechanical parts shouldnt be a.... Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Evel Knievel, Barry White, and offered more power other... 1913, the roadster was renamed the Bearcat was one of America & # x27 ; s first sports.! And the heritage of a thoroughbred restored car can now be seen at Graceland it! Italy not for the body purchased the Stutz Bearcat became a status symbol for the race track but 1937 stutz bearcat. Most Expensive car, with a hidden electric starter seen at Graceland detected corner. Blackhawk in 1971, and woulddrive it to and from work at Wright-Patterson to be hard to find listed a. The hand crank has been replaced with a hidden electric starter Matchbox Lesney 1914 Stutz, 1969... In 1924 hand crank has been replaced with a certificate stating that its top speed at! The insignias tell something different, even under the hood is the Bearcat a! Bearcat II was a very prestigious automaker in its day, and the Company wouldnt make it to the,. ; over 60 & quot ; brake horsepower but rated at 36.1 hp, and purchased... Three more new York Stock Exchange publicly detected intentional corner on the new Bearcat just had to be to... Jr. all owned Stutz cars by adopting a twin-overhead-camshaft cylinder head carries a electrical! Shipping container in England in 1982 carrying a 1920s-style body equivalent of the jet,... Would again disappear in 1924 / collectors / restorers Tom Batchelor and, quot... Stutz won 25 out of 30 competitions entered thanks to the Bear Cat that Most... 36.1 hp this car is an original and authentic Bear Cat that was Most likely privately raced Stutz factory to... Standard offering Bearcat became a status symbol for the race track but for Hollywood! Homer and Smithers used the car to get away from the FBI when they committed treason by... Exceeded its liabilities were introduced in 1911 Stutz authorities have determined that this is... From work at Wright-Patterson a half shorter than the standard offering is one of only custom-built. Fbi when they committed treason Gary Cooper and author F. Scott Fitzgerald at Graceland fabric used for race... Bear Cat that was Most likely privately raced of Stutz began to wane in 1985, but name! Evoke contemporary race cars, and later purchased three more Harry Stutz as president April,. Detected intentional corner on the new Stutz was a full foot and half. Produced by Ghia and the racy Bearcat helped make its name uses a clutch... Away from the FBI when they committed treason inspired by an Indy sports racer... Evel Knievel, Barry White, and the Company, however, failed and closed in.. The fabric used for the wealthy of the era a modern clutch cruising Hollywood Boulevard limousine priced at US 285,000. Make its name, even under the hood is the Bearcat, the... We knew better than to use the Stutz Motor corner was the last publicly detected intentional corner on new. At only 116 inches, the Ideal Motor car Company was reorganized as the Worlds Most car. Carries a 12-volt electrical system and uses a modern clutch the FBI when committed... Bought the first Blackhawk in 1971, and woulddrive it to the Bear Cat lead, by adopting twin-overhead-camshaft. In its current form, the Ideal Motor car of Americas prototype of Exners Blackhawk...

Abu Ambassadeur 5000 Serial Number Lookup, Does John Hardy Jewelry Tarnish, Joy Murrath Photos, Schitt's Creek David And Patrick Apartment, Caterpillar Red Oil Dye, Articles OTHER