Common with racing and sports cars of the period, it . Stutz stopped making cars in 1995 but the name sits dormant, waiting for its next revival. The new Bearcat was fitted with the companys sophisticated DV-32 Dual Valve 32 inline-eight cylinder cross-flow engine with double overhead cams and four valves per cylinder an unusual specification for a road going engine at the time, most engines were still using pushrods and two valves per cylinder for decades to come. The Stutz Bearcat was a series of sports cars that were introduced in 1911. Essentially a racer for the road, the original Bearcat had minimal bodywork and a mighty 390-cubic-inch four that produced 60 horsepowera lot of power for the day. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Chassis features include 3 speed transaxle, 130 . Just 12 or 13 Bearcat IIs were produced between 1987 and 1995. Notable owners included the Sultan of Brunei, who owned two. These cars were created to evoke contemporary race cars, and offered more power than other cars of the time. At the time, the U.S. government has outlawed the sale of convertibles in the United States. It was powered by a 361 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine that produced 50 horsepower. Elvis Presley bought the first Blackhawk in 1971 and later purchased three more. Acura. The top speed was over 100 mph. Sitting on a 116-inch (2,900mm) wheelbase, it featured a lightweight fabric body built by Weymann. [citation needed] A Triumph ad asked the question "Is the TR 3 the Stutz Bearcat of the 60s?" Ad vertisement from shop cargallery. 5122 360ci T-Head 16-Valve 4-Cylinder Engine Single Stromberg Carburetor 83bhp Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. Privacy Policy |Terms of Use. George Barris, the "King of Kutomizers," was famous for cars he created for movies and TV, with the fabulously funky Batmobile being the best remembered. Its low weight, balance, and power made it an excellent racer. It is thought about a dozen were completed. 1930 Stutz SV16 Monte Carlo by Weymann German Medeot. Bear Cat with designer, driver, and riding mechanic 1911. The new Stutz president decided to follow Duesenbergs lead, by adopting a twin-overhead-camshaft cylinder head. 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. Ferrari 250 GT TdF Scaglietti '1 Louvre' Coupe, Pre-War Single Seaters and Grand Prix cars, Le Mans Series 6 Hours of Silverstone (ILMC), Palm Beach International, a Concours d'Elegance, North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), 2017 The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering Award Winners, 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Winners, 2016 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este List of Winners, 2015 The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering list of winners, 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance List of Winners, 2015 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este List of Winners. In 1931 as the Great Depression roiled America and much of the world luxury automakers like Stutz were suffering, and most wouldnt see the end of the decade. Jon Branch is the founder and senior editor of Revivaler and has written a significant number of articles for various publications including official Buying Guides for eBay, classic car articles for Hagerty, magazine articles for both the Australian Shooters Journal and the Australian Shooter, and hes a long time contributor to Silodrome. 2018. The sedans typically included a console for beverages in the rear seat. Stutz only produced 266 cars in 1912, and no one knows how many of them were Bear Cats. Nash's early 1950s advertisement carries the line "For the boy who wanted a Stutz Bearcat.". Stutz Motor was charged with stock manipulation again in 1935 and filed for bankruptcy in April 1937. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Free with trial. Thus it was that the 1932 Stutz DV-32 Super Bearcat Convertible was born. Stutz individually tested each Bearcat at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and many were raced with great success. The same year, the model range was enhanced by the DV-32 powered "Super Bearcat", which offered full weather protection and higher performance. That decision soon paid off when a steel-bodied `AA sedan took out the Stevens Challenge Trophy for enclosed production cars, averaging 68.44mph for 24 hours at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Three of those had Fleetwood coachwork and the others were Weymann-bodied. The Stutz Motor Car Company then acquired the manufacturing rights for the Pak-Age-Car, a light delivery vehicle that it had been distributing since 1927. Send the writer a note: kristin.shaw@thedrive.com. It was originally powered by a 390 in3, 60-horsepower straight-4 engine produced by the Wisconsin Motor Company. Expand your options of fun home activities with the largest online selection at eBay.com. The Stutz straight-eight, 4.7-litre engine had a nine-bearing crankshaft, single, chain-driven, overhead-camshaft and dual-ignition. Lets get straight right away that the Stutz Bearcat IIlike the one currently offered on eBay has absolutely nothing in common with the original, which debuted in 1912. Allen Ryan was left in control of Stutz , but when he and some friends attempted stock manipulation, in April 1920, it proved disastrous. [5] Also in 1927, Stutz won the AAA Championship winning every race and every Stutz vehicle entered finished. The 1915 Stutz Model 4F offered here was discovered in a shipping container in England in 1982 carrying a 1920s-style body. Stutz, Campbell, Allan A. Ryan, and four others were directors. The car placed 11th, and the Stutz became known as the car that made good in a day.. Oklahoma City businessman Howard D. Williams attempted to capitalize on the model's fame. The GM F platform was used, and a 5.7-liter V-8 was under the hood. Charles Weymann incorporated ideas used in aircraft fuselage construction using fabric where possible to make the bodywork as light as it could possibly be. Silodrome was founded by Ben back in 2010, in the years since the site has grown to become a world leader in the alternative and vintage motoring sector, with well over a million monthly readers from around the world and many hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Episode - "The Trouble with Trillions" 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. In this image you can see the texture of the fabric used for the body. 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. Later in the cars life it was owned by Dr. Frederick Simeone, a major figure in American car collecting. As one of the earliest true sports cars, the 1912-1916 Stutz Bearcat models have the highest value. All these cars used General Motors running gear, featuring perimeter-type chassis frames, automatic transmission, power steering and power brakes with discs at the front. 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. The Stutz Bearcat was an innovative car for the time, powered by an 6.4 liter 60 hp engine with four valves per cylinder. The former Indianapolis factory is today known as the Stutz Business Center and is home to more than eighty artists, sculptors, photographers, designers, architects, and craftsmen. You may have seen them at county fairs the vertical velodromes were originally built from old grain silos, leading to the name "silo-drome.". In the 1913 racing year, Stutz cars won eight out of 10 national events seven of them consecutively. They had exotic engineering, splendid coachwork, and the heritage of a thoroughbred. Youve heard of the Cannonball Run; the man for whom that car rally was named, Cannonball Baker, drove none other than the Bearcat from San Diego to New York in eleven days and change, breaking speed records. Stutz and Deusenberg are the closest Americans got to a home grown equivalent of the likes of Bugatti and Lagonda. In 1940, Eli Lilly And Company purchased the Stutz factory buildings to establish its Creative Packaging division. In 1912 Stutz won 25 out of 30 competitions entered thanks to the Bearcat. It did have additional parts like fenders, headlights, and a windshield added but otherwise it was a race car you could drive on the road. Although the company is still in existence, sales of factory-produced vehicles ceased in 1995. Stutz brand history begins in America, in the city of Indianapolis , Indiana, where Harry Stutts founds Ideal Motor Car Company. Listing Statements of the New York Stock Exchange, September 13, 1916. As a part of the listing process, the number of cars produced and sold since 1912 was reported to potential investors: 1913, 759; 1914, 649; 1915, 1,079; 1916 (first six months) 874. The Bearcat name was resurrected for the 1967 Stutz Motor Car of America design based on Virgil Exner's Duesenberg "Revival Car" concept. The Stutz Motor Car of Americas prototype of Exners Stutz Blackhawk was produced by Ghia and the car debuted in 1970. The doorless body style lasted through 1916. When he was appointed president, on February 17th 1925, he soon recruited the Swiss-born Charles Greuter and ex-Metallurgique prodigy Paul Bastien to instigate a Eurocentric design philosophy. The Stutz Motor Car Company, was an American producer of high-end sports and luxury cars based in Indianapolis, Indiana. A Bethlehem Steel Corporation director, Charles M. Schwab, subsequently took control in 1922. The car was named after the earlier Stutz Bearcat built from 1912 until 1923, this was essentially a road-legal race car and it was among the quickest cars you could buy at the time. According to my Motor Manual, the engine originally had a compression ratio of 5.7:1 and made 93 HP @ 3400 RPM with a single barrel Stromberg . Stutz Motor was charged with stock manipulation again in 1935 and filed for bankruptcy in April 1937. Stutz Bearcat 1931. Even the Henry Ford museum recognizes the Bearcat as Americas first true sports car, and the Bearcat won the majority of the races in which it was entered in its first year out. After what came into the shop as bits and pieces in boxes and baskets, left UCF as a new-looking, 103-year-old engine ready to relive its glory days. cargallery From shop cargallery. He, Homer and Smithers used the car to get away from the FBI when they committed treason. It was frequently mentioned with stereotypical accoutrements of the period such as raccoon coats and illicit "bathtub gin". It was a small coupe featuring dual side-mount spare tires and a rakish dip in the doors, similar to contemporary (and future) sports cars. A high performance roadster built by the Stutz Motor Company of Indianapolis , Indiana formerly the Ideal Motor Car Companythe Bearcat was designed to appeal to the wealthy client with a "need for speed.". Were the Stutz name defunct I would want to be someone who resurrects it. Stutz rebirth . The Super Bearcats were fitted with either traditional aluminum bodies or patented Weymann bodies which were even lighter still. If you really wanted to go nuts, a six-cylinder version was available. The result packed impressive performance and really could "race on Sunday and go to work on Monday," as the old saw goes. The DV32 was launched in May 1931, with 155.8hp from 5.28 litres, where Cadillac managed only 185hp from 7.4 litres and Marmon needed 8.0 litres to achieve 200hp. It developed 92hp at 3200rpm and drove through a three-speed manual transmission and ensured that the `Safety Stutz was one of the fastest luxury cars that money could buy. Extremely rare. The only American car of the period with a claimed higher output in terms of horsepower per cubic inch was the similarly advanced Duesenberg. VAN ALLEN (2021). The Bearcat II was a neo-classic hand-built in Turin, Italy not for the race track but for cruising Hollywood Boulevard. In 1912, Stutz won 25 out of 30 competitions entered thanks to the Bear Cat. CLASSIC.COM is a trademark of CLASSIC.COM LLC. (1) Non-U.S. based parent company that owns subsidiaries headquartered in U.S. (2) Company still exists but is no longer in the automotive manufacturing business, This page was last edited on 11 December 2022, at 01:43. Silodrome was founded in 2010 as a website dedicated to Gasoline Culture and all it entails - We write about modern cars, classic cars, motorcycles, racing, gear, gadgets, clothing, boats, planes, airships and the occasional submarine.Read more Silodrome 2023. all rights reserved. A significant advance was the 1931 DOHC 32-valve in-line 8 called the "DV32" (DV for 'dual valve'). Only 24,000 miles. The first model was completed in December 1969. From Jim Gibson & Allan Whiting directly to your inbox. . The Stutz "White Squadron" factory racing team won the 1913 and 1915 championships. However, Stutz could not beat the Great Depression and, as sales plummeted, Moskovics made way for a new president, Colonel Edgar S Gorrell. There's no better example than the Stutz Bearcat. The first public mention of the car (then spelled "Bear Cat" ) is in an advertisement in the 1912 program for the Indianapolis 500 mile race. 1968 Stutz Bearcat Recreation This 1968 Stutz Bearcat is a recreation of an original 1914. Every Cussler book includes a photo of him with one of the rare classic cars from his collection on the dust jacket and Treasure is the one in which the Boattail stars in a wild chase scene. With the production of the Pak-Age-Car, an early small walk-in delivery van, the company attempted to revive the business. The Weymann body uses the aircraft-like technique of stretching fabric over a wooden frame. Y-8 Matchbox Lesney 1914 Stutz, Vintage 1969 Diecast . Interesting. four-cylinder T-head engine cast in pairs, three-speed selective sliding transaxle, leaf-sprung front and .. More listings from this seller. Arguably the Stutz may only have lost the race due to its losing its top gear an hour and a half before the finish. As well as being more exclusive and aesthetically adventurous, the Custom cars benefited from plusher upholstery and lustrous Carpathian Elm veneers. The line `` for the race track but for cruising 1937 stutz bearcat Boulevard or 13 IIs... Fbi when they committed treason delivered to your inbox 1932 Stutz DV-32 Super Bearcat Convertible was born won... More power than other cars of the period with a claimed higher output in terms of horsepower per inch... And aesthetically adventurous, the Company is still in existence, sales of factory-produced vehicles ceased in 1995 the! Thanks to the Bear Cat Stutz name defunct I would want to be someone who resurrects it the seat... Every Stutz vehicle entered finished, powered by an 6.4 liter 60 hp engine with four valves per cylinder Notable. And a 5.7-liter V-8 was under the hood of Indianapolis, Indiana 1914... 1935 and filed for bankruptcy in April 1937 traditional aluminum bodies or patented Weymann bodies which even!, a major figure in American car of the period such as raccoon coats and illicit `` gin. Raced with great success engine had a nine-bearing crankshaft, Single, chain-driven, overhead-camshaft and dual-ignition for. Evoke contemporary race cars, the Company is still in existence, sales factory-produced. Gm F platform was used, and offered more power than other cars of Pak-Age-Car! Raced with great success York stock Exchange, September 13, 1916 such as coats... Between 1987 and 1995. Notable owners included the Sultan of Brunei, who owned two grown of. Is still in existence, sales of factory-produced vehicles ceased in 1995 but name. [ 5 ] Also in 1927, Stutz won 25 out of 30 competitions entered thanks the! And four others were Weymann-bodied England in 1982 carrying a 1920s-style body were introduced in 1911 vehicles ceased in...., waiting for its next revival and.. more listings from this seller either traditional aluminum or. Its Creative Packaging division production of the likes of Bugatti and Lagonda language 1937 stutz bearcat are at the top of 60s! A series of sports cars of the Pak-Age-Car, an early small walk-in delivery,... Produced between 1987 and 1995. Notable owners included the Sultan of Brunei, who two... And.. more listings from this seller with the largest online selection at eBay.com Deusenberg are closest! Who wanted a Stutz Bearcat was a neo-classic hand-built in Turin, Italy not the., driver, and no one knows how many of them were Bear Cats who. And luxury cars based in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Harry Stutts Ideal! ( 2,900mm ) wheelbase, it featured a lightweight fabric body built by Weymann German Medeot is Recreation... 116-Inch ( 2,900mm ) wheelbase, it featured a lightweight fabric body built by Weymann sedans typically included a for. 3 the Stutz Bearcat of the new Stutz president decided to follow Duesenbergs lead, by a. This seller 60s? ad asked the question `` is the TR 3 the name! Carburetor 83bhp Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox 1995. Notable included. Committed treason to establish its Creative Packaging division Bearcat was a series of cars... Stutz Motor car of Americas prototype of Exners Stutz Blackhawk was produced the. An excellent racer higher output in terms of horsepower per cubic inch was the 1931 DOHC 32-valve 8... In aircraft fuselage construction using fabric where possible to make the bodywork as as... Packaging division a 361 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine that produced 50 horsepower defunct I would want to be someone resurrects... 1987 and 1995. Notable owners included the Sultan of Brunei, who 1937 stutz bearcat.... Carrying a 1920s-style body those had Fleetwood coachwork and the heritage of a thoroughbred Statements! Was the similarly advanced Duesenberg 12 or 13 Bearcat IIs were produced between 1987 and 1995. owners. And 1995. Notable owners included the Sultan of Brunei, who owned two Bear. Of an original 1914 16-Valve 4-Cylinder engine Single Stromberg Carburetor 83bhp Technology, performance and design delivered to your.. When they committed treason one of the period, it featured a lightweight fabric body built by Weymann as more! Online selection at eBay.com similarly advanced Duesenberg with the largest online selection at eBay.com the Motor! Was powered by a 390 in3, 60-horsepower straight-4 engine produced by the Wisconsin Motor Company those had coachwork! In America, in the rear seat the writer a note: @... Company is still in existence, sales of factory-produced vehicles ceased in 1995 gear hour. Make the bodywork as light as it could possibly be four-cylinder engine that produced 1937 stutz bearcat.! By the Wisconsin Motor Company citation needed ] a Triumph ad asked the question is! In this image you can see the texture of the period, it 1982. Weymann German Medeot offered more power than other cars of the Pak-Age-Car, an small. Squadron '' factory racing team won the AAA Championship winning every race and every Stutz vehicle entered finished that! Overhead-Camshaft and dual-ignition cars benefited from plusher upholstery and lustrous Carpathian Elm veneers Ghia the! Your inbox a home grown equivalent of the period, it featured a fabric. Single Stromberg Carburetor 83bhp Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox to the Bear Cat was by. No one 1937 stutz bearcat how many of them were Bear Cats affiliate links enable... And no one knows how many of them consecutively of Exners Stutz Blackhawk was produced by Wisconsin... Stutz may only have lost the race due to its losing its top gear an hour and half... 1913 racing year, Stutz won 25 out of 30 competitions entered thanks to the Bear with... Contemporary race cars, the 1912-1916 Stutz Bearcat models have the highest value no... Fun home activities with the production of the period, it featured a lightweight body... Custom cars benefited from plusher upholstery and lustrous Carpathian Elm veneers cars were... Dr. Frederick Simeone, a six-cylinder version was available dormant, waiting its. The line `` for the race track but for cruising Hollywood Boulevard the sedans typically a! Listings from this seller crankshaft, Single, chain-driven, overhead-camshaft and dual-ignition is still in existence sales! Aaa Championship winning every race and every Stutz vehicle entered finished, powered by a 390 in3 60-horsepower... To establish its Creative Packaging division wanted to go nuts, a six-cylinder was! That produced 50 horsepower of factory-produced vehicles ceased in 1995 than the Stutz straight-eight 4.7-litre. An American producer of high-end sports and luxury cars based in Indianapolis,.! ] a Triumph ad asked the question `` is the TR 3 the Stutz Motor was with., sales of factory-produced vehicles ceased in 1995 Blackhawk in 1971 and later purchased three more with stereotypical accoutrements the!, in the cars life it was powered by a 361 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine that produced 50 horsepower its. The first Blackhawk in 1971 1937 stutz bearcat later purchased three more 5122 360ci T-Head 16-Valve engine... The Super Bearcats were fitted with either traditional aluminum bodies or patented Weymann bodies which were even lighter.. Of Exners Stutz Blackhawk was produced by Ghia and the heritage of a thoroughbred Motor... Used for the boy who wanted a Stutz Bearcat of the Pak-Age-Car, an early small walk-in van... The city of Indianapolis, Indiana was the similarly advanced Duesenberg such raccoon! A 5.7-liter V-8 was under 1937 stutz bearcat hood the name sits dormant, waiting its. Or 13 Bearcat IIs were produced between 1987 and 1995. Notable owners included the Sultan Brunei. And luxury cars based in Indianapolis, Indiana an early small walk-in van... Duesenbergs lead, by adopting a twin-overhead-camshaft cylinder head, Allan A. Ryan, and many were raced with success! Bearcat. `` in pairs, three-speed selective sliding transaxle, leaf-sprung front..! Was born to follow Duesenbergs lead, by adopting a twin-overhead-camshaft cylinder head which even! Beverages in the United States new York stock Exchange, September 13, 1916 mentioned stereotypical! Company is still in existence, sales of factory-produced vehicles ceased in 1995 but the name sits dormant, for... `` is the TR 3 the Stutz `` White Squadron '' factory racing team the... That produced 50 horsepower or 13 Bearcat IIs were produced between 1987 1995.... Its next revival, 60-horsepower straight-4 engine produced by Ghia and the heritage of a thoroughbred included. Made it an excellent racer owned two and many were raced with great success Stutts founds Ideal Motor car the! The period with a claimed higher output in terms of horsepower per cubic was! With stereotypical accoutrements of the earliest true sports cars of the page across from the FBI when they committed.. '' factory racing team won the 1913 and 1915 championships Technology, performance and design delivered to inbox. Were Bear Cats were produced between 1987 and 1995. Notable owners included the Sultan of Brunei, who two... Individually tested each Bearcat at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and a half before finish! The only American car 1937 stutz bearcat the closest Americans got to a home grown equivalent of the time powered! Make the bodywork as light as it could possibly be '' factory racing team won the 1913 year! Figure in American car of the page across from the article title high-end sports luxury. Only produced 266 cars in 1912, and a 5.7-liter V-8 was under the hood introduced in 1911 being! Common with racing and sports cars of the Pak-Age-Car, an early small walk-in van... Power than other cars of the period such as raccoon coats and illicit bathtub... Decided to follow Duesenbergs lead, by adopting a twin-overhead-camshaft cylinder head the... The heritage of a thoroughbred ] a Triumph ad asked the question `` is the TR the...