Vehicle Description
The Stutz name is legend in American car culture. The rise and fall
of this famed marque was similar to a number of prestigious car
companies that were forced to bite the dust during The Great
Depression. But while others have been largely forgotten, Stutz's
legacy lived on thanks to their motorsport success and their
exotic, highly advanced engineering. In its original form, Stutz
was declared bankrupt in 1937, but in 1968 the brand was revived by
an ambitious American banker named James O'Donnell, who, in
partnership with leading industrial designer Virgil Exner strove to
create a unique American luxury car worthy of wearing the storied
Stutz nameplate. Exner, a former Chrysler design chief who had
saved the company from bankruptcy by introducing the One Hundred
Million Dollar Look in 1955, and responsible for the DeSoto
Adventurer and Chrysler 300 among many others, was one of the most
prolific and influential designers of the 1950s and 1960s. As a
side project, he designed a series of Revival Cars that were his
own modern interpretations of defunct brands including Mercer,
Duesenberg, Bugatti, Pierce-Arrow, Packard and Stutz. Now, thanks
to Mr. O'Donnell, Exner had the backing to put at least one of his
ideas into production. Their first car, the Stutz Blackhawk Coupe,
was no mere kit or replica. This was an Italian-American hybrid in
the spirit of the luxurious and wildly exclusive Dual Ghia of the
1950s; a fully engineered motorcar, coachbuilt to a high standard.
Like the Dual Ghia, there was a costly Trans-Atlantic production
process: a complete Pontiac Grand Prix was purchased at retail and
shipped to Carrozzeria Padane in Modena where the entire body,
including the interior and instruments, was cut off and discarded.
A new body was hand built from scratch that shared nothing with the
donor car, and luxuriously trimmed in the finest leather and wood.
Padane mainly constructed buses and campers, but alongside the
Blackhawk, they also built production Maseratis such as the
Mistral, Indy and Bora - so the Stutzes were in good company. A
mere 25 Blackhawks were built in 1971 carrying an eye-watering
$35,000 price tag. But Stutz was losing money on every single car,
and O'Donnel was forced to realize that shipping a complete car to
Italy and throwing half of it away was not the best business plan.
From 1972, all subsequent Stutz models used the substructure of the
GM donor car, and as a result, the delicate proportions of Exner's
original design was compromised. This makes the 1971 first series
cars very rare indeed. No other car in the world was as exclusive
at the time. Exner's signature was clear on the 1971 Stutz. A bold
grille and headlight arrangement was inspired by the pre-war era,
while the sweeping tail and deck mounted spare tire gave the
Blackhawk unmistakably flamboyant looks. To create the luxurious
four-door Duplex, Exner deftly stretched the original Blackhawk
shape resulting in a grand and impressive automobile with dramatic
proportions. The new four-door luxury sedan retained Pontiac power
but now rode on a stronger Cadillac platform; setting new standards
for extravagance. The unique and stylish Stutz proved popular with
celebrities of the era. Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Lucille Ball
and, most famously, Elvis Presley were all counted among Stutz
owners. In fact, the only cars that Elvis drove personally were his
Stutzes. Marque experts believe that just two Stutz Duplexes were
built, and our featured 1971 example may be the only one
constructed by Padane. Aside from its fine condition, this car also
possesses a rather interesting history. The ID tag displays number
364856, and unusually for a Stutz, the color "Maroon" is stamped
into the tag as well. Given that information, it is most likely
this car originally belonged to George Norman Jr. of Salt Lake
City, Utah. Mr. Norman was a millionaire financier and investor
who, aside from his appreciation for expensive cars, was also a
federal fugitive for 23 years! The day he was to receive sentencing
on tax-related charges, Norman abandoned his defense attorney (one
Orrin Hatch), fled in a stolen Pontiac LeMans, and disappeared for
the next two decades. Records show that federal officials seized
several cars including a Stutz Blackhawk coupe and a "1971
four-door burgundy Stutz". The cars were sold off to satisfy
creditors, and thankfully, the Duplex survived to find a new home
in Florida. At some point, it was painted white and fitted with
wire wheels. Since then, it has been cosmetically restored with
beautiful black paintwork. A set of extremely rare Kelsey-Hayes
cast alloy wheels as used by the factory have been located and
refitted to the car to return it to its original and authentic
appearance. As a proper coachbuilt automobile, the body fit and
finish is quite good. This was one of the most expensive cars in
America and Stutz worked very hard to justify their asking price.
The doors close with a satisfying feel, and the lines of the
Exner-penned body are crisp. Door jambs are finished with stainless
panels adorned with "Carrozzeria Padane" insignias and even the
hood shut panels are finished in polished stainless. The deep black
paint is finished to a high standard, with beautiful luster and
reflections. The chrome and bright work, which is believed to be
original, shows slight ageing in the form of very light pitting and
slight thinning of the plating, but remains very straight and
attractive overall. The stylish interior is trimmed in lovely blue
leather, piped in gray. The upholstery remains in excellent order,
showing only light use and minimal wear, in keeping with the fine,
unrestored nature of the plush cabin. The dark blue suede
headlining and carpets are in fine condition, and the interior
fittings and switches all present well. The entire passenger
compartment oozes character thanks to the wood dash, Nardi wheel,
and unique near-vertical positioning of the gear selector, while a
mix of Jaeger and Veglia instruments give a nod to the car's
European origins. The finely crafted Italian bodywork and interior
are supported by a stout GM perimeter frame with independent front
suspension, a Pontiac-sourced 400 cubic inch V8 (lightly massaged
by Stutz for additional power) and a Hydramatic transmission.
Under-hood detailing is excellent; with the engine correctly
finished in Pontiac blue, ribbed alloy valve covers and chrome air
cleaner. This example is a fine driving car with outstanding
cosmetics; a unique and attractive hand built example from this
fascinating revival marque. As one of just two examples,
exclusivity is guaranteed, just as the revitalized Stutz's founders
and clients would have wanted it.
