Vehicle Description
By the time the 1970's rolled around, the television Western was
beginning to run its course. Numerous programs such as Bonanza, The
Rifleman, Gunsmoke, Cheyenne, and the Virginian (among many, many
others) had flooded the airways during the previous decade.
American viewers had probably had just about enough and were
beginning to turn away. For the 1971 season, CBS attempted a reboot
of the genre with a show that, at first glance, seemed just like
any other western, but with an interesting twist. Bearcats!
centered around two heroes in the American West, doing battle with
the baddie of the week, usually in the name of justice and honor...
as most Western heroes do. The twist was that the show took place
in 1914, much later than traditional programs, and it allowed Our
Heroes to eschew their traditional horses for something with a
little more oomph, in this case, a Stutz Bearcat. The dashing leads
Hank Brackett (played by Rod Taylor) and Johnny Reach (Dennis Cole)
spent their days hunting bad guys, saving various villages from
said bad guys and performing all variety of stunts with their
beloved Bearcat speedster. Of course, the car was suitably equipped
to handle baddie-battling; with Gatling guns and various
compartments for storing dynamite and such. The program was only
moderately successful, getting the axe after only fourteen
episodes, but it still garnered a small cult following who enjoyed
not only the classic 1970s campiness, but the twist on tradition
and the surprisingly accurate vehicles that appeared every week.
Beyond the actors, the star of the show was undoubtedly the 1914
Stutz Bearcat. Of course, given the rarity, fragility and value of
such a vehicle, the studio commissioned a pair of faithful replicas
to be built for use on the set. They turned to one of the most
famous of car builders in California, George Barris. By the time
Bearcats was produced, Barris had already established himself as
the premier car builder for Hollywood. His creations were used in
movies like The Time Machine, The Car, Fireball 500 and his most
acclaimed creation, the Batmobile for TV's Batman series. For the
Stutz Bearcat, Barris started with a custom frame to which a
six-cylinder Ford pickup drivetrain was fitted. The sparse body was
then fitted to the chassis, built in the style of the original
Stutz 4E Bearcat "raceabout". The body was very well proportioned,
and many of the details were very accurately replicated, including
the radiator which is said to be completely interchangeable with an
original. Brass lamps, a monocle windshield, and other details such
as simulated lever shocks, spring gaiters, and outside shifters
make for a rather convincing piece, particularly when viewed on the
small screen. It is believed that just three were built, with two
being used on the set and the third used for promotional purposes.
Our featured example is fitted with an automatic transmission which
was preferred by the stunt drivers and meaning it was highly likely
this example featured on the program. This Barris Bearcat is
presented in its original color scheme of yellow over red button
upholstery. For what was essentially a television prop, it is
surprisingly well built and thoughtfully engineered. Barris Customs
built a car that is convincingly authentic and quite fun to drive
thanks to the torquey Ford Six and four wheel drum brakes. It has
been nicely restored and retains many of the original props used in
the show; most notably a pair of large imitation Gatling guns, no
doubt used to stop villains from destroying an orphanage or
stampeding cattle. The detailing is quite impressive, with genuine
brass lamps, a brass windscreen support, brass radiator shell, spun
alloy fuel tank and proper artillery wheels. It is clear to see
that this is not a cobbled together prop, but a fully built and
usable car that was intended to be one of the stars of the show.
Now presented in pleasing restored condition, this Barris Bearcat
is a totally usable and unusual piece of American television
history. Genuine Barris Hollywood cars have become very collectible
through the years and this Bearcat is a fabulous opportunity for
entry into the rarified world of Barris Customs movie cars.
