To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The Guyton
Collection event, 4 - 5 May 2019.
Estimate:
$120,000 - $160,000
- One of the great Jazz Age American sports cars
- Powerful sixteen-valve four-cylinder engine
- Formerly the pride of Stutz Club founder William Greer
- Well-preserved and very attractive restoration
- Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Full Classic
THE STUTZ BEARCAT
One of the most famous early American sports cars, the original
Stutz Bearcat was the vaunted champion of the board tracks and the
foremost competitor to the Mercer Raceabout. By the early 1920s its
design of the Bearcat had evolved as its manufacturer had, and it
had become a slightly more comfortable automobile, though still on
a performance chassis with a large, potent sixteen-valve
four-cylinder engine of Stutz's own creation. It seated two
passengers in a snug compartment with very low sides and no doors,
giving an appearance of being "all engine" that was dramatic and
visually powerful.
These were rorty beasts, and today are considered among the
best-engineered and most powerful machines of the Nickel Era, a
time not known for speed. Their drivability makes them particularly
desirable to Stutz enthusiasts, many of whom continue to enjoy
driving and enjoying their cars thanks to the support of the
worldwide Stutz Club - an organization that exists largely thanks
to one man, and this very Bearcat.
MR. GREER'S BEARCAT
The known history of the Guyton Bearcat begins in the late 1950s in
Australia, where the car was discovered by collector Harry W.
Dietert of Kerrville, Texas. Mr. Dietert brought the Stutz back to
its homeland for his stable, and after restoration enjoyed the car
in numerous hobby events, including the 1963 Glidden Tour.
In 1985, the Stutz was acquired by Doris A. Luther of Kansas City.
Later that year it was resold to a dealer in St. Joseph, Missouri,
after which it was cosmetically restored and then acquired in 1987
by William Greer of Indianapolis. Mr. Greer was a lifelong Stutz
enthusiast and historian, and in fact the founder of The Stutz
Club. Over the years numerous fine examples passed through his
hands, none of which was treasured quite as much as the Bearcat,
which represented the culmination of his decades-long dream to own
such a model. His affection for the car is evident in its history
file, which details his acquisition and ownership, and includes a
poem that he wrote in the Bearcat's honor.
Mr. Greer told the seller of the Bearcat that he would be a good
home for it for the next 20 years, and so he was. In 2007, he was
persuaded to sell it to his longtime friend, Fred Guyton.
The restoration of the car is well preserved, with a good shine to
its distinctive yellow finish, and the black leather interior
remains in excellent condition. Overall the appearance is quite
authentic and clean, with the engine compartment and chassis
remaining largely attractive and correct, though their finishes are
older than the exterior paintwork. The windshield retains the 1960s
Texas registration and Glidden Tour stickers from its Dietert
ownership. Inspection of the interior reveals a wood-grained
dashboard bearing Waltham gauges; the odometer notes 11,334 miles.
Accessories include painted wire wheels and dual spotlights on the
cowl.
This is an enthralling machine, from long-term good care by men who
knew well and adored the Stutz marque.To view this car and others
currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/gc19.
