Vehicle Description
In the mid-1920s, the brilliant engineer Fredrick Moscovics took
control of Stutz Motor Car Company following the contentious
departure of the company's founder and namesake, Harry C. Stutz.
Moscovics' talent and creative energy rejuvenated the Stutz Motor
Car Company, leading them into one of the most successful periods
in company history. The Hungarian-born Moscovics trained in Europe
and previously worked at Marmon before arriving at the helm of
Stutz. He found inspiration in the powerful continental tourers
from Bugatti and Hispano-Suiza and was as gifted a promoter and
manager of the Stutz brand as he was an engineer. Perhaps his most
significant contribution to Stutz was the inline 8-cylinder engine
with advanced chain-driven overhead cam layout, cross-flow head,
dual ignition, ten main bearings, and a twin-throat carburetor -
highly sophisticated by American standards of the day. As fitted to
the superb 1930 Model M, the engine displaced 322 cubic inches with
a healthy 115 horsepower output. Later in the 30s, the Model M was
renamed the SV-16 (single valve) to differentiate it from the (dual
valve) DV-32 with its 32-valve cylinder head. Thanks in large part
to that magnificent engine, Stutz was one of the few American motor
companies to break into the fickle European market, and they found
considerable success in motorsport, particularly at Le Mans. Stutz
drew on their racing experience to appeal to European customers and
introduced a series of models with lightweight coachwork by Charles
Weymann, who set up a shop in Indianapolis specifically to produce
these bodies. The so-called "Chateau Series" included several
beautiful body styles, all evocatively named for glamorous French
locales likeChaumont, Chantilly,Deauville, Versailles, andMonte
Carloand each with a uniquely stylish, European-inspired design.
Foremost among the Chateau series was the Monte Carlo, a
captivating and sporty four-door saloon with an aggressively low
roofline, letterbox side windows, and an integrated trunk. The
magnificently stylish body featured Weymann's patented,
aircraft-inspired construction, comprised of a painstakingly
crafted wood frame wrapped in a padded synthetic leather material
that was both extremely lightweight and durable. Greased paper
insulated some wooden joints, while others were precisely spaced to
prevent rubbing with the wood's natural expansion. Weymann's
ultimate goal was to produce a body that was virtually free of
squeaks and, in Stutz marketing jargon, "guiltless of rattle." Of
course, this process was massively labor-intensive, and at $4,495
in 1930, the sublime Monte Carlo was one of the most expensive
models in the range. Built on the grand 145-inch wheelbase Model MB
chassis, this 1930 Model MB is one of just three examples of the
type extant with Weymann'sMonte Carlocoachwork. It is magnificently
restored and boasts superb provenance with several highly respected
collectors. Like many Stutzes of the period, this car owes its
existence to the late Alexander K. Miller. From his farm in
Vermont, the inherently wealthy, famously reclusive, and
notoriously eccentric Miller kept a hoard of dozens of Stutz
automobiles, many of which held tremendous value and significance
to the Indianapolis marque's history. A.K. Miller began buying the
cars shortly after the factory closed, amassing one of the world's
largest Stutz collections by the time he died in 1993. He was no
ordinary collector, as Miller often kept cars in ramshackle huts
and barns scattered around his property. Only a handful of people
ever got to see them, though A.K. was allegedly more receptive to
foreign visitors as they were less likely to be from the IRS!
Interestingly, this MB Monte Carlo is one of the only cars to
escape the estate during Miller's lifetime when Sherwood Kahlenberg
pried the partially-restored Stutz MB from Miller's hands in 1974.
In 2000, it was acquired by renowned Stutz collector and CCCA
stalwart Andy Simo, who commissioned RM Restorations in Ontario to
perform an exhaustive, nut-and-bolt restoration to concours
standards. The great Ken Nemenic of California handled the interior
trim and body upholstery, and the results of his work are nothing
short of spectacular - a genuine masterpiece of the upholsterer's
craft. The body upholstery is particularly extraordinary,
displaying an attention to detail that is beyond reproach.
Following the restoration, this breathtaking Stutz earned numerous
awards, including a Best in Class at the 2002 Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance, the Warshawsky Award for the highest-point car judged
at the CCCA annual meeting, Best of Show, Domestic at the 2004
Glenmoor Gathering, and Most Elegant Closed Car at the 2005 Amelia
Island Concours. After its time with Andy Simo, it joined another
one of America's most prestigious collections - that of Joseph and
Margie Cassini III. After acquiring the Stutz, the Cassinis
returned it to RM Restorations for a thorough freshening. In 2015,
it yet again won its class at Pebble Beach and Amelia Island, a
feat to which few cars can lay claim. Today, the Stutz MB Monte
Carlo remains in superb condition. The fit of the body is
astonishing, with doors that shut precisely with the lightest of
touch, thanks to the unrivaled skill displayed by Mr. Nemenic and
the team at RM Restorations. It was restored to be as close to
original specification as possible, with period-correct materials,
finishes, and hardware. The paint and brightwork are exquisite, and
the car has an enormous presence thanks to its 145-inch wheelbase,
sparkling chrome wire wheels, and whitewall Firestone tires. Few
Stutzes have been as successful in top-level concours events as
this marvelous MB Monte Carlo, and it will undoubtedly hold a place
of honor is in any collection of world-class motorcars. Offers
welcome and trades considered For additional details please view
this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6942-1930-stutz-model-m-monte-carlo/
