Vehicle Description
Harry C Stutz is one of the handful of automotive pioneers who are
considered among the greats such as Ettore Bugatti, Harry Miller,
and the Duesenberg Brothers. A farm boy from Ohio with a natural
gift and fascination with machinery, Stutz earned a local
reputation as the boy who could fix anything. He left his home at
18 to pursue a career in engineering and quickly made a name for
himself in industry as an innovative, creative perfectionist. Right
from the start, Stutz saw the importance of marketing his
automobiles through racing - in fact, the very first car that left
the Indianapolis plant was delivered straight to the track to
compete in the Indianapolis 500 mile race! That car finished 11th,
suffering no mechanical issues or failures. It earned the slogan
"The car that made good in a day." Quite! One year later, the
company was renamed Stutz Motor Company. Stutz was respected by his
employees, but they knew that if a single tool were left out of
place or a work bench was left untidy after closing, they would
hear about it the next day. They strove to build the best they
could and their efforts paid off on race tracks around the world.
The Stutz was seen as one of the finest cars money could buy. In
1919, facing a need to raise capital to fund production, he sold a
portion of his business, but quickly grew disgusted with his lack
of control over the business and he soon departed. Following a
stock scandal, bankruptcy and another change of ownership, Stutz
Motor Company executives struck gold when they hired an equally
gifted engineer by the name of Frederic Moscovics. Moscovics
quickly refocused the floundering company and developed the "Safety
Stutz" chassis for 1926. His new chassis had a double drop that
gave a low center of gravity, excellent handling, and stability as
well as a rakish look. Four-wheel hydraulic brakes were fitted as
well as a worm-drive rear axle. The new "Vertical Eight" straight 8
engine had a single overhead camshaft driven by a link-belt chain,
and twin-plug ignition. It was smooth, powerful, and very quiet.
Under Moscovics' direction, Stutz regained much of the success they
enjoyed under the leadership of Harry C. Stutz. For 1927 a Vertical
Eight equipped model AA set a 24-hour speed record, averaging 68
mph over 24 hours - it was a test that proved its worth in 1928
when a Stutz finished 2nd to the Bentley Boys at the 24 Hours of
LeMans. This magnificent Stutz AA Black Hawk Vertical 8 features a
beautiful, sporting boat-tail speedster body. The boat-tail design
debuted in 1927 as the very first American car with this style of
coachwork. Discovered many years ago in Iowa as a complete but
neglected car by California doctor and Stutz enthusiast, Alvin J.
Harris. When Dr. Harris arrived to see the car, it was almost too
far gone to restore. Its original convertible coupe body had
deteriorated to the point that while all there, it would need a
complete replacement. After a night of soul searching, Dr. Harris
decided to move forward with acquiring the car, and would restore
it a Speedster, as there were so few originals. The car has been
carefully restored to a high standard, presenting very well and
ready for touring or show. The body is finished in a subtle two
tone red/maroon which is set off by dark red wire wheels with
chrome spokes and a red cockpit. The paint finishes and panel fit
are excellent, and chrome trim and detailing live up the quality of
the rest of the car. The body has been painstakingly reproduced and
features interesting details such as the leather skirts for the
front cycle fenders, a golf bag door that follows the contours of
the boattail body, and an integrated trunk in the tail. A simple
but elegant black Haartz cloth top is included to keep occupants
reasonably dry should the weather turn foul on the road. The body
is well detailed with drum headlights, wind wings, dual taillights,
and accessories include fashionable dual side-mount spares, a
winged Stutz radiator mascot, dual Pilot Ray driving lamps, as well
as a folding windscreen for the full road-racer effect. The bolt-on
aluminum steps plates were preferred by Stutz in place of heavier
full running boards. Inside the sparse cabin, the gorgeous red
leather upholstery is in excellent condition and features matching
red carpeting. The simple dash features comprehensive
instrumentation and an utterly fantastic wood steering wheel is
mounted to a chrome column. For touring, luggage can be stowed
either via the side mounted golf club door or the small trunk in
the rear of the body. The glorious Stutz Vertical Eight is a marvel
of refinement and power for the period. It also looks particularly
good, properly adorned in bright green with chrome cam cover and
accessories. The engine bay of this Stutz is a fascinating lesson
in clever engineering and fine restoration work. The undercarriage
is similarly well-presented, with a fully painted chassis to match
the body showing signs of on-road enjoyment. Frank Moskovics'
brilliant machine was years ahead of its time in terms of handling
and road manners, making the BB Blackhawk an excellent choice for
touring and rally enthusiasts. Few American cars of the period can
compare to the Stutz AA's sophisticated handling, impressive
performance, and sporting pedigree. This outstanding example
highlights the Speedster coachwork with a lovingly maintained
restoration. This wonderful Stutz invites regular use and
represents an outstanding opportunity to acquire a beautiful
example of this highly important pre-war sports car. Offers welcome
and trades considered. For additional details please view this
listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7787-1927-stutz-blackhawk/
