For Sale: 1915 Stutz Bearcat in Saint Louis, Missouri

Harry C. Stutz was man whose stellar reputation was well earned. He was a driven, creative, and innovative force in the early days of the automobile. Upon moving to Indianapolis early in his career, Stutz busied himself with numerous projects, including the foundation of the Stutz Auto Parts Company (to produce a transaxle he designed), serving as Chief Engineer at Marion Motorcar Company, and designing an engine for the American Motor Car Company's upcoming Underslung model. All the while, Stutz worked on building and designing a car of his own, built under the "Ideal Motor Car Company" flag, which quickly merged into his parts business to form the Stutz Automobile Company. His first Bear Cat was built in just five weeks during early 1911 and driven across town to compete in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Suffering no mechanical issues and stopping only for fuel and tires, the car finished in a remarkable 11thplace with Gil Anderson at the wheel, earning the slogan: "The Car That Made Good in a Day." Later that summer, manufacture of the Stutz Model A, a road-going counterpart of the Indy racer, began in earnest.
The Model A became the Bearcat for 1912, which was a pared-down racer-for-the-road with a minimalist, monocle windscreen and a pair of bucket seats; similar to its fierce rival, the Mercer Raceabout. The Bearcat was powered by a proven and robust Wisconsin-built 390 cubic-inch T-head four, further refined by Stutz to develop approximately 60 horsepower. Power was sent to a Stutz-designed transaxle, a remarkably feature some five decades ahead of its time which undoubtedly contributes to the car's superb balance.
The Bearcat defined Stutz as a brand, exemplifying the early motoring era, evoking images of young men in raccoon coats flying Ivy League pennants on their prized sports cars. Genuine examples are prized by collectors, as few survived the flogging they often received at the hands of their enthusiastic young owners in period.
Resplendent in its classic bright yellow livery, this 1915 Stutz Model F 'Bearcat' was discovered in 1982, hidden away in a shipping container in England. At the time it emerged from its slumber, the car was wearing a later, twenties-style body, but it was quickly identified as the iconic early Bearcat. According to correspondence on file, the late marque expert Paul Freehill of Stutz Specialties in Fort Wayne, Indiana, inspected the car in 1982 and made several key determinations. He discovered the original 1915 Bearcat fuel tank was still fitted, and that the car's 118-inch wheelbase frame is of the proper dimensions. It is also reported that the engine is a proper and rare Stutz-specification Wisconsin unit. Freehill later built and supplied a new, authentic early-type Bearcat body for the car's then owner. While it is not possible to definitively say every component is original, an accompanying Letter of Authenticity from Mr. Freehill authenticating this car as a genuine 1915 Model 4F Bearcat lends proper credibility to its history.
After coming the to the United States in the mid-1980s with Willis Boyd of Santa Ana, California, the car was treated to a fresh restoration. It passed through the hands of noted collectors including Carles LeMaitre and James Bradley. In 2005, it received additional restoration and freshening work including an engine overhaul by specialist Charly Troutman and the newly freshened Bearcat was shown at the prestigious Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance. It traded hands again, joining a collection in the Southwest, prior to joining John Muckel's extensive collection. The most recent owner, an ardent brass-era enthusiast, acquired the Bearcat in 2019 from the Muckel collection and has maintained it in top form since.
Superbly finished and detailed from stem to stern, this Stutz been lovingly maintained by those experienced collectors. The yellow paintwork is in excellent order, as are the numerous nickel-plated fittings, and the black upholstered bucket seats. Road equipment is comprised of headlamps and full fenders - designed for easy removal for a day at the races. The mighty big-banger Wisconsin inline-four is detailed in gloss black with polished brass and nickel hardware, and emits a glorious rumble.
Powerful brass-era cars are a motoring experience to behold, and the sophisticated Stutz Blackhawk ranks among the best of the bunch. With the blessing of a respected marque expert and a string of knowledgeable, enthusiastic custodians who have maintained it in excellent order, it needs little more than a new owner to carry the torch into the future.

Offers welcome and trades considered