Vehicle Description
A beautifully passionately restored American classic, see the You
Tube video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5883tEFkrE For
Sale 1929 Stutz DUAL COWL PHAETON MODEL M came from the collection
of Alexander K. Miller, an eccentric miser, and his wife Imogene,
who owned some 50 rare cars, primarily Stutzes (his nickname was
Stutzee), along with stacks of parts. The Millers moved to Vermont
and began filling barns and garages with many once-fine cars. A.K.
and his wife lived frugally, dressed in ragged clothing, had no
central heat, paid no taxes, bought old cars and parts as cheaply
as they could and eventually secreted nearly $1 million in gold and
silver bullion, coins and valuables on their property. In 1996
Sotheby's auctioned off the Miller estate. MORE ABOUT A.K. MILLER
(excerpts below credited from Angelo Van Bogart writer) This Rare
Stutz is from the A.K. Miller collection. The secretive and
gold-burying hoarder A.K. Miller was remembered by those best
acquainted with him as an arrogant cheapskate that probably basked
in his mystery, and enjoyed taunting collectors with the promise of
a glimpse at his Stutzes. The story of A.K. Miller is legendary,
even outside of Stutz collecting. The Vermont collector was born in
1906 and developed a taste for fine cars � what would be considered
Classic cars today � and began gathering them when they were used
cars. Commensurate with his frugal ways, Miller stored his valuable
collection in dirt-floor wood sheds and lean-to's on the primitive
East Orange, Vt., farm he shared with his wife, Imogene. Although
great Peerless, Cadillac and Rolls-Royce cars passed through
Miller's hands, it was Stutz he preferred. A 1917 Stutz was
Miller's first car, and he occasionally drove it until he died in
1993. The other cars in Miller's 40-some-vehicle collection were
often parked on makeshift "wood stump" jack stands and left to
gather dust while surrounded by spare Stutz parts. Miller would
sometimes trade these parts, but he drove a hard bargain to his
financial benefit and the misfortune of his fellow trader. It was
not until his wife died in 1996 that it became clear what exactly
was hidden in the wilds of Vermont, and more than car collectors
were interested. The Millers had essentially lived as recluses on
their simple homestead. They had no children, and they had almost
no paper trail. Their collection had been known to only a few
outsiders, and the handful of people allowed to visit rarely caught
a glimpse of more than a car or two. Only visitors from foreign
lands were typically offered more than a peek, supposedly because
Miller could be assured they were not from the IRS. Indeed, Miller
had lived so far off the grid he was able to avoid paying state and
federal taxes. He and his wife were also hiding more than cars and
income � they had buried or otherwise hid millions of dollars in
gold bullion and silver ingots around their property. After
Imogene's passing, the Millers' fortune captured the attention of
car and tax collectors, and an auction was held by Christie's,
after which the IRS was to receive its due. Police scouted the
property leading up to the auction to stop the shovels and metal
detectors of treasure hunters, and the curious eyes and hands of
car enthusiasts. When the auction was held Sept 7-9, 1996, about 35
"barn find" Stutz motor cars crossed the block, most fetching far
more than their pre-sale estimates in front of a standing-room-only
crowd. The overall quality of this RARE beauty is breathtaking!!!
Now available in the showroom, schedule to view.
