Jump to content

JohnBoyle

Members
  • Posts

    125
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by JohnBoyle

  1. From memory, there was a Stutz Bearcat in the Pacific Auto Rental Collection. I wonder if this is the same car?

     

     

    Yes, it is. It appeared in a host of films while with PAR. It was Red & black, changed to off white for The Great White Hope in 1970.

    The next year it appeared in the TV movie Powderkeg, the pilot film for the Bearcats! TV series. That was its last screen role that I know of.

    A late friend bought it from PAR and it's still in his family's collection.

     

    I wrote a story on the car for the Stutz News, the magazine of the Stutz Club.

  2. I can't help you with a designer, but The Splendid Stutz indicates it was shown to Stutz dealers in late 28 and introduced in early '29...so early 1928?

    You could also contact the co-author of that chapter, John Grunder, I'm told he is THE Blackhawk expert.

  3. I would be very careful before buying any 1927-28 boattail Stutz. My guess is about 2/3 of the ones in existence are repro bodies. If the seller cannot document the history back to the 1950's then run away!

    That's true of many vintage cars.

    But...in some cases (like vintage Bentleys and Rolls Royces and race cars) a re-body doesn't always affect the price.

    If I was in the market for a open Stutz, I'd certainly consider a rebodied car. If the body was made accurately and with care, I'm not sure if it's important if you're buying it to drive and not as an investment.

    But I'd take that it has a newer body into account when making an offer on the car. But I wouldn't run away or dismiss it out of hand.

    To be honest, a quality new body built by a good shop in the last 30 years is probably preferable to a original body last restored in the 50s when prices were low and the care of the rebuild often reflected that. I'd wager there are plenty of chicken-wire and newspaper/bondo specials out there.

  4. As a replica I am interested to find out what engine and drive train it uses. I doubt that it has an original engine! Great looking car and I vaguely remember the series!

    The engine is a 223 ci Ford straight six. The transmission is a Ford 4-speed with a low first gear, based on the trans, I'd guess the pair came from an early 60s Ford truck.

    Custom chassis, a cut down Ford axle and a early Mustang rear. Four-wheel drums.

    The engine has a rebuild tag on it from a L.A. shop, so Barris bought it used.

    All the bodywork is heavy-gauge steel. It weighs 2900 pounds...which is 1000lbs. less than a real Bearcat but it has more than twice the horsepower.

  5. A friend has a 1933 Stutz sales brochure for sale. It's in good/very good condition. It's B&W only and features some of the factory photos seen in Splendid Stutz, but they're much larger and clearer.

    He wants $150 for it.

    If you're interested, PM me and I'll provide a phone number.

    John

    UPDATE: Sold....

  6. Bump

    Due to some luck and last minute arrangements, I'll be there.

    Some room s are still available...while the host hotels seem to be fairly full, but there are others in available...west of downtown.

    Anyone else who frequents here going?

  7. Really, the photos aren't THAT bad.

    Remember:

    - the club had to self-publish the book and there are still some left (I don't see them doing a new edition until they're all gone).

    - it was done in the pre-digital days,

    And finally...m

    -any/most of the photos are 80 years old.

    Cut them some slack, it wasn't a effort with a big money publishing house behind it.

    Still, I'd love to see a new addition with more color photos of correctly restored members cars.

  8. I'm sprucing up my '14 Bearcat replica before the driving season. I'd like to paint the black radiator area...an antique car specialist told me regular paint is fine if it's not put on too thick.

    I'm told that NAPA used to carry a special paint but no longer does so.

    Any specialist products out there?

    Should it be flat or satin?

  9. I'd have more issues with the items that are glaringly incorrect under the hood.

    Which would be?

    I do see the air cleaner, however there is a photo of a similar setup in Josh Malks' latest book: Cord Complete...which tells me it can't be totally heretical if Malks included the photo. After all, they are meant to be driven.

    But I'd like more input.

  10. I was looking at this 810 on this dealer's website.

    http://www.hymanltd.com/search/details.asp?stockno=5061&suffix=0&recordcount=16

    Can someone address how correct the interior is?

    I can't say I've ever seen a dash not in body color....and would a Westchester have leather seats with contrasting piping?

    I'm not looking to be critical of the car (it looks very nice) but rather just general question about correctness.

    If something is not stock...I'd be interested in knowing specifics.

  11. I'm looking for a heel/boot trough casting for an early Bearcat. It's a dugout in front of the accelerator pedal.

    Former club member Raymond Drake said he had a casting but he seems to have dropped off the face of the earth.

    Can anyone help or point me in the right direction?

  12. Do you have an approximate year he would have purchased the Stutz? Also, was it new?

    I'd guess the nearest Stutz dealer was in Omaha or Sioux City. Unlike mass market models, every small town would not have had a Stutz dealer. You might try an old City Directory (probably at the Omaha library or historical society) to see if/when there was a Stutz dealer in the area.

    If he was a family man, the car would have likely been a touring car....not a Bearcat or Roadster. The model line up changes from year to year, but in the pre-1920 era the firm made a line of 4 and 6 cylinder touring cars that were even more expensive than the $2000 Bearcat.

  13. Despite the well-written history by the auction company, buyers must have had some questions or reservations about the car for it to sell $100,000 below low estimate.

    Personally, I'd worry anytime it's stated that the car was raced (and wrecked?) in period.

    Still, it seems a good buy at that price.

×
×
  • Create New...